Marseille Becomes European Capital of Culture 2013

Marseille is set to be inaugurated Saturday as the European Capital of Culture for 2013. Landmarks in the southern French city have gotten a facelift for the occasion - while art exhibitions abound.

Published

5 months ago

Categories

Arts & Society

Topics

Arts & Culture

Places

France, Marseille

Transcript

SCRIPT: The logo's just gone up … but J1 is already generating great excitement as the city of Marseille takes its place as the European Capital of Culture for 2013. The hanger is still used to dock ferries along France's southern coast. But its upstairs has been transformed into a cultural hub. SOUDNBITE 1, Jean-François Chougnet, Director of Marseille-Provence 2013 (French, 21 sec): "That means workshops, there are workshops for families for example. It also means a place to meet up, a place to walk around, to learn and to flirt! It's a place that doesn't fit into any specific category." [In French, "Ca veut dire des ateliers, parce qu'il y a aussi des ateliers pour les familles par exemple, ça veut dire se donner rendez-vous, ça veut dire se balader, ça veut dire s'instruire, ça veut dire flirter ! Ca veut dire un lieu qui justement ne se définit pas par une catégorie bien précise"] The inaugural exhibition focuses on Mediterranean cultures - both past and present. Another exhibition in the city shows the work of Jesef Koudelka . Koudelka spent 20 years photographing over 200 Greek and Roman archaeological sites. Work requiring stamina and patience. SOUNDBITE 2, Bernard Latarjet, Creator, Marseille Capital of European Culture 2013 project (French, 18 sec): "He proceeded as he always does, taking time, staying, wandering, walking, exploring. He stays three days at the same site, sleeps there, waits for sunset, waits for sunrise, comes back, comes back the next year, comes back three years later." [In French, "Il a procédé comme il procède toujours, c'est-à-dire le temps, la durée, l'errance, la promenade, l'exploration… Rester trois jours sur le même site, coucher sur place, attendre le coucher du soleil, attendre le lever du soleil, revenir, revenir l'année suivante, revenir trois ans après"] Culture also abounds at this former tobacco-manufacturing site. Here, 39 artists display pieces on memories of travel. One Palestinian artist used Marseille soap to write out an article in the Declaration of Human Rights guaranteeing citizens' right to free movement. SOUNDBITE 3, Taysir Batniji, Palestinian artist from Gaza (French, 15 sec): "The theme of movement, of displacement, travel, exile, it's a reoccurring theme in my work. This is the second version … the second time I've used this article. The first I made with chocolate." [In French, "Le thème du déplacement, du voyage, de l'exil, c'est quelque chose de récurrent dans mon travail. Et ça, c'est la deuxième édition en fait, la deuxième version où j'utilise cet article, la première avait été réalisée avec du chocolat"] Just one of over 500 events planned for the region's year in the cultural spotlight. SHOTLIST Marseille, France Jan 10 2012 Source: AFPTV (Camera: Guillaume Bonnet) -VAR of exterior of hanger J1 in the maritime port in Marseille SOUNDBITE 1, Jean-François Chougnet -VAR of exhibition on the Mediterranean at J1 -VAR of Josef Koudelka at his photo exhibition at the Vieille Charité Centre in Marseille -VAR of Koudelka exhibition SOUNDBITE 2, Bernard Latarjet -VAR of former tobacco factory la Friche de la Belle de Mai in Marseille - VAR exhibition at the Panorama Tower (part of la Friche Belle de Mai) SOUNDBITE 3, Taysir Batniji -VAR of exhibition at the Panorama Tower (part of the Friche Belle de Mai)