Olivier Poivre d'Arvor on French Cultural Strategy at the 2009 Venice Biennale

In a 2009 conversation with artpress, Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, who leads Culturesfrance, elaborates on the agency's mission to advance French culture internationally, particularly at the Venice Biennale. Established in May 2006 from the merger of AFAA and ADFP, Culturesfrance operates under both the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Poivre d'Arvor supports the choice of Claude Lévêque for the 53rd Venice Biennale, stressing the importance of art that evokes emotion. He critiques previous pavilion selections and mentions the Institut français, introduced by Bernard Kouchner in March 2009, aimed at consolidating cultural diplomacy. He also highlights France's cultural promotion efforts, including Daniel Buren's 2005 Guggenheim exhibition, while Culturesfrance now prioritizes 25 key countries for a humanistic cultural exchange.