For its fifth anniversary, the Crossover festival, a gathering for fans of electro-music, is proposing a revamped formula. The�most artsy venues in Nice (Villa Arson, Chantier Sang Neuf des Abattoirs, Hi Hotel) and the most iconic (Nice�s Opera House and the Parc du Ch�teau) will be transformed into urban stages to welcome international heavyweights in this musical category : Nina Kraviz, Green Velvet, Para One live, Poni Hoax, Aufgang, N�ze & the Bling Boom Band, Dada Disco, DJ Oil Feat Magic Malik and the great Kavinsky. A�special moment in the festival : the gardens of the Villa Arson will become an open-air cinema for a one-off screening of the film �Bar 25 Day Out Time�, which tells the tale of this legendary club in Berlin. The�screening will be followed by the most creative musical clips of the moment. From May 25th to June 6th. www.festivak-crossover.com

The Galerie Sandrine Mons and the LOFT Design showroom in Cannes are presenting the Pop Art exhibition "Public Faces in Private Places" comprised of photos by Gerard Malanga, an iconic member of Andy Warhol�s famous Factory. A score of his photographs take us right to the heart of New York�s underground scene in the Warhol era. Until Septembre 14th. Chez Loft, 3, rue du Canada, Cannes (04 93 16 09 09).

A country known for its grandiose seascapes and mountain scenery, the diversity of its offerings for tourists and its delicious gastronomy, Lebanon is guest of honour at the Photomed Festival. Seven young photographers offer us a new take on Liban through their lenses : a�contemporary and artistic vision, as seen by a young generation which believes in its future. Troubling and fascinating. Espace Saint-Nazaire, rue Joseph Coureau, Sanary-sur-Mer. www.festivalphotomed.com

Urban photographer Gabriele Basilico is�exhibiting compositions in black-and-white, portraits of nine Mediterranean towns undergoing transformation : Barcelona, Beirut, Genoa, Istanbul, Monaco, Naples, Palermo, Rome and Valencia. The very specific nature of�this Italian photographer is illustrated in these images : city�centres and buildings when the streets are empty. An exhibition with�a�special atmosphere. From May 25th to June 30th, H�tel des Arts, Toulon.

What lovelier backcloth than the Croisette in which to exhibit fashion photos in XXL format ? Over the past 11 years, the��Festival Cannes Photo Mode� has become a summer rendez-vous for all fans and professionals (photographers, designers, art directors, model agencies...) who meet up at the Palm Beach, in�the�Roseraie gardens and, of course, on�the most glamorous of all promenades, the Croisette. Each year, a tribute is paid to a major fashion photographer. This�time, it�s Sacha, a name of worldwide renown. By his side, over 90 other photographers will be showing their work. The festival also offers younger talents the�chance to get themselves known. A�jury will award three prizes. From June 15th to August 28th, Palm Beach, Croisette and Roseraie, Cannes. www.festivalphotomode.com

France�s iconic rock-star will be on stage in Monaco, in the legendary Salle des �toiles, for two exceptional concerts. In addition to titles from his latest album, �L�Attente�, the great Johnny, who has just celebrated his 70th birthday, will perform hits that made him an international name : �Noir c�est Noir�, �Sang pour sang�, �Que je t�aime�... An idol who promises to set Monte-Carlo ablaze. Diner & Show : 300 �. June 25th and 26th, Sporting Monte-Carlo (00 377 98 06 36 36).

Following his success as choreographer of the film �Black Swan�, dancer Benjamin Millepied settled in Los Angeles with his wife, Natalie Portman. Here, inspired by fresh creative energy, he has put together a group of creators to invent a new kind of ballet. The L.A. Dance Project tries to redefine the very notion of artistic collaboration. With stage-sets designed by artists and video-makers, highly unusual costumes and original music composed by Nico Muhly, the audience can expect a fabulous treat. On the programme : �Reflections�, a ballet by Benjamin Millepied inspired by jewellery signed Van Cleef & Arpels, �Quintett� by William Forsythe and �Winterbranch� by Merce Cunningham. April 27th, Palais des Festivals, Cannes. (04. 92. 98. 62.77)

The gardens at the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul de Vence are playing host to works by German artist Gloria Friedmann, a politically committed philosopher and humanist. The exhibit illustrates the diversity of her work : paintings, sculptures, videos, photographs, installations... Several works are on display for the first time. Play Back d�Eden, until june 16th, Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul. (04 93 32 81 63)

Dave, Martin and Andy will be live in Nice on May 4th as part of their European tour. Celebrating over three decades as top of the pops, with more than 100 million discs sold, Depeche Mode will mix legendary hits and new songs for the greater delight of fans on the Riviera. Those not lucky enough to get a seat will be able to console themselves in N�mes on July 16th. May 4th, Palais Nika�a, Nice. (04 97 25 81 36)

Each spring, the gardens at the Villa Ephrussi de�Rothschild welcome about 30 exhibitors, rose-growers, nurseries, craftsmen, gardeners and perfume-makers, to celebrate the rose. On the programme : a display of rare flowers, lectures given by the �Soci�t� Fran�aise des Roses� and various workshops on scents and flower arrangement, for young and old alike. 12,50 �. May, from 10th to 12th, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat. (04 93 01 45 90)

The Art Monaco event for amateurs, professionals and dedicated fans of contemporary art brings to the Principality artists, collectors and gallery-owners from 52 different countries (Russia, Japan, Mexico, the USA, Italy, Korea, France, England...). The collection proposed for this edition includes outstanding works such as �Bull in Arena� by Pablo Picasso, �Portrait of Barbara Molasky� by Andy Warhol, �Verushka� by Michael Thompson, �C�ur� by Ghass and �The Partial Space� by Young-hoon Jeong. A�number of young artists will also be presented by well-known art-galleries. 20 �. April, from 25th to 28th, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco. (00 377 99 99 30 00)

After �Looking for Mister Castang� and �Miam-Miam�, trouble-maker of genius Edouard Baer is presenting his new theatre creation in Nice... �� la fran�aise�. With his faithful companions, he leads us into outlandish adventures aiming to save France. A lesson in patriotic humour ! May from 7th to 10th, Th��tre National de Nice. (04 93 13 90 90)

Nice-based Ingrid Maria Sinibaldi is an artist in her thirties driven by a talent for creation pushed to excess, and refusing any concessions. On her Manichean planet, things must be large or small, black or white, round or angular. A planet where absurdity is tinged with emotion. Until April 25th, Maison Abandonn�e Villa Cameline, 43 avenue Monplaisir, Nice. Entr�e libre. (06�60 98 49 88)

Dedicated to classical music and the (re)discovery of the performing arts, the �Printemps des Arts� invites you to a series of master classes, concerts, ballet and high-level lectures spread over five weekends in various venues in the Principality of Monaco. Beethoven, Bart�k and Stravinsky are given places of honour. Invited by the festival�s director, Marc Monnet, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia and a remarkable Congolese orchestra will give two exceptional performances. Another golden nugget on the bill, �degenerate music�, on Sunday, April 7th. This expression invented by the Nazis covered its list of outlawed composers, not only because of their religious denomination, but also because their music was considered dangerous for public thinking. Musicologist Pascal Huynh will give a lecture on this subject which will be followed by a concert conducted by Lawrence Foster. Until April 14th. Monaco, www.printempsdesarts.mc

Five photographers of various origins meet up to compare their approaches to the art of the portrait for the duration of an exhibition in Nice. Bertrand Desprez, Marion Gronier, Byung-Hun Min, Patrick Swirc and Elene Usdin represent their subjects through their own eyes. A fascinating play of mirrors in which the anonymous rub shoulders with icons, the jet-set, the powerful, and phantasmagorical characters. Until May 12th, Th��tre de la Photographie et de l�Image, 27, bd Dubouchage, Nice (entr�e libre).

With this new creation, Jean-Christophe Maillot, choreographer of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, leaves the world of great narrative ballets to�devote himself to short, abstract pieces. Comprised of five independent sections, Chor�borrows the early days of American musicals as its backcloth. April, from 25th to 28th. Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

The 41st fair for antiques, bric-�-brac and modern art, renamed the �Antibes Art Fair�, will open its vast marquee to the public from April 20th to May 6th. On the programme : a trip through the history of art via the masterpieces on display. Antiques and bric-�-brac, of course, together with a growing selection of designer furnishings - Jacobsen, Gray, Le Corbusier, Eames - and artworks by 20th century masters : De�Sta�l, Picasso, Dufy, Tapi�s, Zadkine... New exhibitors include the gallery �Dans de beaux draps�, which will present a superb collection of house linen. Gallery-owners, antique and art dealers, cabinet-makers, experts in bronze, ceramics, jewellers and gilders expect over 25,000 visitors to come hunt for that unique item to complete their�homes or collections ! From Avril 20th to May 6th, Port Vauban, Antibes. 10 � (04 93 34 65 65).

With her sulky pout and vintage pop compositions, the pretty Lana - who borrowed her stage name from the Chevrolet Delray - made a sensational entry into the international charts with her hit �Video Games�, a real phenomenon on Youtube. In Monaco, she will perform vaporous and sensual songs from her albums Born to die and Paradise. May 4th, Op�ra Garnier Monte-Carlo. 65 �. (00 377 98 06 36 36)

With a look reminiscent of Morrissey and a guitar slung over his shoulder, British vocalist Hugh Coltman, former lead singer with The Hoax, still sings the blues, but now on his own. On the stage of the Cedac, he will be performing songs from his new album, focusing on love, decadence, chosen family and indifference. Worth discovering. March 15th, Cedac de Cimiez, Nice (04 97 25 62 75)

Born in Teheran, a graduate of the Beaux-Arts in Paris, Axel Pahlavi spent part of his adolescence in Nice and now lives and works in Berlin. To be followed very closely, the work of this artist sees itself as baroque�: it confronts real and imaginary worlds in hyper-realist canvases. Pahlavi�s work as a colorist with its play on light is compelling, sometimes disturbing, but above all fascinating. Encompassing the human figure, underground worlds, death, science, religious painting and comic strips, Axel Pahlavi excels in his work on human flesh, not hesitating to explore it beneath all its coverings. Accessible to all, the exhibition �Car je suis malade d�amour� proposes 15 large canvases staging the artist�s muse : his wife, the artist Florence Obrecht. From March 2nd to June 2nd, Galerie de la Marine, 59, quai des Etats-Unis, Nice (04 93 62 37 11)

Various venues in the town of Grasse will host the third edition of the �Musiques Sacr�es� festival, with evenings on special themes revolving around world music : the Song of Songs, Judeo-Proven�al music, jazz and Free-Masonry, requiems, sacred Islamic and medieval Christian song... March, from 22th to 27th. www.musiques-sacrees-du-monde.com

This classic vocalist who sells the most titles in the world will perform on stage in the Salle des Princes in a one-off concert. The�star of baroque music, the fascinating C�cilia Bartoli will offer a few opuses from her latest album �Mission�, highlighting the little-known Italian composer Agostino Steffanio (1654-1728), whose life marked by religious secrets and diplomatic espionnage was worthy of a novel. March 6th, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

Loving and building
Rudy Ricciotti, Patrick Bouchain, Anne Lacaton & Jean-Philippe Vassal, Luca Merlini, Anna Heringer, Tyin Tegnestue, Johannes Norlander, Peter Cody, Fran Sylvestre and Manuel Aires Mateus. The full list of the ten prestigious architects invited by the Villa Noailles to share their personal views of their own production in an exhibition entitled �Aimer, aimer, aimer, b�tir�. This very instructive event explains the role of the architect in today�s society. By means of a straightforward scenography and a series of lectures, each one is questioned about his/her work, past, present and future. With evident sincerity, in a series of photos, plans and models, the creative process becomes visible, with each participant keen to share his way of thinking and his work tools with the public. Until March 24th at the Villa Noailles, Mont�e Noailles, Hy�res (04 98 08 01 98)

Every two years, the old village of Cagnes-sur-Mer is transformed into a floral park for the duration of the �Expofleurs� exhibition which gives a place of honour for four whole days to the most beautiful plants and flowers. In this showcase, a real must for the region�s horticulturists, florists also present their contemporary creations. From March 29th to April 1st, Haut de Cagnes.

Following last year�s very successful inauguration and a first exhibition attracting lots of visitors, the Jean Cocteau Museum now proposes its second event : �Rouge et or� (Red and Gold). It is devoted to the theatre and the relationship entertained by the artist with this form of expression. Split into six sequences (�Vers une po�sie de th��tre�, �La trag�die revisit�e�, �Le cin�ma de th��tre��), this new exhibit consists of sketches, stage props, photographs, old documents, extracts from films, and invites us to wander through a world peopled by Edwige Feuill�re, Edith Piaf, Jeanne Moreau, Jean Marais... Until September 16th, mus�e Jean Cocteau, collection S�verin Wunderman, Menton (04 89 81 52 50).

When David Raffini and Florian Pugnaire work together, they come up with videos or installations that are truly spectacular. ��nergie sombre� is one of their joint productions. In this film, a vehicle is driven at a daunting pace, then undergoes astonishing transformations, finally becoming a �total sum of destruction�, to reflect a famous phrase coined by Picasso. Until May 13th, mus�e national Pablo Picasso, Vallauris (04 93 64 71 83).

Spanish artist Jos� Mari� Mellado is not simply a�photographer, but rather a great technician of photography. In fact, after meticulously processing his shots, he works on his images numerically and�produces remarkable prints. This opportunity allows us to see some of�his�work on landscapes in Iceland, Cuba and Colombia. Sublime ! Until April 20th, Loft, Cannes (04 92 59 14 04).

Saturated at ground level, the Principality of Monaco has had to find solutions in order to develop, opting for vertical construction, delving underground and claiming land from the sea. Architecture and urban planning form the hub of this exhibition reviewing the achievements and plans in the period from 1958 to 2012. Among other things, we discover amazing ideas such as Yona Friedman�s �Venise mon�gasque�, �Thalassopolis� proposed by Paul Maymont and Manfredi Nicoletti�s �Ville Satellite et le Marinarium�. Until May 12th, Nouveau Mus�e National de Monaco, Villa Paloma, Monaco (00 377 98 98 19 62).

�Le Ballet m�canique� was the title of�an�experimental film made by Fernand L�ger in 1924. Sarah Morris, a multi-disciplinary American artist, has borrowed the title and pursued L�ger�s realistic design while presenting her own work : lacquer on canvas, invariably in a square format. With her expert hand, Sarah Morris transforms our urban and office spaces into polychrome grids and graphic signs. Visitors will be able to contemplate her latest offerings composed of paper-clips and knots, together with older works such as �Midtown� (1998) and �Pools-Blue Moon� (2003). Until March 4th, mus�e national Fernand L�ger, Biot (04 92 91 50 30).

A doctor by profession, Bernard Massini is also an enthusiastic art collector. His private collection is one of the most fascinating of our day and age, which is why the Maeght Foundation has decided to present about 70 works (out of a total 450) by 36 different artists to give the public a partial tour of discovery. Until March 17th, Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul de Vence (04 93 32 81 63).

Emmanuel R�gent has adopted an unusual approach : he stages works with something missing and invites anyone looking at them to fill in the blanks. Monochrome paintings sanded down on canvas and large-format drawings on paper are expertly presented and contribute clues for reflection on the title of the exhibition : �Getting out of bed while talking about a river�. Until January 27th, MAMAC, Nice (04 97 13 42 01).

Since it was invented, the automobile has turned everything upside down. Cities adapted to it by providing roads and parking facilities, rural areas sacrificed their precious space and comfort to accommodate motorways, new skills and jobs came into being... Nowadays, this means of transport is synonymous with technology and a symbol of consumption. Whether a saloon, limousine, convertible or family car, the automobile has also inspired the world of art, as evidenced by this exhibition entitled �L�Automobile dans tous ses �tats�. It consists of 130 different works (maquettes, paintings, sketches, sculptures, photographs�) bearing signatures as prestigious as those of Arman, C�sar, Vasarely� Until January 20th, H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

With �La Contrebasse�, Patrick S�skind whisks us into the world of his character, a musician both impassioned and frustrated, in a captivating monologue. Taking up the role once played so brilliantly by Jacques Villeret, Clovis Cornillac proves himself capable of meeting the challenge. From January 18th to February 2nd, Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

One is celebrating its 14th edition, another has just seen the light of day. �Janvier dans les �toiles� and �Cirque en Corps� pay tribute to Living Art by proposing an eclectic line-up of regional and international performers. Many troupes will participate to shine the spotlight on the diversity and enchantment of circus culture. Among others, the audience will be able to admire the amazing feats of Cahin-caha (France), Cirkus Cirk�r (Sweden), Cirk La Putyka (Czech Republic) and Karakasa Circus (Italy/Russia/Roumania) on the trapeze, tightrope, stilts, in juggling, skate-boarding etc... From January 24th, until February 3rd at the espace chapiteaux des Sablettes, La Seyne-sur-Mer (04 98 00 25 70) and until February 24th at the CREAC and the parc Chanot, Marseilles (04 91 55 61 64).

Launched in 1984, the Compagnie Arketal is composed of Greta Bruggeman, stage designer and creator of marionnettes, and Sylvie Osman, puppeteer and producer. Together, they have since staged many shows, each one more marvellous than the last. The exhibition �Puppet Time� enables us to rediscover their marionnettes and obtain a deeper understanding of all their artistic work. Until February 17th, Espace Miramar, Cannes (04 97 06 45 24).

Laurent de Wilde and Jacques Gamblin work in complicity, mixing words and notes, making everything swing, in this uninhibited and off-beat show. Gamblin tells stories, sings, improvises and demonstrates other kinds of energy, vibrancy and talent than those for which he is already well-known.
January 25th and 26th, Th��tre de Grasse (04 93 40 53 00).

A father suffering from amnesia since the death of his wife, two sisters and a brother, two fake cousins and a doctor, the guardian of everyone�s health, who delivers his diagnosis of this fragile community, gradually rotting away. These are the characters in the play �La Maladie de la Famillle M.�, signed Fausto Paradivino and performed by the troupe of the Com�die-Fran�aise. January 31st and February 1st, Th��tre Libert�, Toulon (04 98 00 56 76).

Catherine Issert opened her art gallery in 1975. Since then, artists have followed in succession and their works have resounded, and still resound, within these walls entirely dedicated to international trends in contemporary art. The exhibit entitled �Moi & les Autres� offers us the chance to form an opinion of the wide arrray of talent which has been displayed and re-live some of the highlights by taking a second look at some of their works. Alb�rola, Ben, Blais, Broccolichi, Castellas, Descamps, Ghelloussi, Hamu, Morellet, Pag�s, Pesce, Pinaud, Schiess, Schmitt, Theunis, Traquandi, Viallat and Wolska participate in the show. Until January 26th, Galerie Catherine Issert, Saint-Paul de Vence (04 93 32 96 92).

This is an opportunity to live a unique experience with Fr�d�ric Lanovsky : to admire his gigantic sculptures and the totally original water-colour he has produced here in the museum, but also to meet him in person. He has, in fact, set up an ephemeral studio on the first floor and invites the public to share some very special moments in creative art.
Until January 25th, Mus�e International d�Art Na�f Anatole Jakovsky, Nice (04 93 71 78 33).

Terez Montcalm�s reinterpretations of legendary titles such as �Voodoo Child, �Sweet Dreams�, �Where the Streets have no Name�, �C�est extra�, still echo in our ears. This Canadian vocalist with such a special voice (also a composer and guitarist) borrows the repertory of Shirley Horn, thus paying tribute to one of the world�s greatest jazz-singers, who passed away in 2005. December 11th, th��tre des Salins, Martigues (04 42 49 02 00).

Since 1986, Fabrice Hyber has delved into the human cosmos through paintings he describes as �homeopathic�. He has now completed thirty of them, and it is with the presentation of about twenty or so that he confirms that he is well and truly one of the most inventive artists of his generation. For the first time, �Essentiel� assembles his large-format works, designed as amalgams with an accumulation of drawings, writings, objects and photos, rather like story-boards. Compositions allowing him to express his thoughts and which thus carry a weighty homeopathic value. Until January 6th, Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul de Vence (04 93 32 81 63).

