Marie-Hélène Falcon explores the ever-shifting frontiers where art and ideas meet
Marie-Hélène Falcon, former Director Festival TransAmériques Montréal (Canada), with more than 30 years working in the field of festivals, will participate as a mentor in the next edition of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers that will take place in Gwangju from 31 August to 6 September 2015. She will share her insights and experience with the 36 participants from 20 countries all around the world.
Marie-Hélène Falcon’s career has followed a path that explores the ever-shifting frontiers where art and ideas meet and interact in a commingling of tradition and innovation. Her artistic direction hones in on the essential – the tangible essence of a strong, vibrant stage piece, the quality of an artist’s presence in the flesh, the curiosity and enchantment of an audience keen to discover the new and the unknown.
Since more than 30 years, Marie Hélène Falcon is committed to presenting the best of contemporary creation from the international scene. The co-founder of the Festival de Théâtre des Amériques, she was its general and artistic director as of 1983, going on to create Théâtres du monde in 1996 and Nouvelles Scènes in 1997. In May 2007, the Festival de Théâtre des Amériques was transformed, becoming the Festival TransAmériques, a leading Festival of contemporary dance and theatre.
Marie-Hélène Falcon is frequently invited to attend international festivals as well as conferences on issues facing the performing arts. She has received several awards, including being honoured as a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, being named an Officier de l'Ordre national du Québec and Compagne des Arts et des Lettres du Québec by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
“The most incredible aspect about putting together a festival is the many fabulous encounters with artists and with exceptional works. The intensity, the emotion, the pleasure of viewing a performance of rare beauty presented by a magnificent and closely-knit artistic team, not to mention the irrepressible desire to share those discoveries with the audience. The visions, stories and even silences of artists are fused together as they engage in back-and-forth response, as they clash and confront each other. A festival gradually takes shape, patiently and feverishly, eventually becoming a powerful moment, a dense, ephemeral space that, oddly enough from one edition to another, always ends up being a fascinating reflection of our times,” says Marie-Hélène Falcon.
Renowned mentors from all over the world will guide the participants throughout the seven days of the Atelier GWANGJU 2015 under the coordination of Hugo De Greef (Atelier Coordinator, former EFA Secretary General, Director European Capital of Culture Bruges 2002, Co-Founder Kaaitheater Brussels - Belgium): Robyn Archer (Artistic Director The Light in Winter in Melbourne, Deputy Chair Australia Council for the Arts, Strategic Advisor Gold Coast Arts and Culture in Queensland, Member European House for Culture - Australia), Chiaki Soma (Art Producer, Representative Director Arts Commons Tokyo, former Artistic Director Tokyo Festival - Japan), Nele Hertling (former Vice President Academy of Arts Berlin; Member Strategy Group “A Soul for Europe”, former Director Hebbel-Theatre – Germany), Marie-Hélène Falcon (former Director TransAmériques Festival Montreal – Canada), SeongHee Kim (Artistic Director Asian Arts Theater - South Korea), and Monique Veaute (President Fondazione Romaeuropa - Arte e Cultura - Italy).
More information about the Atelier GWANGJU 2015 can be found on the Atelier website.