The gateway to the East, this city of a thousand colors is now the European Capital of Culture for 2013, an honor it shares with Košice in Slovakia.
The choice of Phocaea, where the Good Mother watches over, has given this port city another dimension beyond the often tragic news stories that tarnish its reputation.
Just like Liverpool, Marseille is expected to escape this negative image and become, during this year 2013 and in the future, a meeting place for Culture.
La Joliette has been transformed with large-scale developments including the MUCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) which will open in June. This museum will be one of the largest in France, with its 15,000m2.
The purpose of this article is not to present everything that has been done. When a city becomes Capital of Culture for one year, it’s a bit like the Olympic Games. Everything that has been thought of, built, and achieved is lasting.
From all corners, this city that seemed dormant awakens, and this year will be the starting point of a new adventure where the word Culture will resonate with the song of cicadas, the sun, and Provence. On Saturday, the entire city gathered at the old port for the much-anticipated kickoff of this event. One doesn’t really know where to be, as echoes of the celebration emerge from all the neighborhoods, the Marseillais have rediscovered their Phocaea.
Feathers fall on the gathered bystanders, I am told that it’s the angels leaning over the city. The opera also had its surprises, already one has to rush to Cours Belsunce where a choreography performs its entrechats, all actors dressed in white symbolizing peace, a touching message considering the dramatic current events of this day. The Major Cathedral with its concert “Meeting of the 13th Type”.
On January 12, Marseille was dressed in lights. A passerby asked me, in the local accent, where I was from? Responding that I was from Nice, he embraced me and said: “Marseille is the most beautiful city in the world!” That evening, he was right. Never have I seen so many people in the street.
Pierre Delavie transformed the Canebière, and until December you will be surprised by a massive trompe-l’œil on the façade of the stock exchange. Night falls on this cosmopolitan city, and you’d think you were in Barcelona, everyone is in the streets, and the celebration continues and will last for a year.
650 events are planned throughout this year just in the Phoenician city, other cities are not forgotten: Aix, Aubagne, Arles, Salon, or even Gardanne will also have their moments of glory, in all there will be nearly 900 events that will animate this Year of Culture in the Bouches-du-Rhône.
Thierry Jan