Lucien Clergue has adopted this appealing theme to reveal one aspect of his work : nudes photographed from the most unexpected angles ! We partly owe our enjoyment of these magnificent shots to Picasso, who was not mistaken about Lucien Clergue�s talent and quite rightly encouraged his early efforts... Until January 5th, Espace Soardi, Nice (04 93 62 32 03).

As part of the �Le�ons du Thoronet�, Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura (Pritzker Prize 2011) took up an interest in the light in the cellars and the way in which visits of the abbey are organized. He thus designed a very long flat LED lighting system, then ten numbered and engraved plaques bearing the names of the various locations. Until December 31st, Abbaye du Thoronet.

Alongside the exhibition of Martin Morrrell�s photographs entitled �Indian Figures�, the museum proposes �Figures d�hommes�, consisting of portraits from the 15th to 19th centuries. A chance to observe the democratization of this artistic discipline, once solely used to pay homage to the powerful and offer them posterity. Here one sees men young or old, elegant or more humble, notables or military men, drawn in black lead, painted in oils or water-colour by French, Dutch, English and German artists. Portraits true to their models or more stylized, if not allegorico-mythological, as in the case of Jean Alaux by Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres� Until December 31st, mus�e Fragonard, Grasse (04 93 36 02 07).

Would you like to take a trip back in time to the heart of other civilizations ? Accept this invitation extended by the MAAOA. Its collection has been recently enriched by an ensemble of American-Indian feather head-dresses brought back by Dr. Marcel Heckenroth who did his visiting rounds on the Oyapock River from 1939 to 1942.
From November 15th, Mus�e d�Arts Africains, Oc�aniens, Am�rindiens, Marseille (04 91 14 58 38).

During a stay as artist in residence, and in response to a photo commission from the Villa Noailles, C�cile Bortoletti set off to discover the region basking in a surprisingly luxuriant nature. Her lens lingered on certain details and many of her shots are rather kaleidoscopic. Landscapes, vegetation, sturdy trees, ailing palms, the burning sun, buildings, paths, gardens� Nothing escapes the gaze of C�cile Bortoletti. For this artist who has also worked in theatre, cinema and fashion (on Issey Miyake campaigns), and who lives and works in Paris, this year spent in the South was certainly an enriching experience. Visitors will enjoy sharing it� Until January 13th, Villa Noailles, Hy�res (04 98 08 01 98).

No�lle Perna and her incredible fushia dress are back on stage for an ecologically-minded show. �Mado remet sa Tourn�e� hopes to fill clients in her �Bar des Oiseaux� with lots of fresh energy. Renewable energy, of course ! December 10th and 11th, Casino du Palais de la M�diterran�e, Nice (04 97 25 81 36).

An exhibition dedicated to ancient buildings which hosted shows in Gaul was organized in 2010 by the Municipality of Fr�jus (Heritage Department) and L�Inrap, in collaboration with the Arles Antique Departmental Museum, the Museum of Archaeology of N�mes and the Archaeological Mission of Aix-en-Provence. In 2012, it was developed and adapted by the Museum of Archeology of Antibes. Until January 6th, mus�e d�arch�ologie, Antibes (04 92 90 53 31).

He has fashioned this �Baby Bear�, �Bull�, �Boar�, �Otter�, �Hippopotamus� and various birds meticulously and with evident passion. Using bronze, pewter, stone, wood or poly-marble, Guy Gueymann gives shape to animals with pure lines, curves and bone structures, so carefully worked that one can guess at their movement. From December 1st to January 12th, Galerie Michel Estades, Toulon (04 94 89 49 98).

When the Palais Longchamp in Marseille is on display in the Palais Carnol�s in Menton, the event is certainly not to be missed ! For two whole years (from 2005 to 2007), Michel Eisenlohr took photos of the Phocean building. In black-and-white, from every possible angle, this monument of local heritage is revealed as never before. A �ch�teau d�eau� with pond and fountain, a Fine Arts Museum, Museum of Natural History, a public park and observatory all at the same time, it has been revisited in all four seasons, by day and by night, in its chapels, archives, service stairways and basements, by an attentive artist with a tender eye who now presents us with his romantic vision. Until January 7th, mus�e des beaux-arts, Palais Carnol�s, Menton (04 93 35 49 71).

In follow-up to �Lumi�res sur Bugatti�, the Museum is proud to present its new exhibition, �Lumi�res sur un si�cle de g�nie automobile fran�ais�, or French car design in the 20th century. Alongside legendary models produced by engineers and body-builders, a superb collection of chandeliers adds further brilliance to the event. From december 14th to January 16th, Mathieu Museum, Gargas (04 90 74 92 40).

Dark-haired Sylvie Hoarau and the blond Aur�lie Saada, the beautiful members of the Brigitte duo, are leaving venues in Paris to finally perform here in the south. Launched by their surprising remake of the NTM hit, �Ma Benz�, they assume their retro style which is drawing an ever wider audience. November 29th, la Palestre, Le Cannet.

Two aspects of Bernard Plossu�s work are being shown simultaneously in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. A series of photographs (107 to be precise) of La Sainte-Victoire and, at the same time, a nod-and-a-wink to Paul C�zanne, whose paintings of the mountain made it famous all over the world. For Plossu, La Sainte-Victoire is white. He in fact climbed to the top and discovered an incredible light, a dazzling light which seems to burst from his black-and-white photographs. On different occasions, he took photos of all its variations and makes the spectator feel the soul of the place, with a touch of poetry that is perfectly palpable... ... Until December 16th, Mus�e Granet (04 42 52 88 32) and Centre de la Vieille Charit� (04 91 14 59 18).

Put Ravi Coltrane on saxophone, David Virelles on piano, Robert Hurst on bass and Kariem Riggins on drums, and you get a brilliant quartet for an evening of first-class music. Far from resting on the laurels of his famous surname, Ravi has gotten together a really good band and treats connoisseurs to some highly original renderings. Not to be missed ! November 15th, salle Grappelli, Nice (04 93 53 89 61).

Jean-Paul van Lith presents his work as a creative glassmaker, together with documents recalling his accomplishments for the town of Cannes. He also shares this exhibition space with the students from the Coll�ge Ranguin, with which he collaborates on a regular basis. These budding young artists have, in fact, created a number of object-sculptures. Until November 11th, Espace Miramar, Cannes (04 93 43 10 92).

After studying architecture, then turning to photo-journalism (for �The Independent�) and winning awards in fashion photography and the world of show business while also making a few commercials, Martin Morrell discovered a passion : travel and, of all the destinations he visited, India. Staying there on several occasions, he has brought back some superb shots : a monk, a groom, a linesman, a smuggler, children on the banks of the Ganges, street children... Poignant portraits reunited here under the title �Indian Figures�. Until December 31st, mus�e Fragonnard, Grasse (04 93 36 02 07).

The superb Imany from the Comoro Islands has successfully taken the step from modeling to music, and producer Malick N�Diaye (who discovered Ayo) was not mistaken. Touring all over France to promote her first album, a magnificent collection of soul-folk ballads entitled �The Shape Of a Broken Heart�, Imany is honouring us with a concert in the Principality. November 23rd, salle du canton, Monaco (00 377 93 10 12 10).

S�bastien Tellier, king of the French electro scene, opens the programme on November 2nd. The rest of the month looks just as thrilling with performances by percussionist Zakir Hussain (Nov. 3rd), pop-folk band Revolver (8th), the legendary LKJ (9th), the extraordinary Puppetmastaz (15th), ending with a flamenco festival (23rd) and a celebration of the theatre�s 20th anniversary (29th). Du 2 au 29 novembre, Th��tre Lino Ventura, Nice.

Bernard Moninot teaches at the �cole Nationale Sup�rieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. A talented draughtsman and engraver, he has taken on an ambitious and unusual project : illustrating sound and silence. For several years, he has made lots of drawings in his notebooks which, according to him, evoke sound and silence. Three installations that are a direct result of this research, �Objets de silence�, �Silent-Listen� and �Antichambre�, are staged by the artist using translucent screens hung before picture windows. These uncommon works thus seem to be large pictures of shadows. Until December 3rd, mus�e Jean Cocteau, Menton (04 89 81 52 50).

These photos are only a few months old. Andr� Villers in fact took them in August. The photographer has lost none of his visual vivacity and proves it in this exhibition which sets the seal on 60 years of his passion for photography. A diamond anniversary ! We wish him yet more enjoyment, and know that you will share it by visiting his Museum.
Until December 31st, Mus�e de la Photographie Andr� Villers, Mougins (04 93 75 85 67).

On a trip to Hong Kong with her dance troupe, Pina Bausch was impressed by window-cleaners going about their business on the fronts of skyscrapers. In the choreographer�s mind, a new ballet was already taking shape. �Le Laveur de Vitres� is visually dazzling and totally jubilatory. In parallel to this performance, spectators will be able to see the film �Pina�, a tribute made to the artiste by Wim Wenders. December, from 14th to 16th, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

Once a reporter, particularly in India, which earned him the Niepce Prize in 1957, Denis Brihat has devoted himself for the past few years to nature. A native of Paris who lived in Biot, then settled in Bonnieux where he still lives, the artist now draws inspiration from Provence. Fruit, vegetables and flowers have become his models. He photographs them, then works on the images using a very special technique : the art of �virage�. Thanks to chemical processes, gold or selenium, he retouches the colours, emphasizes the transparency of an onion skin, chisels the silhouette of a tulip, shades the petals of a poppy. The beauty of nature explodes ! Until February 3rd, Th��tre de la Photographie et de l�Image, Nice (04 97 13 42 20).

Photographs, paintings, sculptures or mirror mosaics... These eight women are representing Iranian art in this exhibition entitled �The other half of Iran�. Thanks to their creativity, they pass on a number of messages about their culture, their place in society and their vision of the world. Until December 20th, Sem-Art gallery, Monaco (00 377 97 70 50 70).

A leader in �modest art� and member of the group �Figuration libre�, Herv� Di Rosa has accustomed us to works inspired by comic strips, rock and graffiti. Today, however, for the first time in Montpellier, he proposes numerous African sculptures and other giant fetishes. Bronzes he has produced using traditional African techniques, now assembled under the title �Yhayen� meaning �Procession�. A native of S�te, the artist continues to surprise us, confirming both his talent and his irrepressible character ! Until October 24th, Carr� Saint-Anne, Montpellier (04 67 60 82 11).

The vocalist in the group that bears her name, Carmen Maria Vega distils good lyrics and good humour. Propulsed into the limelight with the title �La Menteuse� in 2009, she is now defending the band�s second album : �Du chaos naissent les �toiles�. On stage, she whisks you into an up-beat and off-beat world ! October 19th, Th��tre Lino Ventura, Nice (04 97 25 62 75).

�A la vie d�lib�r�e !� traces the history of performance art produced on the C�te d�Azur from 1951 to 2011. From these artistic experiences performed in public, all that remains are images and writings. These documents combined provide a kind of sociological and anthropological study, while giving an insight into esthetic approaches that have marked the cultural scene on the French Riviera over the past 60 years. Until October 28th, Villa Arson, Nice (04 92 07 73 73).

The eight communes comprising the Pays de Fayence joined by Bagnols-en-For�t are playing host to the �Festival de Quatuor � Cordes� for the 24th consecutive year, while the master class and training course for musical ensembles are being held in Saint-Rapha�l. On the programme, among other things, the entire works of Beethoven by the Ysa�e quartet. From October 27th to November 3rd, pays de Fayence (04 94 76 02 03).

From a trip to the Far East, Henri Cernuschi brought back many ceramics used in the preparation and tasting of tea. These pieces are part of the collection of the Mus�e Cernuschi, Mus�e des Arts de l�Asie, in Paris, which was delighted to lend them to its counterpart in Toulon for a temporary exhibition entitled �Tea in the Edo period� (1603-1967). Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in Japanese civilization and customs, and appreciate their refinement while contemplating tea bowls, pots for powdered tea, cold water pots, teacups, teapots... Until October 14th, Mus�e des Arts asiatiques, Toulon (04 94 36 83 10).

A real �Best of� tour, Sting�s �Back To Bass Tour� takes the form of a selection of his most popular titles from the last 25 years of his career. Fans will be able to hear hits he chalked up as part of �Police� and others he produced when he decided to go solo. The star has given them a more �rock� style interpretation, inviting his audiences to re-live some unforgettable musical memories...
November 12th, Palais Nika�a, Nice.

A key figure in modern art on the C�te d�Azur, Yves Klein departed from this world 50 years ago. In his memory, this totally unprecedented exhibition links his work to that of two other heavyweights in the world of art : James Lee Byars and Anish Kapoor. Some of their installations and performances are thus on display, with monochromes and matter as common themes. While Klein remains the past-master of blue, pure pigment, resin and natural sponge, Byars magnifies white in Thassos marble sculptures and Kapoor experiments with red wax. Until December 16th, MAMAC, Nice (04 97 13 42 01).

Photographer Olivier Remualdo took his camera to the Prado-R�publique neighbourhood of Cannes and immortalized its residents and passers-by. The result is a series of portraits shot on a patch of red carpet which turns out to be a real iconography of the place. �Vive (la) R�publique !� brings his special touch of fantasy to the art world. Until November 15th, quartier Prado-r�publique, Cannes (04 93 99 19 77).

From his youth spent in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, Daniel Melingo has retained the memory of authentic characters and introduced them into his songs : small-time thugs, loose girls... Far from the tango of the drawing-room, his musical style is much more raw, the �prototango� as he calls it, with lyrics borrowed from street people�s slang. A judicious blend of banter and lyricism... October 12th, Th��tre La passerelle, Gap (04 92 52 52 52).

With Karl Biscuit handling design and musical composition and Marcia Barcellos entrusted with choreography and costumes, the new show proposed by the Syst�me Castafiore company is very promising... �Ren�e en botanist dans plans hyperboles� is touted as a dreamlike work that perfectly combines metaphysics and marvels. An absolute must, kicking off the 2012-2013 season. Until September 30th, la Malmaison, Cannes (04 97 06 44 90).

Divided into seven parts under topics such as �Modernity and identity : think architecture here and now� or �The temptation of the sublime : on the theme of large dimensions�, this ambitious exhibition focuses on modern and contemporary experiments conducted in the Var. Twenty-one properties or ensembles serve as examples, including the Palais de Justice in Draguignan, the Villecroze Music Academy and the Lyc�e Albert Camus in Fr�jus. Sketches, original plans, photographs, traditional or digital models, interviews with architects and sculptures provide food for thought in this fascinating foray into the world of architecture. Until november 18th, H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

Even if you missed the first �Festen�, you will have no difficulty understanding the story of this follow-up, again adapted and staged by Daniel Benoin, and based on the work by Thomas Vinterberg. The play takes place on the day of the father�s funeral (�Festen� was being played on his birthday) and here again, it begins as a comedy, then switches to tragedy, taking us into the hearts of this tormented family. From September 28th to December 2nd, Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

In a decor staging a kitchen, rest�aurant and old-fashioned caf�, the exhib�ition entitled �Passez � table, les restaurants � Menton 1860-1936� encompasses all the various aspects of dining in restaurants : customs and traditions at table, menus, kitchen and dining-room staff, supplies... For those who enjoy a good meal and a touch of history. Until October 1st, Palais de l�Europe, Menton (04 92 10 33 06).

Furniture or artwork, blown-glass, �p�te de verre� or flat glass, all the objects on display come from the CIRVA collection (�Centre International de Recherche sur le Verre et les Arts Plastiques�). �The Temptation of Glass� is the 20th exhibition organized by the �mile Hugues Foundation in the Ch�teau de Villeneuve. Each room in this impressive building is dedicated to the creations of one artist or a single major artwork, inviting vistors to explore many different worlds. On his tour, the spectator encounters large pink �loukoums�, a hanger for a kimono, a mask, balls, planets and many other wonderful installations celebrating the CIRVA�s 25 years of creativity. Until November 18th, Ch�teau de Villeneuve, Vence (04 93 58 15 78).

When kinetic art and optical art get together, they produce works of a voluntarily unstable character which plunge the spectator into a state of vertigo. The works on display here, 85 in all, neons, mobiles and sculptures, perfectly illustrate the theme. An attractive and interactive exhibition ! Until November 4th, Villa Datris, Isle-sur-la Sorgue (04 90 95 23 70).

About 30 paintings by Bonnard, Monet, Vuillard and Matisse bear witness to the friendly relations they shared with each other. The exhibition is divided into three parts: �Bonnard, Vuillard and the Nabis : crossed portraits�, �Bonnard and Monet : nature, from simplicity to excessiveness� and �Bonnard and Matisse : variations on the theme of the window�.
Until September 16th, mus�e Bonnard, Le Cannet (04 93 94 06 06).

A founding member of New Realism, artist and �appropriator of posters�, Jacques Villegl� produced a very original body of work that inspired both Pop Art and Arte Povera. A fine tribute is now being paid to him with this fascinating retrospective. By collecting street posters which had been torn by anonymous hands and transforming them into works of art, Jacques Villegl� showed intuition and a sense of relevance. The �poorness� of his materials led him to reveal a creative generosity which is still warmly admired. Until September 16th, mus�e d�art contemporain, Marseille (04 91 14 66 25)

Portraits, indoor scenes and city�scapes are the three genres of classic painting to be found in Aurore Valade�s photographs. She gets her models - men, women, girls, mothers, grandmothers - to pose in their worlds, in very intimate and meticulous stagings, to share with us part of their everyday lives... Until September 1st, galerie Sintitulo, Mougins (04 92 92 13 25).

The family of Henri Matisse has just made an extraordinary gift to the Museum dedicated to his work. Infact, over 400 �cut-out gouache elements on paper not used by Henri Matisse in his works� are now reunited to throw further light on this new field of creation explored by the artist in his day. Until september 23rd, mus�e Matisse, Nice (04 93 81 08 08).

Between May 1931 and January 1933, the Dakar-Djibouti mission took place under the aegis of Marcel Griaule, with Michel Leiris, Gaston-Louis Roux, Andr� Schaeffner, Jean Mouchet, D�borah Lifchitz, Abel Faivre, Jean Moufle and Eric Lutten. It enabled them to bring back 3,600 objects, 300 manuscripts, 6,000 photographs, 200 sound recordings and scientific material, revealing the richness of the African people. This summer exhibition offers the opportunity to re-live this adventure while applauding Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles for playing the part of patrons in the enterprise. Until September 30th ,Villa Noailles, Hy�res (04 98 08 01 98).

�Le Monde Voil� by Ralph Samuel Grossmann is comprised of magnificent photographs of clouds. The artist also breathes life into sculptures he calls �Les Mod�lisations�. All these works reveal undeniable talent and treat anyone looking at them to a moment of escapism... Until September 30th, Mus�e de la Mer, �le Sainte-Marguerite, Cannes (04 93 38 55 26).

Homage to this artist who �spent a lifetime learning to draw like a child�. The exhibition entitled �Picasso, les Chemins du Sud�, in reference to his stays on the C�te d�Azur, in Vallauris, Cannes and Mougins, spans 27 years of creativity. It consists of paintings, sculptures, but also photograms and photomontages produced in collaboration with Andr� Villers. Until September 30th, la Malmaison, Cannes (04 97 06 44 90).

Hand-painted in acrylic on aluminum, using a sponge, Fabiola Govare�s portraits exercise real magnetic power over their spectators. The artist shapes the faces starting with the eyes, to which she gives incredible depth. These gazes become intriguing, even spell-binding. From her many travels around the world, Fabiola has retained a particular fondness for the people of Africa and Brazil, devoting a large part of her work to them. In her gallery of multicoloured characters, she uses a lot of white, making her paintings very luminous. She also produces sculptures in the "primitive� genre. From September 15th to October 13th, galerie Michel Estades, Toulon (04 94 89 49 98).

