Bordeaux  to  welcome  the  Forum  d’Avignon  in  2016  

   After   six   editions   in   Avignon   and   one   in   Paris,   the   Forum   d’Avignon’s   next   Rencontres  internationales   (‘International   meetings’)   will   take   place   in   Bordeaux   from   the   31th   of  March   until   the   1st   of   April,   2016.   The   Aquitaine   city   was   chosen   for   the   rich   and  renowned  of  cultural  scene  as  well  as  its  thriving  economy.      Hervé  Digne  –  President  of  the  Forum  d’Avignon  –  is  delighted  by  this  ‘natural’  choice  of  the  city  of  Bordeaux  and  he  explains  that  «  the  2016  edition  of  the  Forum  in  Bordeaux  will  be  the  occasion   to   stage  a  new   formula   for   these  Rencontres   to  become  even  more   international  and   creative,   that   will   gather   charismatic   personalities   who   carry   a   vision   and   promote  projects  that  develop  the  standing  of  culture  within  our  European  societies.»    Alain  Juppé,  Mayor  of  Bordeaux,  welcomes  this  choice:  «  it  is  legitimate  that  Bordeaux,  that  represents   a   new   cultural   policy   as   embodied   in   the   Document   d’Orientation   Culturelle*  (‘Cultural   Orientation   Document’),   hosts   an   international   manifestation   that   traces  tomorrow’s   debate   on   culture,   by   favoring   the   dialogue  with   the   economic   sphere,  with   a  focus  on  today’s  decidedly  digital  context».    Listed  as  a  UNESCO  World  Heritage  City,  Bordeaux  shares  the  Forum  d’Avignon’s  conviction  that   culture   brings   creation   to   an   international   audience   when   it   is   anchored   within  territories,  the  ensemble  of  professions  and  actors  of  the  cultural  sector.    The   encouragement   of   links   between   culture,   innovation   and   smart   cities   are   becoming   a  reality  in  Bordeaux  in  particular  thanks  to  the  ecosystem  called  Darwin  and  in  the  future,  the  Cité  des  civilisations  du  vin  (‘City  of  the  civilizations  of  wine’).  The  bordelais  (‘of  the  people  of  Bordeaux’)  DNA  is  synonymous  with  creativity  and  an  international  cultural  policy  supported  by   a   balanced   urban   development   that   takes   into   consideration   the   social,   human   and  economic  issues.    The   international   Meetings   of   the   Forum   d’Avignon   will   be   the   opportunity   to   deploy   a  cultural  event  at   the  heart  of   the  city  by  associating  and  opening   the  debates  between  all  professions   in   culture  and   territorial   innovation   (from  architecture   to   cinema,   from  plastic  arts   to   music,   from   video   games   to   performing   arts)   and   its   representatives   from   digital  industries  and  from  other  sectors  of  the  economy.            

 

   

     Founded   in  2007,   the   Forum  d’Avignon   is   a   think-­‐tank  and  a  place  of   international  meetings   for   culture,   for  cultural   and   creative   sectors   and   for   their   dialogue   with   the   economic   and   digital   worlds.   Since   2011,   the  Rencontres   internationales  of   the  Forum  d’Avignon  have   spread  beyond   initial   frontiers,   in  Germany   (Forum  d’Avignon@Ruhr)   and   in   Spain   (Forum   d’Avignon@Bilbao).   The   think-­‐tank   Forum   d’Avignon   notably  popularized   the   fact   that   cultural   and   creative   sectors   in   France   represent  6%  of  GDP  and  directly   creates  8  million   jobs  or  also   the  multiplier  effect  of   cultural   investment   for  growth  and  measured   its   role   for   cultural  attractiveness.        In  seven  years:  

-­‐ 12  Rencontres  internationales  have  been  organized  (6  in  Avignon,  4  in  Germany,  one  in  Bilbao  and  on  in  Paris),    

-­‐ 35  international  surveys  published  in  3  domains  :  • Innovation  and  digital    • Financing,  economic  models  and  tax  system  • Territorial  attractiveness  

-­‐ A  bilingual  website  (in  French  and  English)  that  offers  daily  analysis,  studies  and  contributions  on  the  fertile  links  between  culture,  economy  and  innovation.  www.forum-­‐avignon.org    

       *Document  d’Orientation  Culturelle  of  the  city  of  Bordeaux:  http://www.bordeaux.fr/ebx/pgPresStand8.psml?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pgPresStand8&classofcontent=presentationStandard&id=82366      Contact    Forum  d’Avignon  -­‐  Valérie  Escaudemaison  –  valerie.escaudemaison@forum-­‐avignon.org  –  responsible  partners  &  communication  -­‐  Telephone:  01  45  61  90  43  –  06  63  79  77  57