Printemps de l'art contemporain celebrates 10th edition in Marseille

The Printemps de l'art contemporain (PAC) festival returns to Marseille and the Aix-Marseille Provence metropolitan area from May 9 to 26, 2018, marking its tenth edition. Coordinated by the Marseille Expos network—an association founded in 2007 that now unites 46 cultural venues including museums, FRACs, art schools, private galleries, and production sites—the festival has become a key event for the region. Pascal Neveux, President of Marseille Expos and Director of the FRAC Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur since 2006, noted the festival's ability to renew itself annually. The opening on May 9 features a roundtable organized by CIPAC, the Federation of Contemporary Art Professionals, followed by the collective exhibition "Quel Amour !?" at the Musée d'art contemporain (MAC), showcasing over 150 works by 68 artists from Francis Bacon to Kiki Smith. This exhibition is part of the MP2108 project, running from February to September across the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, exploring the theme of love. Raymond Vidil, President of the MPCulture association, emphasized the importance of uniting tourism, culture, and economy around an international collective project. The festival builds on the success of the 2017 edition, which attracted 28,000 visitors in three weeks.