An unusual approach : �Ose C Lavie� is staged in a villa ! Created by the company Artmacadam, the show combines music, theatre, dance and painting. Six dancers, an artist and a musician-composer have put together a very original artistic performance, offering the audience a thought-provoking reflection on our relationship with the world.
September, from 14th to 16th, la Maison Abandonn�e (Villa Cameline), Nice (06 60 984 988).

To participate in the �Mirror Mirror� project, all the artists borrowed inspir�ation from the life of singer Suzy Solidor. Twenty-nine creators from fourteen different countries have come up with unique pieces. Highly original objects and jewellery, in homage to their muse.
Until september 23rd, Espace Solidor, Cagnes-sur-Mer (04 93 22 19 25).

In the exhibition �Acte V� at the R�attu Museum, �Sc�ne 2� unveils works by Picasso from Arles while �Sc�ne 3� hosts an equally prestigious guest by the name of Christian Lacroix. The fashion designer follows up an experience he had already accepted in 2008 in this establishment. About forty carefully selected costumes thus rub shoulders with works by the world-famous Pablo, who long ago donated 57 drawings to the museum and town of Arles. Two other major works by the artist, a portrait of this mother and that of Lee Miller in Arl�sienne costume, are also on display. Until december 30th, mus�e R�attu, Arles (04 90 49 37 58).

Often the subject of controversy yet regarded as one of the 20th century�s greatest painters, G�rard Gasiorowski proposes a rich production of rare diversity. Under the amusing tile, �Vous �tes fou Gasiorowski, il faut vous ressaisir...�, this highly original exhibition presents for the first time all of his �Stances� together with his main works in large format.
Until september 26th, Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul (04 93 32 81 63).

Nils-Udo composes very disturbing photographs. He in fact creates installations made of minerals and plants which are then captured by his lens. He is also the author of superb oils on canvas and a series of works in Indian ink. Two film screenings revealing his �work in progress� complete this exhibition dedicated to his work. Until October 7th, centre d�art Campredon, Isle-sur-La Sorgue (04 90 38 17 41).

For the eighth consecutive year, �Rencontre des Jardins� will propose all the latest trends for gardens over four days and three �late nights�. The theme for this year�s edition, �My garden, my bubble...�, will stage real cocoons composed of plants. Professionals will be on hand to unveil their products and know-how. You will meet designers, landscape artists, iron-workers, stone masons and artists, discover outdoor shower prototypes, rare plants, new technologies, ideas for decoration... At this show, every step you take brings a pleasant surprise. September from 7th to 10th, p�pini�res Derbez, Gassin (04 94 56 61 04).

Thirteen years after opening in Paris, Galerie W now boasts exhib�ition space of 3,500 m2. A building devoted to art in Montmartre, a score of contemporary artists that the gallery has taken from the Champs-Elys�es to the Ile de R�, from Peking to Route 66. With Galerie W, art is everywhere, and since the spring in Cannes, it is indeed omnipresent in this address which uncannily resembles a New York art gallery. 19 rue des Etats-Unis, Cannes (04 93 38 42 68).

�Le monde magique des marionnettes� invites you to discover a fascinating exhibition and a show put on by two major artists : ventriloquist Fred Roby and Lo�c Bettini, puppet�eer and occasional poet. Every Sunday at 4 p.m., you can come applaud these shows free of charge.
Until 23rd September, Espace Culturel de Tourrettes-Levens (04 93 91 00 16).

In the �sixties and �seventies, Jeanloup Sieff abandoned his work as fashion photographer to concentrate on nudes. He staged women with lovely lithe bodies, including that of dancer Carolyn Carlson, producing photos known for their extreme sensuality. He then decided to explore a completely different decor and set off for Death Valley in the USA. As beautiful as his earlier shots, the ones he brought back from this arid location offer an ambiance which is diametrically opposed. A classic theme in the history of art, Eros and Thanatos, love and death, haunt the work of Jeanloup Sieff : visitors will no doubt endorse the fact on seeing this superb exhibition. Until September 16th, mus�e de la Photographie Andr� Villers, Mougins (04 93 75 85 67).

Using branches from chestnut trees, cords of hemp, bamboo or even books, Cannes-based artist Bernard Abril has invented a real �outdoor calligraphy�. Here, nature and literature are interwoven, the atmosphere is poetic and one's discoveries sheer enchantment... Until September 30th, jardins de la m�diath�que Noailles, Cannes (04 97 06 44 83).

Even if he was interested in other art forms, Antoni Clav� focused first and foremost on painting. With unparalleled consistency, he produced many oil paintings, to which he sometimes added collage or aluminum. His work on materials, colourful notes and organized chaos constitute the distinctive signs of his work. A selection of engravings and sculptures complete this exhibition. Until September 2nd, H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

For the first time in France, you will have the privilege of discovering part of the prestigious collection of modern and contemporary art of the Frieder Burda Museum (of Baden Baden in Germany). The selections on display mainly consist of large format paintings and sculptures ; the chance to admire works by German Expressionists such as Ludwig Kirchner, August Macke and Max Beckmann, those of the young German generation and American artists such as Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock. Add seven works from the last period of Picasso and an installation dedicated to the Burda Museum, and you get one of this summer�s most fascinating exhibitions. Until September 30th, mus�e Granet, Aix-en-Provence (04 42 52 88 32).

Those who have explored the genre include Daumier, Degas, Renoir, Gauguin, Bonnard, Vallotton, Mat�isse, Rouault, Freundlich, Derain, Kirchner, Picasso and Braque. Well-established in their main field of expression, they took the risk of vent�uring into a less stable arena than that of the confined and reassuring picture frame, producing works on display in this superb retrospective. Until October 8th, mus�e de l�Annonciade, Saint-Tropez (04 94 17 84 10).

Covering the last four years of his production, always very prolific, this retrospective organized by Jean-Antoine Hierro pays tribute to a powerful, untamed artist who has never stopped questioning the role of form and content in the arts. In a constant search for the perfect point of balance in space, Fahri solves beautiful mathematical equations by bending perspex, Corten steel and resin to meet his creative requirements. An exhibition that illustrates the vision of a sculptor cum tightrope-walker, who sublimates his artistic anxiety all the better to amaze us, in the superb space of this Ni�ois gallery. Until September 22nd, Hierro Desvilles Art Gallery, 4 rue Antoine-Gautier, Nice (04 97 12 15 10).

For two long evenings, the Pin�de will be set ablaze ! First with rock and the exceptional appearance of two major bands : The Kills and The Rapture. Then with soul and, again, two stars of real stature : D�Angelo and Jill Scott. Head for the ticket-office so as not to miss these conc�erts which promise to be shows of rare quality ! July 11th and 12th, pin�de Gould, Juan-les-Pins.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the International Festival of Fashion Photography is taking the form of a retrospective, encompassing its nine earlier editions. The most influential artists in this category have answered present, and their finest shots will be on display for all those fascinated by this art form. A �collector�s� event ! Until August 15th at the Croisette Roseraie and until August 28th at the Espace Miramar, Cannes (04 97 06 44 90).

Each year, the enchanting setting of the Abbaye du Thoronet hosts the �Rencontres internationales de Musique M�di�vale� for the enjoyment of fans of Gregorian chants, carols, masses etc. The Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Discantus, C�ladon, Cantica Symphonia, Peregrina and Pandit Harisprasad Chaurasia invite you to appreciate the abbey�s fantastic accoustics. July, from 19th to 25th, Abbaye du Thoronet. www.musique-medievale.fr

In late March, the site known as �Les Carri�res du Val d�Enfer� reopened its doors and has since been projecting images on its walls in an event entitled �Carri�res de Lumi�res�. This year, the show consists of paintings by two artists known as masters of colour : Gauguin and Van Gogh. While the video-projectors adorn the walls with their works, speakers play music adding an extra dimension to the already extraordinary atmosphere experienced by the visitor. This installation is an opportunity to show the many similarities between the paths taken by the two artists. Until January 6th, Carri�res du Val d�Enfer, Les Baux-de-Provence (04 90 54 55 56).

A breeze of sheer madness is about to waft over Nice ! Julien Dor�, Brigitte, Shaka Ponk, Roger Hodgson (ex-Supertramp) and Puggy comp�ose a very promising bill which will make even the most recalcitrant souls want to get out, listen and give free rein to their sense of rhythm !
July, from 17th to 21st, Th��tre de Verdure, Nice (04 97 25 62 75).

F�licien Tordo has succeeded in combining his passion with his work. As he himself says : �For me, meeting artists to take photos of them was just a wild dream !�. A dream that came true. Starting in Paris on movie sets, in theatres and at Bruno Coquatrix�s essential Olympia, he met all the celebrities of the day : Jean-Claude Brialy, Louis de Fun�s, Alain Delon, Francis Blanche, Darry Cowl, Johnny Hallyday, Annie Cordy� At a time when photographers were not yet �paparazzi�, they all allowed him to capture them freely on film. This retrospective of F�licien Tordo, who went on to create the Studio Saint-Roch in Nice, plunges us into a world full of emotion. Until September 10th at the mus�e des Beaux-Arts, Palais Carnol�s, Menton (04 93 35 49 71).

Painter, illustrator, engraver and lithographer, Pierre Alechinsky is one of those artists who master several disciplines and make the most of them to give spectators a multi-facetted work. The exhibition pres�ented here shows special interest in his work as an engraver, but also offers a few drawings and gouaches. Until August 20th, Galerie Pascal Lain�, M�nerbes (04 90 72 48 30).

When the iconic hotel in Porto-Vecchio invites artist Ant�, pioneer of Corsican Pop Art, to adorn its walls for the entire season, summer at Le Casadelmar promises to be slightly �off the wall� ! Ant� and his striking paintings, subversive diversions and symbols of Corsican legends which, however, are unlikely to ruffle any feathers. Island street-culture, atypical and personal, whose humour contains poetry and talent.
Until the end of October. www.casadelmar.fr et www. antofdp.com

On two stages, the �Grande Sc�ne� and �Sc�ne des Pins�, musicians, vocalists and bands will succeed each other in the latest edition of �Les Voix du Gaou�. On the bill, not in any order and not complete, you will be able to applaud Gossip, Arthur H., Ben Harper, LMFAO, Brigitte, Sting, Asaf Avidan, Isaya, Band of Skulls... July, from 16th to 28th, Ile du Gaou, Six-Fours-Les Plages (04 91 80 10 89).

It�s already been 50 years since Marilyn Monroe passed away. The photos comprising this exhibition date from the same year : 1962. In fact, it was only a month-and-a-half before her death that Bert Stern shot a series of photographs of the star for �Vogue� magazine. In three sessions, he took over 2,600 shots, reflecting all of Marilyn�s sensuality, complexity and fragility. Bert Stern captured the icon through his lens in glamorous low-angle portraits, topless shots, fashion photos in black-and-white and immortalizations of the beautiful actress only wrapped in a sheet... �Marilyn Monroe, la derni�re s�ance� offers a selection of these magnificent photos. Until September 9th, eespace culturel, Mougins (04 92 92 37 20).

Designed in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou in Monaco, the �Extra Large� project proposes an original tour of monumental artworks. They have been selected from the Centre Pompidou collection and include, among other items, canvases by Miro, Dubuffet, Pei-Ming, sculptures and installations by LeWitt, Tinguely and Buren. From July 13th to September 9th, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

Four names topping the bill and three �first parts� well up to the task are on the programme of the 20th edition of �Les Nuits d�Istres�. Soprano Jessy Norman will open the ball, then make way for Yannick Noah acoustic style, preceded on stage by the Belgian group, Suarez. Ahmad Jamal and George Benson will be present the same evening and for the last night, Inna Modja and Gilberto Gil will set the pace. Before and after each concert, chef S�bastien Richard proposes a cocktail buffet (40 � per person). July, from 2nd to 14th, pavillon Grignan, Istres (04 42 81 76 00).

International stars, talent on the path to consecration, regulars, newcomers� For more than a half century, �Jazz in Juan� celebrates music with tangible enjoyment. Adam Cohen, Nora Jones, Anoushka Shankar, Charlie Winston, Tom Jones, Sony Rollins, Bobby McFerrin, Kool & the Gang, even the great Jarret-Peacock-Dejohnette comprise the 2012 vintage. You will, of course, once again be able to see the �Best of the off� in the streets of Juan-les-Pins and the international competition �Jazz � Juan Revelations�. July from 12th to 22th, pin�de Gould, Juan-les-Pins (04 97 23 11 11).

It is within its Department of Decorative Arts, H�tel de Cabri�res-Sabatier d�Espeyran, that the Museum is staging an exhibition entitled �Perturbations�. 32 very zany cont�emporary creations (in ceramics and glass) confront creations prod�uced by �fa�enciers� of the past and �perturb� the museum�s sumptuous decor. Until September 16th, mus�e Fabre, Montpellier (04 67 14 83 00).

Just before �Jazz � Juan�, to ensure that fans miss out on nothing at all, the Nice Jazz Festival prepares to open its doors. Once the Jazz Festival �of Cimiez�, it successfully returned to the town centre last year. Which is where it will again be held to the delight of its spectators. Dee Dee Bridgewater will be the sponsor of this new edition with an enticing bill. Among others, Erykah Badu, Ibrahim Maalouf, Selah Sue, Jean-Marc Jafet, Thomas Dutronc, Amadou & Mariam will be your accomplices throughout these jazzy nights. July, from 8th to 12th, Place Mass�na et Th��tre de Verdure, Nice (04 97 13 28 60).

One is a photographer, the other paints. Sylvie Pesnel and Jan-Luc Guin�amant share the walls of the gallery to present and allow the public to appreciate their respective work. Sylvie Pesnel�s digital prints and Jean-Luc Guin�amant�s pigment on paper create a dialogue on the themes of light and movement. Until July 29th, Galerie 22, Cabri�res d�Avignon (04 90 71 85 06).

This wide-ranging project took two years of work, about 1,500 photographs, 500 copyright contracts, hundreds of hours of sorting and retouching, and 3,000 digital prints. The people of Vence have thus participated in �M�moire de Profils�, a real socio-artistic experiment headed by artist Fran�ois Mauplot. From July 5th to September 15th, place Godeau, Vence (04 93 24 61 45).

Who better that Jane Birkin could contribute towards a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the disappearance of Serge Gainsbourg ? Accompanied by Japanese musicians and with the participation of their daughter Charlotte, Etienne Daho and Abd Al Malik, she revisits the great Serge�s repertory. Jane Birkin, who had already orientalized it in her �Arabesque� tour, offers yet another unique version. June 20th, Op�ra Garnier, Monte-Carlo (00 377 98 06 36 36).

Born in Switzerland, living in Milan for 40 years, then working around the world for different advertiisng agencies as a creative artistic director, Raymond Gfeller has a passion and a gift for drawing. Each of his trips provides the opportunity to sketch magnificent landscapes and then devote a real collection to them. Fond of acrylic and watercolours, but also pastels and Indian ink, he transcribes what he sees onto canvas or paper, bringing back incomparable memories. With his works, he has produced two books : �90 Days in China� and �Elsewhere�, available for sale during the exhibition. June, from 4th to 17th, at the galerie municipale, Eze (04 93 41 26 00).

Teo Saavedra, Director of the �Nuits du Sud�, has once again concocted a quality programme for this atypic�al festival which attracts more and more fans every year. As well as Corneille, Ayo, Cathrine Ringer, Luz Casal, LKJ and Manu Dibango etc., the public can listen to the �Talents Nuits du Sud� competing for the 2012 title, including the Isaya twins from Aix and Tiyan from Nice (photo) who combines blues and electro/ pop with rare inspiration... From July 12th to August 11th, place du Grand Jardin, Vence (04 93 58 40 17).

Used to street performances, the Compagnie 26,000 Couverts moves for the first time into a theatre for its adaptation of �Much Ado about Nothing�. Shakespeare�s play now seems completely different, diverted from its classic origins by actors ready to improvise, a stage and auditorium which interact... No longer a play, it�s an experience ! June 19th and 20th,Th��tre Libert�, Toulon (04 98 00 56 76).

The Giuliano Gori collection, one of the most remarkable in Europe, consists of works from the Villa Celle, the Tuscan residence of this great art-lover. A collection particularly in harmony with nature which, shown here, on the hills of Saint-Paul, loses nothing of its meaning. Offering spaciousness and nature, the Maeght Foundation is, in fact, the ideal setting for these sculptures, installations, paintings, drawings, videos, photographs and models, which Gori shares with passion. �Art for nature, nature for art� thus allows us to admire works by Buren, Burri, Long, Moore, Warhol, Morandi, Hartung and many more. Until June 10th, Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul de Vence (04 93 32 81 63).

Henri Olivier explores the relationship between sculpture and landscapes (he will be at the Villa Arson for the �Journ�es jardins� on June 2nd and 3rd), though he above all focuses on our perception of space. His work then stimulates our minds by inviting us to reflect with �Ligne de ciel & Ligne d�horizon�, comprised of neon lights and engravings on metal. From May 26th to June 30th, by Loft and at the galerie Sandrine Mons, Nice (04 93 82 04 09).

Photography, painting, film and graphic design, the work of William Klein is multi-disciplinary and prolific. Today, it is his photographic work which is in the limelight, with �In & out of fashion�, a superb exhibition featuring a score of his photographs. Taken between 1958 and 2005, they reflect the world of fashion and demonstrate the technique of William Klein. A photographer who has long worked for �Vogue� magazine, and has succeeded in creating images in a new and totally original style. Until June 30th, Espace Soardi, Nice (04 93 62 32 03).

Signed Bob Fosse, �Chicago !� has been a fantastic hit on Broadway. Adapted for the cinema, and starring Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ren�e Zellweger, the show which won six Tony Awards should galvanize the public on the C�te d�Azur. On the program, ballets timed by the millimetre, ultra-sexy solos, eternal hits (�All That Jazz�, �Mr Cellophane�...), a truly immoral story and two hours of total bliss. June, from 21st to 24th, Grimaldi Forum Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

Under the title �Marc Chagall, echos of Jewish Theatre�, two paintings are reunited for the first time since the artist passed away. They are part of the decorative work undertaken by Chagall for the National Theatre of Jewish Art in 1920. In parallel, a model of the theatre and photo-montages tell the wonderful story behind these masterpieces. Until June 11th, mus�e Marc Chagall, Nice (04 93 53 87 20).

Nice, a hive of activity ! Concerts (Cypress Hill and MF Doof on May 30th, Metronomy and Charlotte Gainsbourg on May 31st), a �clubbing� night, Hi Beach Party (with Popof and Zhao), a late-night art event in the town�s old Abattoirs, a closing day in the gardens of the Cimiez Arenas with workshops, games and live music, all this and more during the Crossover Festival ! From May 26th to June 3rd, Th��tre de Verdure, Nice.

A retrospective covering 50 years of photographs signed Jo�l Meyerowitz. Photos in black-and-white keep company with photos in colour for the duration of an exhibition exclusively staged as part of �Photomed�, or �Festival de la Photographie M�diterran�enne�, now proposing its second edition. Throughout his career, this New York-based photographer has worked in many different towns and settings whose beauty he has captured in telling moments of life. In a preview, spectators will discover his recent work, with a focus on Provence. Jusqu�au 17 juin � l�H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

�We all have a job which is materially essential and a passion which is intellectually indispensable�. In terms of material, Franka Severin is the only woman in the world to own mines in South Africa ; as for intellect, she pursues her painting career with evident talent. Her abstract and very colourful paintings reflect her life : very rich ! This exhibition in retrospective style focuses on her large formats. Until July 13th, Chapelle de l�Observance, Draguignan (04 94 84 54 31).

Who said archiving was boring ? In any case, at the �Institut des Archives Sauvages�, this activity with a historical or scientific vocation has adopted an unusual approach. It in fact consists of about 30 contemporary artworks, all proposing very different conservation systems, both in form and content. Several international artists have thus submitted their own solutions and the logic behind them, in the form of objects, installations or videos. A vast and interesting subject of reflection. Until May 28th, Villa Arson, Nice (04 92 07 73 73).

