Cycle of roundtables in Nice: understanding threats to local heritage

With the European Heritage Days 2026 in mind, which will have the theme “heritage in danger,” the city of Nice is organizing a series of round table discussions. It will take place every Tuesday at 3 p.m. starting May 12 and until June 9 at L’Artistique, with several themes highlighting the work of heritage professionals.

According to the city of Nice, the purpose of this round table series is “to raise awareness among a wide audience about the threats that may affect fragile heritage and to promote conservation initiatives“. Indeed, Nice is a city full of places and heritage practices and was listed in 2021 on the UNESCO World Heritage list as a “winter resort city of the Riviera”.

The venue for these meetings, “L’Artistique” located at 27 Boulevard Dubouchage, is an Arts and Culture Center that offers contemporary and primitive art works, temporary exhibitions and regular events around contemporary creation and cultural heritage, which explains why it was chosen to host the round table discussions.

Round table discussions on heritage

Every Tuesday, the meeting will address a different theme, covering both tangible and intangible heritage.

1. “Musical Heritage: An Ephemeral Legacy to Transmit” – Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Participants:

• Michel Bianco, musician and musical director of Corou de Berra;
• Fréderic Fuochi, director of the Romain Gary Patrimonial Library, city of Nice;
• Frédéric Rey, director of cultural establishments, Théâtre La Semeuse and Centre Culturel La Providence.

Moderator: Jean-Pierre Barbero, curator, director of Villa Masséna, city of Nice.

2. Intangible Heritage: “Transmitting Niçois Legacies” – Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Participants:

• Elisabeth Bondanelli, president of the Malonat association;
• Dominique Bon, researcher at the ACTé Laboratory (Clermont Auvergne University);
• Noëlle Perna, actress, performer of “Mado la Niçoise”;
• Éric Leon, director of collections and exhibitions, L’Artistique, Arts and Culture Center & Espace Ferrero, city of Nice.

Moderator: Cyril Isnart, director of the Mediterranean House of Human and Social Sciences.

3. “Craft Trades: At the Service of Heritage” – Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Participants:

• Fréderic Bœuf, restorer, director of Sud France;
• Alessandra Soldato, restorer certified by French Museums;
• François Gallo, craft artist specializing in faux wood cement;
• Adeline Rincent, master glassmaker, Atelier Terre de Verre.

Moderator: Julie Reynes, architect urbanist, Nice World Heritage Centre, city of Nice.

4. “Historic Monuments: Protecting to Better Preserve” – Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Participants:

• Julien Brochier, officer responsible for the protection of historic monuments, Regional Conservation of Historic Monuments, Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs PACA;
• Christophe Prédal, director of the research and inventory group, Arts and Heritage City service, city of Nice;
• Nicole Tranchard, owner and resident of the former palace Le Régina.

Moderator: Julie Reynes, architect urbanist, Nice World Heritage Centre, city of Nice.

5. Renovation and Transformation of Built Heritage: “The Metamorphosis of Heritage” – Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Participants:

• Luc Albouy, head of the Territorial Service of Architecture and Heritage of Alpes-Maritimes, Architect of France;
• Pierre Verdet, Madelénat Architecture agency;
• Jean-Paul Gomis, architect;
• Clémence Durst, director of the culture and heritage service, Côte d’Azur Observatory;
• Dominique Brossard, director of the Sponsorship and Heritage Development Division, Côte d’Azur University.

Moderator: Antide Viand, administrator of national monuments, Alpes-Maritimes, Cap Moderne, Eileen Gray and Le Corbusier at Cap Martin, Saorge Monastery, Trophy of Augustus at La Turbie.

Through this series of round table discussions, the city of Nice reaffirms its commitment to the transmission and protection of its heritage. With its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list, it wishes to raise public awareness of the issues affecting its tangible and intangible legacies. A way of reminding that preserving Nice’s heritage means preserving the identity and memory of a territory.