The regions of Upper and Lower Normandy will be brought to life next summer as the Normandie Impressionniste festival celebrates the major school of painting with its roots in the Norman countryside.
The first of its kind in France, Normandie Impressionniste will take place from June to September 2010. Numerous cultural and economic institutions, as well as individuals, from both regions have been working together to develop a unique, ambitious and accessible programme of events for the festival.
From painting and contemporary art through to cinema, theatre, dance, photography and literature, as well as light shows, firework displays, Seine River cruises, Impressionist trails and even déjeuner sur l’herbe picnics, the hugely varied programme is designed to appeal to residents, summer visitors, fans and art amateurs alike, whether they come from France or elsewhere around the world.
Heading up the festival will be the exhibition A City for Impressionism: Monet, Pissarro and Gauguin in Rouen. The Rouen Fine Arts Museum will present a number of outstanding works of art by the painters borrowed from public and private collections all over the world. Many are masterpieces which have never been shown in France.
Other art institutions in the region will also host exhibitions including Jongkind and Boudin at the Eugène Boudin Museum in Honfleur, Millet at the Thomas-Henry Art Museum in Cherbourg-Octeville, Renoir and Pissarro at the Castle Museum in Dieppe, Corot at the Fine Arts Museum in Saint-Lô, Impressionist Prints at the Fine Arts Museum in Caen, and Impressionism along the Seine River at the new Impressionisms Museum in Giverny.
Meanwhile, other highlights of the festival will include concerts showcasing works by composers such as Debussy, Ravel and Satie; a dual exhibition of the photographer Maxence Rifflet at both the Point du Jour art centre in Cherbourg and the Pôle Image in Rouen; installations at Jumièges Abbey and video art at the Seine-Maritime Hôtel du Département.
A host of outdoor activities will also add to the festivities and the popularity of this fantastic event.
To find out more about the Normandie Impressionniste festival, visit www.normandieimpressionniste.fr (currently in French only - English version coming soon). Watch this space for details of a dedicated Normandy Impressionism website also arriving soon.
For general information on Normandy, visit www.normandy-tourism.org. |