From the Tang dynasty (618-907) to the 1980�s, the exhibition �Children of China, little tigers and dragons� consists of almost 250 pieces. They all tell of the early years of children considered to be a true blessing for their society. Their daily lives (education, games, holidays, beliefs�) are revealed through clothes, accessories, photographs, paintings, statuettes and other objects on display.
Until May 14th, Mus�e des Arts asiatiques, Nice (04 92 29 37 00).

Screenings of new series, autograph sessions, encounters with journalists/reporters, international actors and directors� Monte-Carlo�s Television Festival is all that and more ! In evening dresses and tuxedos, stars of the small screen keep this annual appointment, hoping to win a �Golden Nymph� like Edgar Ramirez last year, for his role in the mini-series �Carlos�.
June, from 10th to 14th. www.tvfestival.com

The PACA region�s first Contemporary Art Salon is to be held in the heart of the city. The event revolves around �Pops and Percutantes�, a very surprising installation of sculptures signed Yo Bastoni, guest of honour at the show. It is joined by a selection of about 200 other sculptors, painters, photographers, video moviemakers and art galleries, worthy representatives of today�s artistic eclecticism. This 7th edition also highlights Op Art (optical art) and invites the public to share a unique experience aboard a truck, the truck �Des Orientations. May, from 3rd to 7th, parc Jourdan, Aix-en-Provence. www.salonsmart-aix.com

Considering sculpture as a �complement to studies for his painting�, Alain Cl�ment has chosen this other means of expression to produce works in lacquered steel that he paints by hand. The interaction between two mediums allows him to add a new dimension to his work, giving depth and volume. Until May 19th, H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

They are very much in love, but their families hate each other. The outcome of this fraught relationship, an impossible love affair, will inevitably be a tragedy� Olivier Py has adapted and staged Shakespeare�s famous �Romeo and Juliet�, entrusting the main roles to two young actors full of talent : Camille Cobbi and Matthieu Dessertine.
May, from 16th to 19th, Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

Staged to distinguish three different themes - �A Fragile World�, �A Land of Pure/Pakistan� and �In the Night for Love� -, the exhibition of work by photographer-reporter Sarah Caron offers a view of the world and its different cultures.The magnificent photos selected here present widows in India, waitresses in bikinis in Chile, Benazir Bhutto in Lahore, transvestites in Cambodia and Havana, border-guards in the United States, a rocket launch in Pakistan� A sensitive review of the lives, often very difficult, of our contemporaries. Until June 3rd, Mus�e de la photographie, Mougins (04 93 75 85 67).

�Campagne-sans-Mer� introduces the work of five Swiss creators : David Bielander, Kiko Gianocca, Andi Gut, Therese Hilbert and Otto K�nzli. The viewer is surprised to discover �Slug� brooches, a �Peng hui� ring made of nylon and titanium, and a �Fux� pendant depicting a wolf�s head. Original creations adding a welcome touch of humour to the world of jewellery.
Until June 10th, Espace Solidor, Cagnes-sur-Mer (04 93 73 14 42).

A fair is by definition all-encompassing and the �Foire de Nice� does not depart from the rule. This year, it is honouring the town of Can Tho (Vietnam) by giving it exhibition space, while proposing the theme �retro glam attitude� with lots of entertaining features : a collection of Vespas, a show of Fifi Chachnil lingerie, make-up sessions signed Make Up For Ever, a workshop dedicated to baking cupcakes, another to comics, tap-dancing demonstrations� And as usual : the �B�tir� and �Tous � l�art� events !
April, from 14th to 22nd, Palais des Expositions Acropolis, Nice (04 92 00 20 80).

For this event, two selections were made with due care and attention. In fact, for the 27th International Festival of Fashion and Photography, a jury chaired by Yohji Yamamoto has chosen ten young fashion designers, while another, under the guidance of Michel Mallard and Rapha�lle Stopin, have selected ten photographers and their respective work. A fashion show and an exhibition will thus be organized, enabling viewers to keep abreast of current artistic trends in this particular field. Once again, the festival will encourage and support young creators and award several prizes. April, from 27th to 30th, exhibitions until May 27th, � la Villa Noailles, Hy�res (04 98 08 01 98).

Bringing together professionals in gardening and landscaping, the �Inspiration Jardin� show is intended for a wide audience. Children, adults, simple fans and experts will all appreciate the exceptional setting of this event and the diversity of its offerings : trees, citrus-trees, roses, bulbs, swimming pools, spas, ponds, fountains, outdoor lighting, Anduze pottery, sculpture, books�
From April 28th to May 1st, Domaine de la Mourachonne, Mouans-Sartoux (04 93 75 75 16).

Nineteen artists and thirty artworks are assembled here, giving an insight into each one�s contribution to the plastic arts in Nice and the surrounding area. The viewer naturally finds the leading lights : Arman, C�sar, Louis Cane, Jean-Claude Farhi, Claude Gilli, Sacha Sosno, Ben Vautier� Then those of the next generation, who have also become familiar names : Sandra Lecoq, Florence Obrecht, Emmanuel R�gent, C�dric Teisseire� Whether they were born, lived or worked in Nice, or found here the inspiration necessary to develop their talent, they have all contributed to the region�s artistic diversity, and the town itself is certainly proud to have played its own modest part. Until April 26th, galerie Marlborough (00 377 97 70 25 50).

The only interactive motor show in the world is this year staging its ninth edition. In addition to supercars, this exclusive event proposes ultra-prestigious watches (Top Marques Watches) and the most fabulous tenders (Top Marques Superboats). Luxury on the programme, together with the rare chance to experience car trials on Monaco�s F1 circuit and boat trials out at sea. April, from 19th to 22nd, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

It describes itself as �the international rendez-vous for collectors and fans of antiques, bric � brac and modern art�. The �Salon des Antiquaires� is celebrating 40 years of existence and success by treating itself to a revamped marquee with wider walkways, tailormade lighting, stands attractively staged� Leading names in the sector and the most extraordinary exhibits invite you on a trip back in time and around the world. April, from 7th to 23rd, Port Vauban, Antibes (04 93 34 65 65).

Three artists, two from Paris, one from Nice, have given thought to the theme of �biofeedback� and chosen to experiment with the concept through multimedia, installation and sound. We can thus reflect on Mathieu Adrien Davy De Virville�s driver�s helmet, Laurent Saksik�s �Lyre� and a violet light box proposed by Jean Dupuy. Until April 15th, Espace de l�Art Concret, Mouans-Sartoux (04 93 75 71 50).

After �Bonnard and Le Cannet. In the light of the Mediterranean�, the second exhibition in this new Museum in Le Cannet is entitled �The Bonnard collections, a life dedicated to art�. The artist�s life and work are here staged to present his posters, decorative artworks, illustrations, Arcadian compositions, nudes, still-lifes and landscapes� We can thus appreciate, if we hadn�t already done so, the full extent of the talent of Pierre Bonnard who really deserved a Museum, the first in the world to be dedicated to his work, in the H�tel Saint-Vianney. Until April 15th, mus�e Bonnard, Le Cannet (04 93 94 06 06).

The month of April will bring the opportunity to applaud the Ballets de Monte-Carlo in three distinct registers. The world-famous company will unfurl all its talent in Marie Chouinard�s choreography �bODY_rEMIX�, then a creation by Jeroen Verbruggen entitled �Kill Bambi�, and finally the captivating �Altro Canto I� by Jean-Christophe Maillot. April, from 19th to 22nd, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

Comic strips and other related art-forms are holding their festival, the 9th to be precise. Several events are being organized to celebrate the discipline in worthy fashion : a whole weekend in the Cit� du Livre, with close on 50 artists and 100 professionals from the world of books, several exhibitions in different cultural centres, workshops, round tables, screenings of animated films� From March 27th to June 23rd, Aix-en-Provence (04 42 16 11 61 and www.bd-aix.com).

Released in French cinemas in 2009, Woody Allen�s film gives the floor to 60 year-old New Yorker, Boris Yelnikoff. This cynical, alcoholic and suicidal character presents a monologue to the camera, recalling his life, frustrations and disillusionment. But his life takes a new turn with the arrival of a troubling young girl� Daniel Benoin, Director of Nice�s National Theatre for the tenth consecutive season, immediately noticed the theatrical side of this work, and now proposes an adaptation under the French title �Apr�s tout, si �a marche� �. The cast includes two of the TNN�s major figures : Jacques Bellay and Paul Chari�ras, but also Cristiana Reali and Michel Boujenah in the lead role. From March 13th to April 10th,Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

�I�m Still Standing�, �Your Song�, �Don�t Go Breaking My Heart�, �Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word�� All the greatest hits of Sir Elton John will ring in the ears of his fans at this one-off concert. The eccentric British vocalist, at the peak of a career lasting four decades continues to symbolize an entire pop-rock generation which will apparently never go out of fashion. Note the date !
June 22nd, Palais Nika�a, Nice.

Those who know the 16th-century painter/glass-blower Bernard Palissy will undoubtedly recognize talent and discipline in Christine Viennet. Working with ceramics, she is also passionate about nature, fauna and flora, creating many vases, dishes and other sculptures, in which plants and animals predominate. Exuberant works that reflect their author�s imagination and expertise. Until March 26th, Mus�e d�Histoire et de C�ramique Biotoises (04 93 65 54 54).

Palettes brimming with colour, eclectic subjects, art is endlessly creative ! Where ? At the 12th Salon International de l�Art, playing host to over 100 artists from all four corners of France. A special mention for the winners of the Public�s Prize 2011, painter Fabiola Govare and ceramist-sculptor Paul Beckrich, for whom the show reserves a place of choice. For those who miss the boat in Marseille, a catch-up session is already scheduled from September 21st to 23rd at the Centre Expo Congr�s in Mandelieu-la-Napoule. Save the date ! From March 30th to April 2nd, Parc Chanot, Marseille (04 91 94 52 71).

From his Corsican origins, Jos� Zanni has retained a particular fondness for Mediterranean shores. The sky and sea provide inspiration, and blue, common to both universes, fascinates this artist with the talent of a confirmed colorist, so much so that he has dedicated a series of works to the colour. Paintings which also pay tribute to his mother and that he signs with her name : Poggi.
Until April 13th, Soci�t� G�n�rale Private Banking de Monaco (06 10 77 67 64).

�Art Monaco�12� is the only contemporary art fair on the C�te d�Azur. For four days, gallery-owners, cultural institutions and artists from around the world gather to give a broad offering of creations and current trends. A gigantic exhibition-sale which will satisfy the most discerning art-lovers as well as the simply curious. April, from 5th to 8th, at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

It is under the aegis of art and science that the 6th World Water Forum will open in Marseille with a preview of a new show entitled �H2O - M�moires de l�Eau� with choreography by Jean-Charles Gil. An event of high symbolic value for dance (a fusion between 12 dancers from the Ballet d�Europe and 6 from Tangiers) and also ecology (encounters between 25,000 participants from 180 countries), uniting artists and the public around a single concern : water� life ! �Our life that depends on the existence of water�, the springboard for this unique meeting between two choreographic universes, osmosis between movement, stage design and music. By its wide scope, �H2O - M�moires de l�Eau� brings our memories of men, rivers and the Mediterranean back to the surface�
March, from 12th to 17th, Parc Chanot, Marseille (04 96 13 01 12).

Moli�re�s play �Le Tartuffe ou l�imposteur� was performed for the first time in 1664 at the Ch�teau de Versailles. Since then, it has continued to inspire the greatest authors and directors, and has undergone many adaptations. The last to date, entitled �Tartuffe de Moli�re� and signed Marion Bierry, is on the programme with two renowned actors : Patrick Chesnais and Claude Brasseur.
April 7th, Op�ra de Toulon (04 94 92 70 78).

Today�s funniest play is quite definitely �Le Clan des Divorc�es�, written by Alil Vardar. The cast of three (two women and a man in disguise) play three flat-sharers, ill-assorted to say the least : a very finnicky bourgeoise, a namby-pamby Englishwoman and a very �spirited� country lass ! Our three divorcees gesticulate a lot and their lines are delivered at breakneck pace. Hilarious from start to finish !
Until April 8th, La Com�die de Nice (04 93 56 99 74).

This is the most important event of the winter in Nice ! For this 128th edition, His Majesty Carnival will be �King of Sport� in honour of Great Britain. Pursuing its commitment to the environment, the event will use electric cars for the Battles of the Flowers. Recycling of rubbish after each day�s entertainment is also to be maintained. Initiated two years ago, neighbourhood carnivals will provide lots of fun for all those who love to dress up. Each day, parades of floats will allow the crowds to discover the �Grosses T�tes� specially created for the occasion by carnival craftsmen and, finally, on the first Sunday in March, the King will be burnt on the beach. Eleven days of festivities ! From February 17th to March 4th, Nice (0 892 707 407).

Seven new productions, nine premi�res in France, previews and discoveries : the 34th edition of �Les Hivernales� invites us to pay a visit to Asia with a programme of choreographers and dancers from Korea, Japan, Singapore and Laos. Artists rarely seen in the region, whose writing, universes and gestures are to be discovered. Exhibitions, videos, meetings, courses and an array of talent (Les Hiver�clites) will complete this tour of the world of dance, also featuring Catherine Diverr�s, Fr�d�ric Flamand, William Petit, Ex Nihilo� From February 25th to March 3rd, Avignon (04 90 82 33 12).

Decorative items, entertainment, attractions, samplings� The Pool and Garden Salon attracts more and more visitors every year ! Its fans have an appointment to discover the latest products, sniff out new trends and obtain advice from professionals.
Until February 20th, Parc Chanot, Marseille (04 91 76 16 00).

Scottish artist Stephen Conroy lives and works in Glasgow. His paintings represent human figures and in particular the artist himself or his friends, in various poses. Standing or lying down, head or full-length portraits, elegantly dressed, with or without a hat, hands in their pockets, looking pensive or straight ahead, these men, silent and imposing, have a certain allure. Conroy sometimes outlines their silhouettes in colour to suggest movement or applies vertical bands on the edges of the painting to define the space. This one-man show consists of about 30 recent works. Until March 2nd, Galerie Marlborough, Monaco (00 377 97 70 25 50).

Ariane Mnouchkine, Maurice B�jart, Jean-Pierre Vincent, Antoine Vitez, Yannis Kokkos, Alfredo Arias, Tim Robbins and many more have called on the artistic talent of Erhard Stiefel to create masks for the theatre. From his love of these masks, a collection has been born, very special, if not to say unprecedented, composed of items from Indonesia, Japan, Bhutan, Thailand� All these works are unique, made to measure, in wood, leather and fabrics, lovingly amassed �to ensure that theatre masks survive�.
Until February 23rd, Galerie du Bois de l�Aune, Aix-en-Provence (04 42 93 85 40).

Two jewellery designers are being honoured : Denis and Ga�tan Essayie. Strongly inspired by the Swedish Torun who, in the 1950�s, was one of the leaders of a clean style giving priority to simple, linear forms, this father-and-son team produce elegant and original items : necklaces, bracelets, rings, ear-rings, pendants, tie-pins� The work of expert silversmiths !
Until March 4th, espace Solidor, Cagnes-sur-Mer (04 93 22 19 25).

�9 architectes / 9 propositions pour habiter� highlights nine places in Europe and nine projects in the form of a selection giving good insight into contemporary homes. In France, it�s the Villa 356 designed by Rudy Ricciotti, in Provence, which won the votes of the exhibition�s organizers. Alongside, one discovers among others a house on a hill in Ayora (Spain) by Fran Silvestre, a Swiss summer pavilion by Andrea Bassi and Bruno Carella, a house called Bohermore in Graiguenamanagh (Ireland) by Peter Cody and Dermot Boyd� Visitors plunge into these different worlds through plans, photos, texts and films. Until March 25th, Villa Noailles, Hy�res (04 98 08 01 98).

Joy and jubilation are indeed on the programme of �Alegria�, a fascinating show dreamt up by the Cirque du Soleil. In a baroque atmosphere, 55 artistes and musicians propose their acrobatic performances : daring acts on the trapeze, balancing acts, feats of contortion, rotation, parallel bars... Flamboyant costumes, intoxicating music, the show is a triumph and the audience asks for more !
March from 6th to 11th, Palais Nika�a, Nice (0 892 68 36 22).

Four years after the release of his first album �Comme un Manouche sans Guitare�, Thomas Dutronc proposes �Silence on Tourne, on Tourne en Rond� and is back on stage to perform his new titles. Lyrics as well-crafted as ever, a guitar which masters the gipsy genius to perfection, humour and elegance inherited from his famous father : Thomas Dutronc has all the right ingredients !
January 17th, La Palestre, Le Cannet.

From Libya, Ivana Boris has brought back not a single image of war, combat or chaos. Quite the contrary. The photographer is only there to capture beauty, that of the desert sands, rocky dunes, the Tuaregs who accompany her... Offering real poetry and incredible purity, her photos in black-and-white emit an echo, rather like a call for peace. Until February 18th at l�Espace Soardi, Nice (04 93 62 32 03).

�Chagall et L�ger au Pays des Cercles en Action� is an exhibition staged in two parts. Each in their own museums, the artists have been treated to retrospectives on the theme of the circus. A chance for the public to compare their views of this world apart which quickly became a fantastic source of inspiration for modern art. Its acrobats, musicians, animals, costumes and bright colours provided a fascinating mosaic that Chagall and L�ger both loved to portray. Their gouaches on paper, oils on canvas, lithographs and other illustrations are as many invitations to share the life of the little world of the circus.
Until January 30th, mus�e national Marc Chagall, Nice (04 93 53 87 20) and until March 5th, mus�e national Fernand L�ger, Biot (04 92 91 50 30).

In this play by Ibsen, Marina Fo�s plays Nora, a woman ready to leave everything to free herself from her husband and her life as a thankless wife. She decides to leave him, abandon her children and sacrifice her own material comfort. A time when her whole life is thrown into question, making her suffer lots of distress and emotions...
February from 1st to 4th, Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

On the theme of seduction, Josiane Balasko has signed her name to a play both funny and cruel. "La Nuit sera Chaude" is about an evening in the life of an artist, Dina, who is at home with her lover when she receives a visit from Monique (alias Josiane Balasko). Who is blessed with an incredible gift : Monique can seduce any man she likes...
February 5th, Op�ra de Toulon (04 94 22 92 70 78).

An important and very welcome change has been announced for the up-coming edition of the MIDEM (international market for the music industry) : it will now open its doors to the public for three evenings of concerts. So make way for the �Midem Festival�, with a great selection of performers : British rock duo The Ting Tings, Belgian DJs 2MANYDJS, young vocalist Selah Sue, the French band Shaka Ponk, the retro-folk duo Brigitte, Les Parisiens de Stuck in the Sound with their indie rock, rapper Orelsan and the electro-rock band Skip the Use from Lille. A festival dedicated to originality, eclecticism and good music. January 28th to 30th on the esplanade of the Palm Beach Croisette, Cannes (points de vente habituels).

Five artists selected by the Blach�re Foundation at the Biennale of Dak�Art 2010 have put their names to a bright and inventive staging of their own works, always incisive and often committed : Mario Benjamin and Maksaens Denis from Haiti, Serge Alain Nitegeka of the Republic of Burundi, Congolese artists Jean Katambayi Mukendi (winner of the Foundation's Prize for Young Creation) and Moridja Kitenge Banza (who lives in Nantes). Until February 19th, Apt (04 32 52 06 15).

Always in effervescence, the art-gallery �Carr� d�Artistes� is preparing three high-quality events. From February 25 to 29th, it proposes free workshops in initiation in art for children aged 7 to 11 based on the work of Murakami. On February 4th, it invites art-lovers to visit the studio of Kali Dennis and, finally, from February 1st to 29th, it will celebrate Nice's Carnival by exhibiting a sculpture by Corine Pagny. Aix-en-Provence (04 42 27 60 64).

Since his first exhibition in 1943, the path followed by Ladislas Kijno has always been remarkably impressive. This artist of Franco-Polish origin proposes works in diverse materials (acrylic, crumpled paper, gouache, glycero-spray...), whose only constant seems to be a roundness in the forms. This roundness adds a certain softness to complex canvases with flamboyant colours but sombre overtones which are often hard to interpret but which always offer a glimpse of the insubordinate character of a man fighting to survive, to understand and permanently question what life should be. Actions he undertakes with exemplary energy. This exhibition featuring about 60 of his masterpieces bears witness to his outstanding career, still �under construction�... Until April 29th, Centre d�art la Malmaison, Cannes (04 97 06 44 90).

Figures and colourful landscapes for the first, minimalist still-lifes for the second, human figures outdoors for the third. Alfonso Albacete from Spain, Ricardo Maffei from Chile and Clive Smith from Britain reveal their personal visions of painting and conceptual approaches. An unusual exhibition, not to be missed !
January 13th, galerie Marlborough, Monaco (00 377 97 70 25 50).

Disney characters in the flesh ! Lightning McQueen and his buddies (for the first time on ice), Buzz Lightyear, Woody Woodpecker, the Little Mermaid, Tinkerbell... Skimming around the rink, they perform a show set to the music of their respective soundtracks in fabulous decors. Young and old alike will enjoy seeing the heroes of their favourite cartoons. January 10th and 11th, Palais Nika�a, Nice (points de vente habituels).

Under the title �La Rencontre Nicolas de Sta�l - Jeannine Guillou : la vie dure�, this exhibition tells the fascinating story of the relationship between this unusual couple : their meeting in 1937 on a trip to Morocco (when she was still married), their travels in Algiers and Naples, their move to France (Paris, Nice, Le Broc, then back to Paris), but also their friendships with other artists such as Picasso, Braque and Le Corbusier. A love-story against the backdrop of war, rich in artistic exerimentation, until the death of Jeannine in 1946. Many paintings of Nicolas de Sta�l, completed during this period, as well as paintings and drawings by Jeannine Guillou are here accompanied by works by their friends Sonia Delaunay, Jean Arp, Vassily Kandinsky and Alberto Magnelli. Until January 8th, mus�e Picasso, Antibes (04 92 90 54 20).

The character of Fran�ois Ubu, known as �P�re Ubu�, created by Alfred Jarry, is played by Eric Cantona. This �Ubu Unchained�, after �Ubu Roi�, tells the tale of the man, now a prisoner, who plans to make the best possible use of the situation and end up as king of the slaves... The former football star puts his heart into the role, along with Val�rie Crouzet and Giovanni Calo.
December, from 14th to 17th, Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

Over its 12-year history, these premises owned by the General Council of the Var have played host to many paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs etc. Artists as diverse as Claude Viallat, Georg Baselitz, Jannis Kounnellis, Marek Szczesny and Hans Silvester have exhibited their work here, and some of them are now part of its permanent collection. December, from 17th to 22th, H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

Each year, the Bernar Venet Foundation and the City of Nice award the Prize for Young Creation to graduates of the �Ecole Nationale Superieure d�Art� at the Villa Arson. From the class of 2010, Eun Yeoung Lee and Jean Baptiste Engler were the winners. They beneffited from a subsidy of 1,500 � for new creations, a period of residence and now an exhibition devoted solely to their work. � Zeste d�Orange dans son indignation cyan est un mariage blanc !� immerses the spectator in two very different worlds : Eun Yeoung Lee�s hybrid animals and strange cabin, and tempered glass compositions proposed by Jean Baptiste Engler. Until January 29th, galerie de la Marine (04 93 91 92 91).

�Fot� For� (White Black) is a generous show incorporating circus acts, dance, music, energy and colour ! Eleven Guinean performers, contorsionists, jugglers, twirlers, smurfers� join a stranger who has turned up, sharing a rare experience of joyous playfulness.
December, from 14th to 16th, Th��tre de Grasse (04 93 40 53 00).

Jean Sabrier inaugurates the museum by exhibiting nearly 60 paintings, drawings, photographs, objects and videos. What the artist loves above all is to take the viewer behind the scenes. He then proposes works with complex geometric structures. Using collage, origami, cut-outs, screenings, he creates volumes and stereoscopic images to be viewed through glasses he has made specially for the occasion. Until May 7th, mus�e Jean Cocteau, Menton (04 89 81 52 50).

This superb exhibition devoted to fashion photographer Sarah Moon evokes the themes of beauty and passing time. Among the shots she took between 1986 and 2009, she has selected over 130 in both colour and black-and-white, presented here in the form of a retrospective revealing years of passionate work. An invitation to dive into the world of dreams and originality of a great artist with a unique and instantly recognizable style. We still remember advertising campaigns bearing her signature, such as those commissioned by Cacharel, Dior, Chanel and Pirelli. Until February 12th, Th��tre de la Photographie et de l�Image, Nice (04 97 13 42 20).

On loan from several museums and private collections, almost 80 sculptures and 60 works on paper make up the �Chillida� retrospective. Primarily known for his use of iron, Eduardo Chillida also liked to work with wood, granite, concrete, chamotte and alabaster, as perfectly illustrated by this exhibition. From the early torsos to his steles and anvils, visitors are invited to discover a unique artistic career in the Foundation�s rooms, patios and courtyard.
Until November 13th at the Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul (04 93 32 81 63).

The famous revolutionary Ernesto Guevara, known as Che, comes back to life in this play by Jos� Pablo Feinman and thanks to the excellent Olivier Sitruk. �Le Cr�puscule du Che� takes us back to 1967. Taken prisoner, Che Guevara was to be executed. Hours before his death, he talked to a journalist, very frankly, revealing all his inner complexity.
December, 2nd and 3rd, Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

A painting - �Winter�, by Kandinsky - and within it, a person photographed from behind. One example of the work of Laurence A�gerter. The artist�s starting-point is the fact that, often, when contemplating a work in a museum, we are hampered by the presence of another viewer in front of us who hides the work in question. So, not without humour and raising many other considerations, she decided to incorporate the offender into the work. In this case, the young woman�s clothes have patterns similar to those in the Kandinsky painting, allowing them to form a coherent whole. On other occasions, Laurence A�gerter blocks the view of a painting behind an object, like a Matisse obscured by a curtain made of strips of plastic. A strange
world worth diving into... Until November 26th, galerie Maud Barral, Nice (04 93 07 84 25).

Musician and painter Daniel Humair has linked his personal history to that of Saint-R�my by setting up encounters between fans of jazz and painting. For the past 50 years, he has composed his own kind of score, creating rhythm on the surface of his paintings and works on paper, a play of vibrant colours and shapes or signs, inventing an abstract narrative in which �he plays with paint as he plays music�.
Until November 27th, Mus�e Estrine, Saint-R�my (04 90 92 34 72).

Kim Boulukos�s animals defy all the limits imposed by equilibrium. Sculpted from aluminum, bronze, steel, terra-cotta, or made of resin and fiberglass, her bird-dogs, deers and antelopes are perched on slender legs or on top of nests, and seem to hesitate between treading the ground or taking to the sky. An opportunity to discover ten years of highly original creations. Until November 29th, Mus�e des Beaux-Arts, Palais Carnol�s, Menton (04 93 35 49 71).

The summer exhibition devoted to Ettore Sottsass was truly remarkable. The new one, entitled �Back to the 80�s - American Art from the 80�s� is of the same quality. It must be said that Safia Al Rashid, responsible for this recent gallery, knows how to share her passion for modern and contemporary art. Sem-Art proposes themed exhibitions on a regular basis, featuring artists from a particular country or a region, and thereby enabling spectators to appreciate different artistic trends �Belgian Art�, �Russian Art�, �French Art�...). Once a year, she highlights a major name in design. In 2010, Ron Arad preceded Ettore Sottsass. To its taste for the arts, Sem-Art adds another for gastronomy, inviting you to its restaurant set out on the terrace. 20 avenue de la Costa, Monaco (00 377 97 70 50 70).

For about 15 years, the Groupe Soci�t� G�n�rale has focused on contemporary art as the main vector of its cultural patronage policy. Today, its collection consists of 300 original works and 700 prints. In the exhibition entitled �Mythologies Urbaines�, the group proposes a selection of photographs in which 18 international artists reveal their own interpretations of their towns... Until December 11th at the MAMAC, Nice (04 97 13 42 01).

This is the start of a great advent-ure : the Berling brothers have just inaugurated the Th��tre Libert� in place and stead of the Grand H�tel. They have announced the opening of the season and unveiled a rich and eclectic programme. In all, 48 shows will be performed, plays, dance, concerts and circus...
Place de La Libert�, Toulon (04 98 07 01 15). www.theatre-liberte.fr

Recognized and esteemed for its activities related to design, the Villa Noailles also takes a close interest in photography. Each year, and for the duration of this one, it welcomes an artist who comes to create a work commissioned by the Villa. During his �artist in residence� session, Gr�goire Alexandre produced �Histoires Parall�les� with some of his friends and other artists he invited to stay in this superb historic mansion (Maroussia Rebecq, Jean-Michel Bertin, Andji Dinh Van, Marion Jolivet, and even the synchronized swimming team from Hy�res...). �Stories� to be discovered without delay. Until January15th at the Villa Noailles, Hy�res (04 98 08 01 98).

Welcome to the 23rd edition of the String Quartet Festival. Once again, the world�s greatest quartets will be playing their string instruments in the churches of Fayence, Montauroux, Mons, Seillans, Tourrettes, Callian, Saint-Paul-en-For�t... Among other quartets, the festival hosts those of Debussy (France), Modigliani (France), Meta4 (Finland), Brodsky (England) and Auryn (Germany).
October, from 22nd to 29th, Pays de Fayence. www.quatuors-enpaysdefayence.com
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If Mark Rothko is one of their shared references, Lawrence Carroll, Gotthard Graubner and Sean Scully also share a fondness for monumental works both in their size and their unusual depth, real painted volumes that spring out from the walls. A spectacular effect, well-suited to the space provided by the H�tel des Arts, allowing visitors to plunge into this bath of paint with hypnotic powers.
December the 4th, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

Due to its success, this event devoted to super-star G�rard Garouste + La Source is playing extra time : so much the better ! Worth seeing for the face-to-face staged between 9 paintings produced from 1986 to 1991 and three bronze sculptures, including the monumental �Dive Bacbuc�, in the chancel of the church, where we find the founding texts of his work : Dante, Virgil, Cervantes and Rabelais. And also for works produced by the artist with children in residence at La Source, such as the poignant installation �L�Anamorphose Gargantua�.
Until October 23rd, Carr� Sainte-Anne (04 67 60 82 11) and galerie Saint-Ravy, Montpellier (04 67 60 61 66).

Directed by Michel Fagadau, this production of �Colombe� by Jean Anouilh has a fabulous cast. It includes Anny Duperey, Sara Giraudeau, Rufus, Benjamin Bellecour and Gregory Baquet who perform this play with undisguised passion. �Colombe� is entertainment at its very best.
October 18th and 19th, Th��tre de Grasse (04 93 40 53 00).
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Glenn Miller passed on in 1944, but his music continues along its merry way. Formed in 1998, the Glenn Miller Orchestra perpetuates the maestro�s style, drawing largely on his original repertory. Composed of saxophones, trombones, bass, piano, drums and two vocalists, the big band plays under the baton of Ray McVay, whirling us back to the jazzy atmosphere of the 40�s.
November 8th, Auditorium Rainier III, Monaco.

This fall will definitely be dedicated to really great music. In fact, when the TLV unveiled its programme, one could only applaud and look forward to the evenings to be spent in its lair. Judge for yourself : the new season kicks off on October 15th with Asaf Avidan, a young Israeli offering a jubilant kind of rock/folk. Followed by ex-Velvet Underground John Cale (October 22nd), the effervescent Camille (October 26th), the talented Agnes Obel from Denmark (October 29th), Medi, the most international of all the Ni�ois (November 10th), Selah Sue, who can be described as the revelation of the year (November 15th), the group Stuntman (November 19th) and the flamboyant Nneka (November 23rd). Femi Kuti and Keren Ann will be on stage in December... Only top-quality at the TLV ! Th��tre Lino Ventura, 168 boulevard de l�Ariane, Nice (04 97 00 10 70). www.tlv-nice.org
�C. Violet

Very popular but somewhat neglected in recent years, this opera in five acts bearing the prestigious signature of Gounod is back for our greater enjoyment. In a stage production by Paul-Emile Fourny and under the musical direction of Anthony Hermus, this particular �Faust� promises to be the musical monument it once used to be.
October 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th at the Op�ra de Toulon (04 94 92 70 78).

Francis Huster has taken on a daunting challenge : adapting, directing and performing in �La Peste�, the cult work by Albert Camus. A work he fully invests for more than an hour-and-a-half, serving as the voice of the narrator, Dr. Rieux, and about 30 characters in all. A asterful presence, a memorable moment of the dramatic art...
October, from 12th to 15th, Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

Francis Bacon enlisted the services of experienced engravers and produced about 40 etchings and lithographs. From this small collection, visitors can here see 16 engravings (including six triptychs) completed between 1975 and 1992. These graphic works were strongly inspired by photographs he picked up here and there, and also the work of certain artists he particularly admired : Ingres, Degas, Van Gogh, Velasquez and Picasso. They are all disturbing images portraying the human condition. Man, a mass of flesh and blood, ravaged by pain and suffering. To convey this view of reality, Bacon distorts the faces and bodies of his subjects, often showing them in a state of agony. Until November 18th at the galerie Marlborough, Monaco (00 377 97 70 25 50).

The 6th �Design Parade� has crowned its winners : Jean-Baptiste Fastrez and Brynjar Sigurdarson tied for the �Grand Prix� while Emilie Colin Garros won the prize awarded by the public. To present this new wave of creators, several encounters and exhibitions are being planned. The chance to discover �enriched objects� proposed by Jean-Baptiste Fastrez, the philosophy of Brynjar Sigurdarson who thinks that objects are necessarily artifacts, the principle of economy that obsesses Emilie Colin Garros, and all the works presented by other young designers who took part in the competition. Until October 2nd at the Villa Noailles, Hy�res (04 98 08 01 98).

In France, access to law-courts is prohibited for cameras and other recording tools, so sketches are the only way to tell in images what�s going on in the court-room. There are 15 artists who provide this service, and ten of them are contributing to this exhibition entitled �Traits de Justice�. With remarkable realism, they bear witness to the human sag-as that are played out during trials. Until September 4th, Mus�e Peynet et du Dessin humoristique, Antibes (04 92 90 54 29).

After Combas in 2010, this summer welcomes Arman to Les Baux de Provence : the A.R.M.A.N. Foundation has prepared a playful educational experience winding its way through the artist's esthetic paths. For the work of Arman is not limited to his �Accumulations� of watches, dolls, cars, tools, cameras, crutches, musical instruments etc. which still have a sensational impact all over the world. Here, the public also discovers his drawings and paintings, learns about his research into matter, form and colour by stepping inside his studios, watching documentary films and evening screenings on the ancient walls... For the first time, the world of Arman comes into contact with this historic city, inviting visitors to pass from his studios to his works, from the artist�s private life to his creative production. Until October 16th, Les Baux-de-Provence (04 90 54 34 39).

In some cases, G�rard Fromanger paints a huge, wild map populated with �nomads in love with the Milky Way� ; in others, he removes tragedy and anxiety from his paintings. The Estrine Museum is holding a retrospective of his work (1955/2011) under the auspices of the goddess Iris, messenger of the gods... and an artist who has never stopped trying to �re-enchant the world�. Until September 4th, Saint-R�my-de-Provence (04 90 92 34 72).

Of the body of work accomplished by Henri Manguin, only the landscapes that marked his early beginnings (1910 -1914) are on display here. This selection, exhibited under the title �Mediterranean Landscapes�, provides an insight necessary to understand Manguin�s overall approach and artistic evolution. It shows his sources of inspiration, work on colour, choices for treatment and, of course, his talent !
Unitil October 3rd at the Mus�e de l�Annonciade, Saint-Tropez (04 94 17 84 10).

All eyes are turned on Aubagne, a real open-air gallery, for the Argilla Biennial 2011, a pre-run of its participation in the official programme of �Marseille Provence 2013, European Capital of Culture�. Not a single square or street will escape this tidal wave of 180 artists and craftsmen, come from all over France and abroad to display their traditional or contemporary artworks. Meanwhile, on the hills above the town, the Chapel of the Black Penitents proposes �Les Mondes C�ramiques�, a mosaic of 91 original creations, unexpected, futuristic, poetic, from the most baroque to the most refined, signed Antoniotti, Honor�, Colenson, Bouroullec, Bertozzi... Argilla on August 20th and 21st, Les Mondes c�ramiques (19 international artists) Until Septembre 18th, Aubagne (04 42 03 49 98).

In the form of a mural 90 metres long and 4 metres high, painted on stretched canvas, Patrick Moya traces his artistic evolution and invites you to enter his dream world. This large-scale project is perfectly suited to this artist far from lacking in equally large-scale scope. From brushes to digital art, Moya offers a real voyage into his world of fantasy.
Until October 2nd, centre d�art La Malmaison, Cannes (04 97 06 45 21).

The Espace Soardi has moved to 9 avenue D�sambrois in Nice. In 200 m2 of exhibition space, this new temple of art proposes picture-framing, designer objects, limited editions of photographic prints and tem-porary exhibitions. Nick Danziger opens the show with �The British� : one of the most famous in his generation, this photo-journalist who has traveled the world armed with his lens now focuses on his countrymen.
Until September 24th, Espace Soardi, Nice (04 93 62 32 03).

Museums, art centres, foundations, art-galleries, associations� From Antibes to Vence via Menton and Mouans-Sartoux, some 30 different venues are telling the tale of the last 60 years in the history of art on the Riviera. From Pablo Picasso to Jean Dubuffet, Nicolas de Sta�l to C�sar and Gottfried Honegger, the cast is full of strong personalities with different passions and various kinds of artistic experimentation, creating an exceptionally dynamic context. The heart of the event consists of an historical exhibition in the national 20th-century museums in the Alpes-Maritimes and other major institutions in the area. Painting, installations, photography, sculpture, music, architecture� all representing various kinds of expression. As evidenced by the works of Bernard Pag�s, Georges Rousse, Philippe Ramette and Natacha Lesueur, shown above. www.artcontemporainetcotedazur.com

When two natives of Nice as unconventional as these team up, you can expect sparks to fly. The new gallery opened by Jacky Ananou (painter) and Val�rie Arboireau (artist and interior decorator) is indeed off the wall ! The pair present their own work alongside a selection of contemporary artists. And promise that art will rub shoulders with fashion and deco, with a special focus on one-off events. 3 rue Louis-Gassin, Nice (04 93 80 49 28).

In 1960, the artist Ben wrote : �If art is everywhere, we might as well go home !�� Now he has just opened an art-gallery close to Avenue Malauss�na. One hundred sq. metres on two levels, shared with Ni�ois artist Bertrand Baraudou. A new �Espace � Vendre�, where works by established names from the last generation confront Ben�s personal collection.
Espace � vendre, 2 rue Vernier, Nice (06 11 89 24 89).

Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock�s famous movie �Rear Window�, the exhibition entitled �Window on Cannes� is a double tribute to this lovely town on the Riviera and the illustrious film director. Photographer-artist Fr�d�ric Bellay proposes highly original views of Cannes, obtained by means of a play on light and shade that gives the city a very special atmosphere. A night-time ambiance, fantasy and poetry are on the agenda. The festive, international town of Cannes takes on a more secretive allure when interpreted by Fr�d�ric Bellay. �Fen�tre sur Cannes� is accompanied by a 96-page book with 52 colour photographs and texts by Fr�d�rique Citera-Bullot. Until September 18th at the Mus�e de la Mer, Ile Sainte-Marguerite (04 93 38 55 26).

For the tenth year running, Cannes is gearing up to host the Pantiero Festival. Eagerly awaited by fans of music and dancing in the streets, the event promises some really wild evenings ! On the programme, La Femme, Action Beat, Battles, Gable, Zombie Zombie, Paul Kalkbrenner, Walls and Trentem�ller. August, from 10th to 13th, Cannes (04 92 98 62 77). www.festivalpantiero.com

Part of Bernar Venet�s work is comprised of conceptual paintings and sculptures testifying to his passion for mathematics. Using numbers, geometric shapes, symbols and functions, the artist stages the mathematical language, giving it an esth-etic dimension. The selection of canvases presented here is a fascinating example of this side of his work.
September 18th at the H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

Ant� lives and paints in Calvi. A fan of Tim Burton and James Bond,this 40 year-old artist keeps a discerning eye on advertising, the movies and comic-strips. The self-taught Ant� works with acrylic paint as if it were oil, in solid blocks of colour, simple and direct, with no time for anything decorative. He creates humorous slogans and subversive poetry (Pimp My Fiat), refers irreverently to heroes of films (Lynch me, I�m famous, Quentin who?) and topples icons (Al Capote, Virgin iPod) with evident glee. A pioneer of �Corsican Pop Art�, Ant� leaves his island ever more frequently to exhibit his work around the world. After Los Angeles, Tokyo, the Vertigo project in Meg�ve, and before Montreal in 2012, don�t miss his work this summer at the Galerie Ricco in Calvi and Kube Hotel in Saint-Tropez. www.antofdp.com

The last artistic movement of the late 20th century, �Pressionism� (street art using aerosol paint) has drawn many followers to its cause. With �40 Years of Graffiti�, the Principality is paying tribute to this very special art-form. Among the 400 works on show, those by the American Rammell-Zee, a leading figure in the field who died last year, will not leave spectators indifferent.
Until August 19th, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 20 00).

A gigantic traffic cone, drawing-pins 36 cm in diameter, an alphabet ruler 2 metres wide, huge side-mirrors (70 x 65 x 40 cm)... Everyday objects take on new dimensions in the hands of artist Lilian Bourgeat. She reproduces them identically in terms of shape and materials, but enlarges them up to ten times their size. Which somewhat upsets their scales of value.
Until September 29th, Galerie Artsz, Monaco (00 377 93 50 12 55).

Her name is Maud Barral. For fifteen years, she placed her talent at the disposal of the Galerie Ferrero. Backed by real passion and long experience, she nurtured a dream : that of opening her own gallery. A dream that has come true, thanks to a little encouragement from her friends. One, an artist, convinced her that she was capable of taking the plunge. Another, an estate-agent, found her the right premises. Another helped her to do the place up. Little by little, the Galerie Maud Barral came into being. Relying on her own taste and intuition, Maud only shows work that she really likes. Visitors are also likely to fall for these mischievous photos signed Laurence Aegerter, chic items of furniture designed by Hubert Le Gall, black-and white-photographs by Stuart Redler� 16 quai des Docks (04 93 07 84 25).

Since 1959, an exhibition with the original name of �Schmuck� has been held every year as part of Munich�s international arts-and-crafts show. In the world of contemporary jewellery, it is in fact a major event. For the first time, it is crossing borders to arrive on the C�te d�Azur, which will thus welcome many designers proposing their creations in gold and silver, from here and elsewhere. Until August 28th at the Espace Solidor, Haut-de-Cagnes (04 93 73 14 42).

In 2010, the fair called �Rencon-tre de Jardins� doubled its display area and chalked up a 12 % rise in the number of visitors. Each year, it is more and more popular, and this year�s edition will certainly prove the point. Nature, all those it inspires (gardeners, landscapers, designers�) and all its trappings (outdoor furniture, accessories, decorative items �) take their place in an enchanting setting. September, from 9th to 12th, p�pini�res Derbez, Gassin. www.rencontredejardins.com

When Jean-Antoine Hierro assumes the role of patriarch, it has to be as the head of a very accomplished family. Each one more talented than the last, the members of his flock unveil their respective works for the duration of an exhibition. We thus discover digital prints by Cisco Kidd, pieces in bronze by Alain Bellino, colourful acrylics signed Patrick Brang�, staged photographs by Sidney Hennion, "comic" canvases by Anne de Renzis, amusing snaps
taken by Aurore Danloux, strange animals dreamt up by S�gol�ne Savoff and inspired creations by Patrick Fr�ga (tartan busts, sculptures in wood, aluminum, Lego...). Eight artists, very carefully selected, who are likely to attract a lot of interest... Until September 30th, Hierro Desvilles Art Gallery (04 97 12 15 10).

On the strength of the success scored by the first edition last year, �The Sculpture Paths� are again getting ready to welcome crowds of visitors. Addressing the theme of the relationship between man and nature, the sculptors participating in the 2011 project will install their works, both abstract and figurative, in this enchanting setting, normally reserved for superb thoroughbreds. From June 24th to October 3 at the Polo Club Saint-Tropez, Gassin (04 94 55 22 12).

While the accordion is usually associated with local festivities, it is nonetheless a highly innovative instrument. Richard Galliano, an expert in the genre, gives it a second life with passion and skill, proving just how modern it can be. Under his artistic direction and accompanied by Lucien Galliano, Luiz Carlos Borges, Klaus Pier and Asja Valcic, this 9th International Festival will be a fitting tribute to the old accordion.
July, from 14th to 17th, place de l��glise, Saint-Jeannet (04 93 59 49 45).

Eighty artists, 260 works, an installation by Vladimir Skoda, such is the new exhibition dreamt up by the R�attu Museum, based on its own collections. After Christian Lacroix who revisited works and architecture in a Baroque feast, after the unexpected friction between sculpture and the photography collection (�Chambre d��cho�) and the exhibit �A pied de l�Oeuvre� addressing the notion of a laboratory and genesis, it�s now time for a melting-pot of genres and imaginations. With Jacques R�attu as its central figure, his still-lifes, landscapes and vanities staged �like magnets in each room�, sparking conversations, correspondences or confrontations hitherto unseen... Meanwhile, the work of Czech sculptor Vladimir Skoda is an ephemeral guest in R�attu�s studio, a clandestine stowaway, yet clearly made-to-measure. Until December (04 90 49 37 58).

Echoing the wedding of HSH Prince Albert II and Miss Charlene Wittstock, the theme of Monaco�s grand summer exhibition is �The Sumptuousness and Grandeur of the Courts of Europe�. Visitors are invited to travel back in time (from the 17th to 20th century), with some 700 works reflecting the lives and passions of some of the most illustrious personalities in history. From July 11th to September 11th, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 3000).

Manu Katch�, a renowned sponsor for this 51st edition, invites you to the very famous �Jazz � Juan� event. Alongside hardy perennials such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Marcus Miller, B.B. King, Keith Jarret, Gary Peacock and Jack Dejohnette, come applaud Carlos Santana, Jamie Cullum, Robert Randolph, Ben L�Oncle Soul and Gilberto Gil. Only the best !
July, from 14th to 24th, Pin�de Gould, Antibes Juan-les-Pins (04 97 23 11 11).

They used to be called �Les Estivals� : they now open their stage to performers and their stands to the public under the name of �Nuits d�Istres�. This year, they welcome Brian Setzer (former vocalist of the Stray Cats), Anne Roumanoff, Zaz, Gotan Project and Cyndi Lauper. Spectators will thus be spoilt for choice between rockabilly, comedy, French song, electronic and pop music. Each concert will be preceded by an opening part, the chance to discover Fiction Plan, Zaza Fournier, The Two and Neema. Even better, before and after each show, S�bastien Richard, chef at �La Table de S�bastien� which is developing the concept of cocktail parties, will offer sweet and savory concoctions for 40 � per person. Music and gastronomy go hand-in-hand... July 3rd to 12th at the Pavillon de Grignan, Istres (04 42 81 76 00).

The �Nuits du Sud� are all geared up to set the beat for summer nights by hosting artists from around the world : Gotan Project, Patrice, Zazie, Israel Vibration, Emir Kusturica, Magic System, Femi Kuti, Luisa Maita... Their eclecticism, good humour and talent serve as guarantees for top-quality international entertainment. From July 7th to August 6, Place du Grand Jardin, Vence. www.nuitsdusud.com

The peerless vocalist and guitarist Ben Harper set out to conquer the music scene in 1992 and has since pursued a successful career. Today, gone are the �Innocent Criminals� who once accompanied him : he is bringing out a new album entitled �Give till it�s gone� in collaboration with the band �Relentless7� (already featured on �White Lies for Dark Times� in 2009). Still cultivating a fusion of different styles, Ben Harper promises a very special evening.
August 1st at the Sporting Club de Monaco.

�In the light of the South, everything takes on a glow and paintings seem to vibrate. Take your painting to Paris : the blues become grey.� This observation was made by Pierre Bonnard in 1946. The painter, who lived in Le Cannet from 1922 to 1947, had fallen for the region�s charm. Today, at long last, a museum has been devoted entirely to him and, quite legitimately, it is to be found in this town so dear to his heart. For its inauguration, the Bonnard Museum proposes an exhibition entitled �Bonnard and Le Cannet. In the light of the Mediterranean�. Some 40 paintings and a score of works on paper reflect the finesse of his work and the inspiration the artist drew from this lovely backcloth.
From June 26th to September 25th (04 92 18 24 42).

For this year�s international encounter, the Sequentia, Basiani, Per-Sonat, Beatus and Gilles Binchois ensembles, and singers Anne Delafosse and Anne-Marie Lablaude will be focusing on Gregorian chant. The delightful setting provided by the abbey lends itself beautifully to the event, and for the 21st time, spectators will be thrilled to travel back in time to re-live an era when music offered very different harmonies.
July, from 17th to 23rd, Abbaye du Thoronet (04 94 60 10 94).

On his current tour, Eddy Mitchell will be calling at Saint-Rapha�l with the best hits of the past 40 years in his luggage, those that crown an incredible career. Join him on �the road to Memphis�, you�ll probably come across the girl with �mint water� eyes or �the blue tunics�. And it may be your �very last chance�... Anyway, you�ll �forget to forget� !
August 8th at the Palais des Congr�s, Saint-Rapha�l.

With Harry Lapp as artistic director and John McLaughlin as sponsor, the new edition and new programming of the Nice Jazz Festival promises to be rather flamboyant ! No longer staged in the Roman Arenas of Cimiez, the event is moving back to its original haunts : the Th��tre de Verdure and the gardens on Square Albert 1er. It will thus be more open, more accessible, more urban. Harry Lapp proposes a judicious programme, aiming to �re-endow the Festival with artistic coherence, especially in the layout of the stages, and by varying the styles of music between the two venues, in order to reach the widest public possible�. To mention just a few, you will be able to see Michel Legrand, Carlinhos Brown, Michel Portal, Morcheeba, Avishai Cohen, Macy Gray, Ahmad Jamal, Aloe Blacc and, of course, Maceo Parker, an absolute must. July, from 8th to 12th, place Mass�na, Nice. www.nicejazzfestival.fr

World-famous opera singer Barbara Hendricks will be on stage this summer in our region. She will present for the first time “Blues everywhere I go”, her latest musical offering, accompanied by the Magnus Lindgren Quartet (Mathias Algotsson on piano, Staffan Astner on guitar, Märgan Höglund on percussion and Kristian Lind on bassoon). Not to be missed ! July 7th at the Théâtre de la Mer Jean Marais, Golfe-Juan.

In the Grenier à Sel, the 3rd "Salon des Créateurs" gives the place of honour to all current trends in home decor, design, sculpture, illustration, fashion and accessories, in all their originality and diversity. Which explains the popularity of this event, audaciously combining origami by Mangarosa with printed concrete by Bertille Gentil for Artybeton and unique jewellery by Valéry Ciccarelli... June, from 17th to 19th at the Grenier à Sel, Arles (04 90 27 09 09).

The new Fragonard Museum is to be found inside the Hôtel Villeneuve : acquired by the Fragonard perfumery in 2007, this brand new cultural centre has been rehabilitated by architect Maxime Ketoff. The public can now enjoy an exceptional collection amassed by Jean-François Costa and his wife Hélène, composed of works by three artists from Grasse : Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806), Marguerite Gérard (1761-1837) and Jean-Baptiste Mallet (1759-1835). The collection consists of about 15 works by Fragonard (oil paintings, drawings, sketches) and about 40 paintings by the other two artists, some of which have never been exhibited before. 14 rue Jean Ossola, Grasse (04 93 36 02 07).

In Africa, football is like rice and water, a basic necessity. Photographer Jessica Hilltout has traveled far and wide across the continent to see for herself this “sacrosanct” round ball, bringing back a series of photos of astonishing beauty, capturing the people's inner excitement beyond the boots, pitches and goal-posts. «Amen, les racines africaines du football », until July 2nd at the Galerie du Théâtre, Gap (04 92 52 52 58).

Katia Bourdarel pursues her unique journey on the contemporary art scene with the portrayal of a fantasy world inhabited by beautiful young girls with mischievous eyes and sexy pouts, animal characters straight out of a fairytale. A work somewhere between Grimm and dreams, combining various mediums. In Toulon, the Galerie des Musées is staging her charming tales, more serious than they appear.
Until June 25th at the Galerie des Musées, Toulon (04 94 91 45 60).

As night descends on the hill of Ollioules, it feels good to be in Châteauvallon to enjoy the evenings comprising the “Nouveau Festival 2011”. From Salif Keïta to the 5th “Flamenco Nights”, the theatre and open-air amphitheatre echo with all kinds of music, humming with all types of choreographic and theatrical scores. A few names as a foretaste : the Ballet Preljocaj with its latest creation “Suivront Mille Ans de Calme”, Luz Casal in a very cinematographic recital, Héla Fattoumi and Eric Lamoureux with their very sensual kind of dance, Antonio Zambujo and Cristina Branco with the melancholy tones of “saudade”, and again, loyal to Châteauvallon, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and Malandain Ballet Biarritz. From June 1st to July 30th at Châteauvallon, Ollioules (04 94 22 02 02).

Diane Kruger, Louise Bourgoin, Willem Dafoe, Milla Jovovich, Isabelle Carré and Rachel Weiz are among the 17 personalities whose giant portraits adorn the front of the Town-hall, Hôtel Riviera and Rue d’Antibes. All wearing Jaeger-Le Coultre creations (Diane Kruger wears the “101” watch), they have elegantly posed for Marcel Hartmann and their photos give a nod and a wink to the International Film Festival, the 64th this year... Until Juy 1st in Cannes.

This is an unusual exhibit to say the least. The works of Isabelle Rey and Joao Vilhena, two graduates of the Villa Arson (one in 2002, the other in 1998), are assembled in the form of diptychs or polyptychs, or even intermingled, thus offering an interesting reading of each one’s world by highlighting their similarities and differences.
Until June 12th at the Galerie Sintitulo, Mougins (04 92 92 13 25).

The highly-esteemed work of artist Manolo Valdés is treated to regular exhibitions. Recently, spectators were invited to admire his monumental sculptures. Today, his graphic work is on display : engravings and collages. Manolo Valdés produces unique and original creations by reappropriating some of the iconic paintings in the history of art : he borrows the forms and themes of other artists and reinterprets them in his own way. Rembrandt, Goya, Diego Velasquez, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse are among the artists from whom he takes inspiration. By up-dating the past, this Spanish artist questions our visual memory and pays due homage to his predecessors and contemporaries. Until June 24th at the Galerie Marlborough Monaco (00 377 97 70 25 50).

The character created by Serge Gainsbourg, �The Man with the Cabbage Head� has been resuscitated in the guise of a choreography by Jean-Claude Gallotta, interpreted by seven female dancers (seven Marilous) and seven male dancers (with cabbage heads). The tale of a destructive love affair in the words of the great Serge by the unforgettable Bashung.
From June 2nd to 4th, Th��tre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

Step inside the world of this artist sometimes known as the �Thief of objects� ! V�ronique Bigo is presenting a retrospective of her work and the many forms of expression that she has adopted to date. Her drawings, paintings, stickers and furniture, mixing art, design and production, make her one of the leading representatives of contemporary art in Europe.
From May 7th to June 19th at the Villa Tamaris, La Seyne-sur-Mer (04 94 06 84 00).

Anyone of any importance in the world of fashion and photography has an appointment on the hills of Hy�res, in the white exhibition rooms of the Villa Noailles designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens with their hanging gardens. For its 26th edition, the �Festival International de Mode et de Photographie� will again see a gathering of the international avant-garde : 10 photographers and 10 fashion-designers selected by a prestigious jury, aiming to promote innovative and well-structured photographic records, as well as effervescent design for both men and women. The event is thus a microcosm of up-to-the-minute research and a showcase for future trends, with no constraints regarding styles or themes...
Until May 29th. Closed from May 3rd to 5th. Hy�res (04 98 08 01 98).

If they belong to the museum since it was founded in 1973, this is only the second time that these drawings have been placed on exhibit-ion. And for good reason ! They are, in fact, pastels produced by Marc Chagall as preparatory work for paintings comprising the �Biblical Message�. Due to the volatile nature of pastels, these works are usually kept in boxes and remain safe in the museum�s reserves. Don�t miss this rare appearance !

Dancer, choreographer, company director, protean artist, Marie-Claude Pietragalla has deployed her gracefulness, beauty and talent on stages worldwide for over 20 years. Now aged 47, this star of the ballet still lights up the sky... and will give, in a special performance, her hybrid version of the Eternal Woman. An evening full of emotion, in which Marie-Claude Pietragalla, alone on stage, magnificent and ardent, hieratic and sensual, brilliant and avant-garde, traces the status of women through the ages. In contemporary scenes, the theatre of the body or humorous tableaux, Pietragalla becomes a spokesman for women throughout history, going from drama to slapstick, medieval armour to an outfit of the 'sixties... With tremendous energy, she brilliantly embodies a multi-facetted woman who, despite everything, retains her self-confidence.
May 20th, at the Acropolis, Nice.

What is normally looked upon as a failure here takes the form of a success. On the theme of blobs, drips and other splashes, a dozen artists have come up with surprising results, each one employing a different technique. We note, for example, how Carissa Rodriguez plays on repetition, while C�dric Teisseire focuses on gravity and Bruno Lemercier mingles order and chaos� . .
Until June 5th at the Espace de l�Art Concret, Mouans-Sartoux (04 93 75 71 50).

This homage to Erik Dietman, who passed away in 2002, offers the chance to step inside the original world of this Swedish artist. Dietman, who worked equally in the disciplines of sculpture, drawing, assemblages of objects and writing, liked to add little touches of humour to his work, making him a slightly off-beat creator. Two donations have recently enriched the Maeght collection.
Until June 13th at the Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul (04 93 32 45 93).

This group exhibition focusing on naive art proposes about ten paintings per artist. Like preambles to a cartoon, they seem to tell stories, both gay and colourful. Frivolity, good humour and the joy of living are in fact reflected in these works reminiscent of childhood that we contemplate with a ready smile.
From May 20th to June 5th, espace culturel, Th�oule-sur-Mer (04 93 49 13 65).

As its name suggests, this new festival will be devoted to the Mediterranean, the photographers it inspires and those who come from the region. The initiators of this event, which will feature a score of exhibitions, are Philippe Heullant and Philippe S�r�non, two renowned figures in the world of images. For this first edition, the artistic direction has been entrusted to Jean-Luc Monterosso, Director of the �Maison Europ�enne de la Photographie�, the guest country is Turkey and the guest of honour, photographer Martin Parr. �Photomed� will thus bring together under different themes, the works of Ara G�ler, Selim S�me, Richard Kalvar, Sabine Weiss, Manca Juvan, Dusko Miljanic, Ornela Vorpsi, Nicolas Henry, Claude Nori and Cristiana Thoux, among many others. There's no doubt that the public will be delighted with this excellent initiative and that the festival will enjoy a long career...
From May 27th to June 19th, Iles des Embiez et de Bendor, Sanary (04 94 74 01 04).

Two photographers, Jérôme Kelagopian and Emmanuel Breton, have decided to focus their respective lenses on the particularly fascinating community of the Cistercian monks. The first, by sharing the daily lives of monks of the Abbey of Lérins on the island of the same name opposite Cannes, the second in the Abbey of Pontigny, with a close-up view of its architecture.
Until May 29th at the Musée de la Photographie André Villers, Mougins (04 93 75 85 67).

Landscapes comprise all the work of Don Jacques Ciccolini who allows us to perceive the dull shock of colours, enveloping light, a meditative silence, skies drowned in mist... Highly distinctive paintings recalling Paul Guigou, Loubon, Boëcklin and even De Chirico, who accompanied him on a trip to Italy... Three addresses are exhibiting his paintings and publishing a book-DVD : Atelier Cézanne, the Galerie Alain Pair and RD10 at Vauvenargues.
Until April 31st (04 42 16 11 41).

Cuban artist Alexis Leyva Machado, familiarly known as “Kcho”, unveils his world filled with oars, propellers and all kinds of boats, mostly made of recycled wood and air chambers. Whether sculpting, drawing or designing installations, Kcho never ceases to evoke the sea and all the dreams that it inspires. Something of an obsession, boats are present in all of his works. They symbolize escapism, either mental or physical, prompting the viewer to navigate dense dreamlike paths. Fifteen paintings and boats are on display until April 21st. Welcome aboard !
Until April 21st at the galerie Marlborough Monaco (00 377 97 70 25 50).

Yet another retrospective devoted to Félix Ziem ? With the greatest pleasure, let’s rediscover in his company Marseille and L'Estaque, the port of Martigues, the canals of Venice and the Mediterranean shores… Landscapes, but also portraits and still-lifes, subjets taken from tales and genres long dear to the artist.
Until May 22nd at the Palais des arts, Marseille (04 91 04 68 32).

In February 2010, after ten years of absence, Sade brought out a new album (the sixth in her career), entitled “Soldier of Love”, which brought her back into the limelight. Today, she is back on stage to make a long-awaited comeback (April 29th). This beautiful singer from Nigeria will thus prove to her fans that she has lost none of her charm and sensual voice...
April 29th at Palais Nikaïa, Nice.

Since its recent opening, the Languedoc-Roussillon Regional Museum of Contemporary Art has focused its attention on today’s approach to drawing. After “Comic Strip” exploring its narrative side and “Architecture en Lignes” reviewing the relationships between drawing and architecture, this exhibition explores the links between territories and landscapes. And this through the work of nine artists for whom drawing is often just one discipline among others, and the landscape a non-exclusive genre. What a bold and relevant choice offered by these “Géographies du Dessin”, defining their own territory, challenging our eyes and questioning our knowledge ! One of the artists, Didier Marcel, takes over the space on the ground floor of the museum, placing the viewer in the midst of a forest of luminous mushrooms and thrusting him into the role of a participant at the centre of the tableau. Surprises in store !
From March 21st to June 12th, Sérignan (04 67 32 33 05).

Note the dates of the 39th “Salon des Antiquaires” in Antibes, from April 16th to May 2nd ! Antiques, bric-à-brac, jewellery, tableware, as well as 20th-century furniture and artworks, presented by the many antique-dealers, both French and foreign, who attend this event of international renown. A wide choice, rarity, quality and wonderful discoveries are all on the program.
Port Vauban, Antibes (04 93 34 65 65).

Coloured concrete, marble, pink granite pebbles, rough limestone, olive wood, a rusty motorbike frame... Sculptor Bernard Pagès has come up with some original materials to embody his most recent pieces. “Pal aux Boucles”, “Surgeons”, “Auréolée”, “Amazone” etc. take their places here, testifying to the wide-ranging creativity of a clearly inspired Pagès.
From April 15th to June 4th, Galerie Catherine Issert, Saint-Paul (04 93 32 96 92).

In this selection of about a hundred photographs, the visitor discovers the visual world of Klavdij Sluban and, more specifically, his favourite subjects. First, his explorations to the borders of central Europe aboard the Trans-Siberian and Trans-Tibetan expresses taking him to Russia, Latvia, Mongolia, Poland, China... Then, far from these plains and wide open spaces valiantly captured by his lens, the photographer landed at Fleury-Mérogis before taking an interest in other prisons, where he embarked on a fascinating project working with detainees. A tempting invitation (until May 22nd) to venture into such very different places, especially through the eye of this very generous artist ! Hôtel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

The talent of Ni�ois artist J�r�my Taburchi was unveiled by the local press. Then appreciated for his cartoons and his fetish character, the pink cat, he has now turned to painting and sculpture. Still entrusting the leading role to his adorable cat, he proposes amusing and colourful works, ideal for cheering up your home !
Until 31st et the Galerie Ferrero, Nice (04 93 88 34 44).

Or how six photographers select-ed by the Blach�re Foundation during the 8th African Photography Encounters in Bamako are writing a new page in their history after spending time in France. The result of a workshop in Lyon, �Expo Photo� compares their work focusing on the banks of the Niger and the Rh�ne.
Until April 30th, Apt (04 32 52 06 15).

This exhibition devoted to the Mediterranean emphasizes the fact that it is �a sea surrounded by land, sensitive, fragile, alive�. The Institute of Oceanography, Albert 1st Prince of Monaco Foundation, has always attributed an important place to preservation of the environment. Combining art and science, its Museum serves as a means of raising public awareness. Airing topics such as the growing rarity of certain species, proliferation of jellyfish and unending urbanization of coastal areas, while also assembling collectors� items, staging interviews and screening films, the exhibition �M�diterran�e� (until May 20th) offers a new approach and encourages visitors to undertake responsible commitment to protect this sea, so beautiful, so rich, but also so very threatened. A creation by artist Huang Yong Ping and a book entitled �M�diterran�e� complete the exhibition.
Mus�e oc�anographique, Monaco (00 377 93 15 36 39).

Born in France but based in London since 1986, Zineb Sedira lays claim throughout his work (photographs, videos, installations) to a culture and identity whose partly autobiographical thread can now be traced at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Marseille. �Dreams have no Titles�, his first retrospective in France, finds a particular resonance here.
Until March 27th. (04 91 25 01 07).

Entitled �Causes Perdues et Musiques Tropicales�, Bernard Villiers' latest release once again promises to be high in colour. On the programme, an exotic blend of cultures and genres. On stage in Nice on March 21st, this singer and song-writer continues to serve as an ambassador for world music, inviting us to share his most inspiring travels.
Palais Nika�a, Nice.

In the 1950�s, Fernand L�ger, who up until then had produced many paintings, decided to forget about frames and project his artwork into a new dimension. On a trip to the United States, he experimented with sculpture using colour, then investigated the possibility of doing the same with ceramics, with his student and friend, Roland Brice. Very quickly, the technique was to become a vast field of exploration, enabling L�ger to pursue monumental projects. The exhibition entitled �Haut en Couleur� highlighting this part of L�ger's work (until May 16th) is also intended as a sign of acknowledgement to the ceramics studio of Roland Brice, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year.
Mus�e national Fernand L�ger, Biot (04 92 91 50 30).

In 1970, Peter Bowater was commissioned as a consultant for the development of agriculture in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. He lived there for three years with his wife. Fans of photography, the couple first took an interest in the local bird life then, more and more closely, its people, culture and traditions. For the first time their work is the subject of an exhibition (until March 20th)... Magnificent !
Until March 20th at Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

The meteorite of Caille was discovered 200 years ago, near Grasse and the commune of Caille, to which it owes its name. Weighing 625 kilos, it is the largest stone to have fallen from the sky, ever found in France. Belonging to the collections of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, it is now on display for the very first time in its home region (until June 26th), accompanied by a score of other meteorites.
Mus�um d�Histoire Naturelle, Nice (04 97 13 46 80).

This is neither the first nor the last challenge to be taken up by choreographer Angelin Preljocaj to combine his contemporary Ballet company with the classical troupe of the Bolshoi Theatre ! Since its launch in Moscow, his new choreography �Suivront Mille Ans de Calme� has caused a sensation among fans of his visual world and sophisticated style, fans of classical technique and those who just love his iconographic and musical excesses... Furthermore, Laurent Garnier is participating in this new adventure, together with set designer Subodh Gupta. As part of its world tour, �Suivront Mille Ans de Calme� can be discovered on March 29th or 30th during the Montpellier Dance Season.

Aluminum, steel, bronze, perspex, ebony, walnut, gold, silver, glass and onyx : some of the materials used by Henri Gargat to create unique pieces. Together with a few pendants and ear-rings, the designer proposes a wide array of rings and other jewellery for the hands. Very beautiful adornments that serve as a wonderful illustration of his definition : �Beauty is when nothing needs to be to removed, nothing added�.
Until February 13th, Espace Solidor, Haut-de-Cagnes (04 93 22 19 25).

�Fort R�veur� is the title of the latest Charl�lie album, a record sold in vinyl format which includes the lyrics of hits, exclusive photos and the tour poster. Born in Nancy and exiled in New York, this multi-disciplinary artist (writer, photographer, painter...) takes up the microphone again and gets back on stage, thus ending the long wait endured by his French fans.
February 12th at the Th��tre Lino Ventura, Nice (04 97 25 62 75).

Jean-Antoine Hierro has just launched the Hierro Desvilles Art Gallery, a brand new space in which he shares his passion for art in general and some of its players, in particular. While exhibiting his own work in the guise of self-portraits, ceramics and accumulations, he also leaves considerable room for young local artists such as Cisco Kidd, S�gol�ne Savoff, Patrick Brange and Sidney Hennion. Visitors can also admire several pieces by Patrick Fr�ga - a Ni�ois sculptor who is drawing more and more attention -, including a chainsaw and mousetrap. As a discerning collector, Hierro also proposes classic paintings (portraits and still-lifes), contemporary works by C�sar, Fahri, Arman and Combas, an engraving by Dali, drawings by Cocteau, ceramics by Picasso... In the basement, his collection of primitive art appeals to fans of the genre.
4 rue Antoine Gauthier, Nice (04 97 121 515).

The Ph�nix circus presents �The most spectacular acts in the world�. Fifty artistes, all nationalities combined, propose a mind-boggling show which keeps the audience breathless for two full hours without a single break. Acrobatics, special effects, tricks and even sessions with 3D animation see that young and old alike are treated to thrills, laughter and dreams.
February 22nd at La Palestre, Le Cannet (0 825 564 888).

A loyal servant who resorts to all the tricks in the book to get a son banished by his father back into the family... That�s Carlo Goldoni�s �La Serva Amorosa�, staged by Christophe Lidon. In the three main roles, Cl�mentine C�lari�, Claire Nadeau (�Moli�re 2010� for an actress in a supporting role) and Robert Hirsch compete in talent to offer a show of sheer jubilation.
February, from16th to 20th, at the Th��tre de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

J�r�my Liron has opted for painting, a means of expression that some now regard as a thing of the past. Yet this young artist proves the contrary, with his beautiful figurative canvases which, assembled here, make for a fascinating exhibition. The former student of the Beaux-Arts in Toulon, then in Paris, focuses on the contemporary urban landscape, and more specifically on housing. He thus reproduces many blocks of apartments, seemingly inspired by the tradition that once existed in paintings of architecture by Dutch artists (Vermeer, Van der Heyden, Saenredam...). A subject, a style and talent� J�r�my Liron has all the right ingredients, and the result is a success !
Until March 13th at the H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

A real international showcase, the Monaco Dance Forum, held every two years, was created to dynamize and promote the professional world of dance. Training courses, classes and workshops succeed one another for young ballet companies before making way for auditions and rewards (scholarships and contracts). In parallel, the Ohad Naharin Batsheva Dance Company will perform two choreographies entitled �Hora� and �Deca Dance�.
February, from 12th to 18th, at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

Just try to imagine four actors sharing about 150 roles ! Adapting �The 39 Steps� for the theatre would seem to be a crazy challenge. G�rald Sibleyras and Eric M�tayer (stage production and interpretation) have taken it on with great panache, turning it into an exhilarating show. Alfred Hitchcock would certainly have been amused�
February 12th and 13th at the Th��tre de Grasse (04 93 40 53 00).

The Granet Museum turns over a new leaf by looking straight into the eyes of the 21st century with the Electronic Shadow duo ! Architect Naziha Mestaoui and director Yacine A�t Kaci fill the museum�s 1,200 sq. metres with Futur�alismes, their �manifesto exhibition� designed as a sensorial path through contemporary utopias. They can be trusted to transport us virtually into a world of hybridization merging reality with the immaterial, to jostle our senses and guide our imagination. At the intersection of art, science, philosophy and poetry, Futur�alismes uses new technologies and interactive installations to heighten our awareness of �transformations of the industrial world�, to which the two accomplices are particularly sensitive and responsive. Prepare for immediate boarding !
Until April 30th at the mus�e Granet, Aix-en-Provence (04 42 52 88 32).

This popular fairytale, revealing that good fairies are unfortunately not the only ones to lean over cradles, has already inspired several authors. After Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky also took an interest in the tale and turned it into a ballet, with Marius Petitpas signing the choreography. Fifty dancers from Kiev�s National Opera Ballet take over the stage with all the grace necessary to provide a most enchanting spectacle.
January 22nd at Acropolis, Nice.

Noticed at the �Biennale of Contemporary Art� in Lyon in 2009, artist Pedro Cabrita Reis of Lisbon �illuminates� the white spaces of the Carr� d'Art with fluorescent tubes, one of his favourite materials. Drawing, painting, photography and sculpture : his 10 years of intense creativity make us want to fly off to Porto to discover his monumental �Palacio Escultura�.
Until January 23rd, N�mes (04 66 76 35 77).

Of all the plays by Eug�ne Labiche, �Un Pied dans le Crime� is certainly not the most well-known. Jean-Louis Beno�t has decided to stage it, thus giving it a prominent place in the great playwright�s work. For this real vaudeville comedy, he respects the passages that are sung and entertains the public by allowing them to savour the misunderstandings, the boorishness and ferocity of the relationships between the characters concerned. The story is about two neighbours who argue to the point that one challenges the other to a duel. Costumed, made-up and coiffed in an unusual way, Dominique Pinon and Philippe Torreton enjoy themselves while amusing the audience. Sheer delight !
January, from 27th to 30th, at the Th��tre de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

A rhinoceros held aloft by straps, a sumo wrestler pushing against an invisible wall, a pile of used tyres symbolizing our society's excessive consumption... The sculptures of Stefano Bombardieri challenge, question or disturb, but certainly do not leave us indifferent. Sometimes with a discreet wink to the master Dali, this Italian artist produces surrealist or hyper-realistic works with undeniable talent.
Until January 20th at the Galerie Ferrero, Nice (04 93 88 34 44).

This �Female Artist of the Year� in the Classical BRITS awards 2009 and main guest Leo Hussain (Musical Director of the Landestheater of Salzbourg) are to join Nice�s Philharmonic Orchestra on January 30th for a one-off concert. On the programme : Haydn (Symphonie N� 82 in C major, �The Bear�, and the concerto in E flat for trumpet & orchestra) and Bartok (music for strings, percussion & celesta).
January 30th at the Th��tre Croisette, Cannes (04 93 48 61 10).

�Force et mouvement� brings together sculptors Ra�k, Ghyslaine and Sylvain Sta�lens and photographer John Conley. The latter presents three series of photos, one on Carlo Locatelli�s �Smart� choreography, another on women and the third devoted to landscapes. As for the sculptures, Ra�k shares his passion for terra-cotta, displaying his potteries, couples who are but one, solitary beings or scenes portraying Celtic mythology. The Sta�lens duo assembles branches, crushed volcanic stone, wire and red sand to create totems, dolls and even bas-reliefs. Compositions that are more intriguing than those of their fellow exhibitors�
Until January 19th at the Espace Miramar (04 97 06 44 90).

Yann Savall is one of the �Photographers in Asia� whose work is being consecrated by Nice�s Museum of Asian Art. Accompanied by his faithful lens, Savall travelled all over Vietnam, especially in the Sapa region, bringing back many shots. His photographs bear witness to the splendour of the rice fields during the monsoon period. An artistic journey high in colour�
Until January 31th at the Mus�e des Arts Asiatiques, Nice (04 92 29 37 00).

With �Signes/Paysages� by Olivier Debr�, the Ziem Museum finds an echo of its permanent collection and landscape painting assumes all its modernity. Especially as in this particular case, it becomes abstract, sensual and totally subjective : after all, didn't Debr� abandon his easel to paint on the floor ?
Until January 23rd, Martigues (04 42 41 39 60).

Alongside Victor Brauner, Yves Tanguy and Andr� Breton, Jacques H�rold was one of the major figures in the Surrealist movement : his presence in Marseille for three years, from 1940 to 1943, fully justifies the tribute now being paid to him by the Cantini Museum. To give a clearer understanding of his paintings, esoteric drawings and surrealist games (�Cadavres Exquis�), the exhibition highlights two major periods in his career - �Germinations� (1930-1934) and � Cristallisations� (1934-1938) -, while also throwing light on his personality through a series of documents, a few books and a video making Jacques H�rold more present than ever.
Until January 17th at the mus�e Cantini (04 91 54 77 75).

2010 is the �Year of Russia� in France. To round it off beautifully, the Centre d�Art La Malmaison has chosen to present about 60 paintings from the Russian School, all belonging to the collection of Tatiana and Georgy Khatsenkov (owners of the MC Fine Arts gallery in Monaco). These paintings of nudes bear the illustrious signatures of Georges Annenkov, Sonia Delaunay, Lydia Dmitrievskaya and Leonid Frechkopf.
Until January 30th at the Centre d�Art de la Malmaison, 47 la Croisette, Cannes (04 97 06 45 21).

Two adjectives that fit Tiken Jah Fakoly like a glove. This reggae per-former who constantly campaigns for human rights and education proves it once again by making a con-tribution to the �One concert, one school� project. His �African Revolution Tour� will thus reap very useful funds while allowing the public to discover his latest album on stage. A more intimate work which will probably become a new benchmark.
January 30th at the Palais Nika�a, Nice (04 97 25 62 75).

Six photographers focused on the theme of agriculture, each contributing his or her own particular vision. Florence Ducarne-Blanes toured the wheat fields of Le Poitou, taking shots of agricultural machinery. Working at night, Michel S�m�niako concentrated on buildings and infrastructures in the peasant milieu, producing a sumptuous play on light. The style adopted by Marie-Mich�le Bertin-Caron to talk about agriculture (still-lifes in black-and-white) surprises and entertains, while the sociological angle chosen by Bertrand Desprez highlights father-son relationships in the vineyards of L�H�rault and farms in the Upper Alps. Finally, Luc Moeneclaey was inspired by earth-sky contrasts in French landscapes, while Xavier Depoilly roamed India and Tibet to report that the activity there has not changed since neolithic times.
Until December 31st at the Mus�e de la Photographie Andr� Villers, Mougins (04 93 75 85 67).

After a staging at the Forum de l�Urbanisme et de l�Architecture, the exhibition �150 Years of Architecture� is being prolonged, in the Tour Bellanda. From 1860 to the present day, ie. since the County of Nice became part of France, it traces the town�s development : buildings which have disappeared, modern constructions, projects which are sometimes highly futuristic. A well-organized slideshow, basking in nostalgia but with an eye on the future.
Until December 10th at the Tour Bellanda, Colline du Ch�teau, Nice (04 97 13 23 95).

�Learn how to look, because looking is already a creative act�. This quote from Gottfried Honegger served as a basis for educational workshops set up in 1998 by the team from the EAC. Proposing a course of initiation, this time with an exhibition entitled �The Rule of the Game�, they invite the visitor to participate in this special kind of game and propose their own rules. Questioning, analysis, imagination and exchange are necessarily part of the drill.
Until Januray 2nd at the Espace de l�Art Concret, Mouans-Sartoux (04 93 75 71 50).

Exhibiting Florence Henri�s work here is highly logical, given the nature of the place. In fact, the H�tel des Arts takes a special interest in photographic works that do not content themselves with being mere �shots� but instead result from a real process of construction. Florence Henri�s works lie within that context. Her �mirror compositions� made her a pioneer in New Vision. Overthrowing established codes, breaking the image�s various levels, they sparked a real artistic revolution in their time, ie. the 1920�s-1930�s. Later, the photographer turned to painting. This lesser known part of her career is presented in parallel, with several watercolours, oil paintings, figurative and abstract compositions, demonstrating interactions between the two disciplines dear to the artist.
Until January 9th at the H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

Bernard Plossu here reveals a little-known side of his work with a portrayal of Berlin which runs counter-current : skyscrapers, streets, convertibles splashed with brilliant light... In short, a brand new vision of the German capital and a new angle to his work which comes as a surprise. Until January 22th at the Espace d�art le Moulin, La Valette-du-Var (04 94 23 36 49).

35 rooms occupied, 35 artists, a collector and a screening room : the principle behind �Supervues� is original and exciting ! It involves transforming the Burrus Hotel for three days into a small space for exhibitions, performances and screenings. And it works : the challenge is won hands down, and guests are happy to meet the artists under the best possible conditions of proximity and congeniality.
December 10th, 11th and 12th at the H�tel Burrhus, Vaison-la-Romaine (04 90 36 00 11).
www.supervues.com

In the Principality of Monaco, the year always ends on a note of lightness, that of exceptional dancers and grandiose choreographies. 2010 will be no exception to the rule. Pina Bausch�s �Rite of Spring� will be performed by the Tanztheater Wuppertal in tribute to the quality of this German artist who died last year. In the first part, �Caf� M�ller�, also one of the major works of this talented choreographer, will open the show. Then, Jean-Christophe Maillot will be back with Charles Perrault, his prince, fairy godmother and other characters, to propose with the Ballets de Monte Carlo his creation �La Belle�, which has met with endless success. � Le Sacre du Printemps �, December, 17th to 19th, at the Monaco Dance Forum and � La Belle �, from December 31st to January 3rd at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

Glaciers in the Antarctic, landscapes of New England, the forests of Provincetown and Maine invade the canvases of American painter Richard Estes, considered as the master of photo-realism. His technique in fact consists of taking several shots of his subject, then re-inventing the image by emphasizing certain details and playing on light while painting the scene directly on canvas or wood.
Until November 18th at the Marlborough Monaco gallery (00 377 97 70 25 50).

For its final offering at Le Panier before it reopens in 2012 in La Joliette, the Frac is staging an exhibition entitled �Prendre la Porte et Faire le Mur�. A mischievous title, giving Sa�dane Afif, Catrin Bolt, Alain Bublex, Dora Garcia, Simon Dybbroe M�ller, Nashashibi/Skaer, Philippe Parreno, Chlo� Quenum, Alain Rivi�re and Michel Verjux the chance to transform the very concept of an exhibition into a work tool. Each of them lays claim to the space, making full use of the lighting or furnishings to produce a brand new work and re-invent the setting itself. Until December 11th, Marseille (04 91 91 27 55).

�Lanterna Magica� is a decidedly undisciplined event that spills over into about fifteen different places where images and the imaginary go hand in hand ! With Belgian author Beno�t Jacques as guest of honour, �a sparkling and unclassifiable artist�, whose original work lies on the borderline between comics and contemporary art, this seventh edition is a constellation of exhibitions, screenings and performances, workshops and encounters designed to stimulate creativity and critical thinking. Thanks to the Fotokino association, the organizer of �Lanterna Magica�, it�s impossible not to bubble over with enthusiasm ! From November 25th to December 24th in Toulon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille (09 50 38 41 68).

With "En continuit�", Henri Maccheroni unveils the fruit of his reflections on the pre-historic era, time, death, traces. His works - photographs, collages, washes and rakus -, some of which were created specifically for this exhibition, are accompanied by texts by the poet and novelist Michel Butor. Until November 28th at the mus�e de Pal�ontologie Humaine de Terra Amata, Nice (04 93 55 59 93).

Listening to them is great, seeing them live is even better ! The members of Moriarty are, in fact, good at setting the stage : they wear 1930�s suits, tap on suitcases, tell stories... The band, which has just released its second album, �The Lost Scenes of Puss�n Boots�, pursues its musical career composed of blues, jazz, folk, country and occasionally even electro...
The 27th of November at the Th��tre Lino Ventura, Nice (points de vente habituels). www.tlv-nice.org

�We try to touch the audience with virtually nothing at all, to deliver an eulogy in praise of awkwardness,� explains Bonaventure Gacon, one of three founders, with Titoune and Laurent Cabrol, of the Trottola circus. Here, he is accompanied by Titoune and Mads Rosenbeck. Together, they embody an ogre-like clown (carrier), a �red twig� (trapeze artist) and a juggler with plates in �Volchok�, a show with no animals, consisting of surprises rather than prowess. Weighed down with bales of rags that they carry, move, weigh and throw, the protagonists are constantly doing balancing acts and look ready to fall at any moment. Spectators, young and old alike, are spell-bound by these inventive performers weaving their way between magic and grace. A circus of sensitivity, truly original ! December from 3rd to 15th at the Th��tre de Grasse (04 93 40 53 00).

To further emphasize its luxury side and meet the expectations of its clientele, the �Salon International du Tourisme� will now be held in the equally prestigious Negresco. In exhibition space of about 1,000 m2, it will accommodate almost 80 professionals (travel agencies, thalassotherapy centres, hotels, tour operators...), fully prepared to fulfill your wildest dreams, including the most exclusive and most expensive !
The 13th and 14th of November at the Negresco Hotel, Nice (04 93 16 64 00).

Alongside national and international celebrities, musicians from the C�te d'Azur will have lots of opportunities to express their talent in the 14th edition of this widely-renowned event. On the bill, among others, Andr� Ceccarelli, Linus Olson, Steve Fishwick, Paolo Tomasi, La Compagnie So What, S�bastien Chaumont, Louis Bariohay, Behi, Alain Brunet and his quartet. November, from 4th to 9th, in La Gaude (04 93 24 47 26).

Cai Guo-Qiang�The name sounds familiar ? Not surprising : in 2008, it was he who designed the firework display for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. The same year, he was the first Chinese artist to be given a retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Cai Guo-Qiang is above all interested in the properties of gunpowder, sometimes using them for dazzling pyrotechnical projects, sometimes for drawings, like �Travels In the Mediterranean�, a work 28 metres long specially created for this exhibition. Beside it, a 15-metre shipwreck offers another sensory and spiritual experience, while five videos provide an overview of his work as a master in the fine art of fireworks. Until November 28th at the MAMAC, Nice (04 97 13 42 01).

Alberto Giacometti is the subject of a very fine tribute, a retrospective notably dedicated to the memory of the 20 years of friendship linking him to Aim� Maeght. The Maeght Foundation unveils the relationship between the two men through letters, films and portraits. In parallel, works presented for the first time to the public and others of international renown, such as �Walking Man�, �The Dog� and �The Cat�, accompany this important artistic event.
Until October 31st at the Maeght Foundation, Saint-Paul de Vence (04 93 32 81 63).

For a full weekend, a dozen painters and sculptors will join about 40 vintners in the 8th edition of �Arts et Vin�, a celebration of wine. The first will exhibit their works inspired by the theme, the second will offer their products for tasting. They will all be joined by exhibitors displaying enticing delicacies, a home distiller and his still, and books on wine. Make a note of the dates !
October 16th and 17th in the town hall of Th�oule-sur-mer (04 93 49 28 28).

In the series entitled �Regards sur les Collections�, it is the turn of the Yvon Lambert collection to take the starring role for the duration of this outstanding exhibition. With more than 1,200 works by Basquiat, Barcelo, C�zanne, Dufy, Goldin, Matisse, Paolini, Schnabel and Weiner, this collection is prestigious not only for its number of references but also for its quality. Yvon Lambert, gallery-owner and collector, has indeed put together an impressive array of works representing various art movements. He has entrusted a tenth of his collection to the Emile Hugues Foundation, thus offering visitors an unprecedented journey through the history of art.
Until October 31st at the Ch�teau de Villeneuve/Fondation Emile Hugues (04 93 58 15 78).

Gerard Battala has the knack of transcending the landscape in representations of highway scenery drawn blind or woven coloured plastic based on his drawings. Works whose powerfulness explodes even more dramatically when in contact with nature.
In November at the Atelier Archipel, Arles (06 21 29 11 92).

For its seventh edition, the Archi Vision event is breaking new ground by making itself accessible to the disabled and visually impaired, by creating a �Grand Prix for Interior Design�, by proposing an exhibition entitled �Parcours Bois �� and finally by fine-tuning its selection of exhibitors (Adler, Neolux, Grohe, Kludi, Sikkens...). On the programme, as usual : conferences, debates, workshops and real congeniality !
From October, 21st to 23rd in the Parc Chanot, Marseille. www.archivision.org

A strange place for an encounter ! In the Richelieu boutique in Marseille, specializing in luxury shoes, stylist Michel Vivien and designer Marine Peyre have set up a dialogue between their respective worlds. Taking over the space, Marine Peyre has created a scenographic installation �in situ�, echoing the �esprit Vivien�, a sculptor of shoes who never sacrifices comfort to obtain a spectacular effect. Be prepared for a big surprise ! His �Monumental Heel� is the highlight of the event : a black velvet bench 3 metres long and 80 to 40 cm. wide, mounted on a platform and inspired by a heel that Michel Vivien created for Lanvin for Summer 2009. An off-beat way of celebrating the arrival of the Vivien collection in the boutique.
Until October 30th in the Richelieu boutique (04 91 54 78 65).

Arnaud Vasseux presents �Spunti�, an impressive, ephemeral installation, specifically designed and built for the space which it now occupies. This artist from Marseille here delivers a work both fragile and sublime, whose very structure threatens to collapse at any moment. A risk fully assumed by Arnaud Vasseux and the gallery's team, who thus back a very unusual art project.
Until October 31st at the galerie Sintitulo, Mougins (04 92 92 13 25).

Normally specializing in ceramics and terra-cotta, the Terra Viva art-gallery has taken a big step, from earth to iron ! It has made a colourful little detour in order to present furniture in painted or varnished metal by Coco, whose original forms and sophisticated convolutions add colour to the home.
Until November 14th at the galerie Terra Viva, Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie (04 66 22 48 78).

It was high time for the Villa Noailles to unveil its past. This has now been done, thanks to the installation of a permanent exhibition which also proves to be a worthy tribute to those responsible for its construction, begun in 1923 : Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles. At the time, the couple, great fans of art, became known as remarkably active sponsors. Today, their name is associated with an impressive list of artists and their role as patrons of the arts is something of an example. In 1973, three years after his wife passed away, Charles de Noailles sold the house to the town of Hy�res, which then undertook restoration work, opened its gardens to the public and gradually made it what it is today : an absolute must for art-lovers. Permanent exhibition at the Villa Noailles (04 98 08 01 98).

Roman Ondak lives and works in Bratislava. Through his many installations, this Slovak artist interrogates space, inside and out, and especially our relationship to it. �Shaking Horizon� unveils works produced between 1992 and 2010, rarely exhibited before, or in some cases, restructured to conform to the configuration of the site of exhibition.
Until October 17th at the Villa Arson, Nice (04 92 07 73 73).

It was in an abandoned botanical garden in the South of France that young photographer Aurore Vidal found inspiration. For her lens, cacti, agaves, and other aloes began to pose. Adorned with tags and carved inscriptions, these plants have become her highly original models. Aurore Valade has thus created a set of unusual shots which are exhibited under the title �Sempervivul Decorum�.
Until September 5th at the galerie Sintutilo, Mougins (04 92 92 13 25).

Contemporary and yet already with a deep-rooted place in the history of art, the masterful work of Pierre Alechinsky, sprawling, sober and explosive at one and the same time, fits well into the renovated rooms of the Mus�e Granet. Especially since the exhibition �Les Ateliers du Midi� reveals his ties with the South, its light, its artists, publishers and studios. For this 83 year-old born in the mists of Brussels began to enjoy drawing, painting, writing as from 1966 in the sunlight of the South of France, close to nature and his friends and accomplices : Pierre-Andr� Benoit in Al�s, Fata Morgana in Montpellier, Actes Sud in Arles and ceramist Hans Spinner in Grasse. His illuminated path zigzags through the forcefulness of his work (entangled, both literally and figuratively), his research into chromatics and form (with his comments in the margin). And his fruitful links with words : his own and those of poets...
Until October the 3rd at the mus�e Granet, Aix-en-Provence (04 42 52 88 32).

This event will celebrate the long history of France�s heritage through places marked by �great men�. In our region, Nice will pay tribute to Queen Victoria, Catherine S�gurane, Francois Grosso� Brignoles will concentrate on the Counts of Provence, Villeneuve-Loubet on the culinary arts, at the Escoffier Museum. Other events will also be held in La Barben, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse...
18th et 19th of September. 0820 202 502 and on www.culture.fr

The Carr� d'Art proposes many departure points for discovering the creations of G�rard Gasiorowski , defying the linear law of chronological display, and preferring to go back and forth between series and works. That�s the attraction of �Recommencer-Commencer de Nouveau la Peinture�, a presentation which winds its way through some 100 exhibits, a faithful reflection of work under construction.
Until September 19th, N�mes (04 66 76 35 70).

In his hands, geometric shapes no longer seem severe. For Peter Thumm softens his work with a very personal and original touch, adding bright decors with themes such as dance, movement, man and nature. Of German origin, this talented ceramist has set up his second workshop in Grimaud. There he welcomes and works with artists such as Elvira Bach, Gert Mathiesen, Jacques Barry and Stefan Szczesny. With the latter, he has, in fact, produced nearly 1,000 ceramics. A generous artist, he injects life into imposing objects, by using a very thick paste, the basis for all his superb creations, the most recent of which are currently on show in Cannes.
Until September 26th at the Villa Domergue, Cannes (04 97 06 44 90).

The Sabine Puget gallery has a knack of arousing our curiosity, already with the title
of its major summer exhibition : �The White Garden and the Labyrinth�. Through its outdoor areas, covered this year in shades of gray and, of course, the project of revisiting the garden and its various metamorphoses in the world of the arts. A stroll revealing the rich imagination of photographers, painters, sculptors and musicians, invited to �lose themselves� in the maze...
Until Sepember 5th at the Ch�teau Barras, Fox-Amphoux (04 94 77 05 39).

The drawings and paintings of the young Chinese artist Zhu Hong ask questions about museums and also about the works themselves ! Demonstrating perfect technical mastery in a delicate range of muted tones, she offers an off-beat approach to art, trespassing beyond the frames and extracting a close-up from a tiny detail. Her exhibition �Pi�ce de Collection� is to be examined at leisure in the Ziem Museum, in Martigues.
Until September 19th, Martigues (04 42 41 39 49).

Jean-Claude Meynard explores, over and over again, for 35 years. What does he explore ? The complexity of reality, a vast subject.� His work is spread over four distinct periods. From 1974 to 1976, his paintings were hyper-realistic. Full of visual elements, they symbolize the consumer society in which everything is about image. In the late 1970�s, he delved into the Geometry of Enigmas, working with paint to create reflections, shadows and doubles. From 1980 to 1990, he focused on the Geography of the Body, pursuing an art in which representation of the human figure is more and more elusive. Finally, since 1990, fragmented geometry has haunted his work. He endows the human being with a new dimension and even confronts the myth of Babel. A journey to discover with, for the first time, certain works exhibited as a kind of echo (the hybrids).
From September 11th to October 17th at the Villa Tamaris, La Seyne-sur-Mer (04 94 06 84 00).

Many canvases, but also some of the master�s original drawings are assembled under the title �Upside down, the inverted world of Chagall�. Works in which characters from another age rub shoulders with transfigured animals, transferred objects, improbable spaces... The spectator discovers a world turned completely upside down in each of these works, passing from magic spectacles to tragic upheavals.
Until October 11th at the mus�e national Marc Chagall, Nice (04 93 53 87 20).

A member of the Cracking Art Group, Belgian artist William Sweetlove is well-known for his animal sculptures (giant rabbits, mini-elephants, dogs...). They are all made of plastic subjected to a source of heat, whence the process of �cracking�. The purpose ? To denounce climate change and environmental problems that could cause genetic changes in the various species.
Until September 30th at the Ch�teau Sainte-Roseline, Les Arcs (04 94 99 50 30).

From craftsmanship to contemporary art, the textile industry to fair trade, Matali Crasset pursues many projects in stage design, architecture, graphic design and furnishings. In Nice, she put her name to the highly innovative concept of the Hi Hotel. Today, this talented designer invites us to keep an appointment in the Var. Her installation �Nature Int�rieure� is revealed in three rooms : first the �Orchard� with its marionnette trees, then an �Invitation � la D�gustation� with glass containers produced by the Gandy Gallery, and finally �Transmission�, a space designed in collaboration with students from the Ecole Superieure d�Art de Toulon Provence M�diterran�e. At the Domaine de Baudouvin, Matali Crasset and these young aspiring artists pursue their research, with other surprises in store...
Until September 20th at the espace d�art Le Moulin and in the domaine de Baudouvin, La Valette-du-Var (04 94 23 36 49).

�Disks and semaphores - sign language used by L�ger and his contemporaries�� An original theme for a particularly ambitious exhibition. Fernand L�ger�s paintings, and especially those produced in the 1920�s, were influenced by signs from the worlds of the sea, railways and urban settings. Arnault Pierre, who came up with the subject, proposes a fascinating analysis.
Until October 11th at the mus�e national Fernand L�ger, Biot (04 92 91 50 30).

Newly graduated after 5 years of training at Nice�s �Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Art�, 23 young artists are submitting their offerings to the public gaze. For the exhibition entitled �Cette Ann�e-l���, Julien Bouillon, artist and teacher, has
been entrusted with the selection of these works showing wide diversity in their disciplines (painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video, installations, ceramics...).
Until October 3rd at the Galerie de la Marine (04 93 91 92 91) and at the Villa Arson (04 92 07 73 73), Nice.

This annual event is now eagerly awaited by all enthusiasts ; and �Rencontre de Jardins� is now proudly organizing its sixth edition. An edition that will be bigger than ever, occupying over 25,000 m2 and offering innovative ideas from some 250 exhibitors in �villages� based on specific themes. By way of example : horticulturists, nurseries and collectors of rare plants will rub shoulders in the �Plant and Fragrances� section while a �Garden of the Arts� will include sculptures and other exceptional artefacts. Landscaping, equipment and the environment will also enjoy a prominent place within this huge installation. And this year�s edition of �Rencontre de Jardins� will play host to another show, the RDE (�Rencontre de l�Environnement�), which aims to raise public awareness of environmental activities and eco-innovation. A fully comprehensive programme !
From September, 10th to 13th, in P�pini�res Derbez, Gassin (04 94 56 61 04). www. Rencontredejardins.com

For four nights running, the former home of painter Jean-Gabriel Domergue invites jazz-fans to take their place on its huge terrace. On the programme : two quartets, the first of vocalist Denia Ridley, the second of Claire Michael (saxophonist, flutist and vocalist), but also Tigran Hamasyan on the piano, the Aratta Rebirth quintet and Jazz of Moscow band. A swinging summer on the agenda for Cannes !
August from 18th to 21th at the Villa Domergue, Cannes (04 92 98 62 77).

Laurence Jenkell has invaded the Avenue des Beaux Arts with her giant candy sculptures. In homage to the Principality, she has created six new ones : one in blue evoking the Mediterranean and its azure sky, one in silver symbolizing the luxury associated with Monaco, a checkered one in black-and-white recalling the start of the Grand Prix and the Casino�s gaming tables, and three more in �flag� style to illustrate the cosmopolitan aspect of the town.
Until August 31st , avenue des Beaux Arts, Monaco (00 377 97 97 54 24).

Abroad, his most famous work is undoubtedly the �Crown Fountain� in the Millennium Park in Chicago (inaugurated in July, 2004). In Nice, as part of the artistic enhancement of the tramline, Jaume Plensa reinforced his international reputation with his seven �Thinkers� perched on bases 10 metres high, keeping a watchful eye on Place Massena. This summer, it is the terrace of the Bastion Saint-Jaume that welcomes the artist by playing host to �Nomad�, one of his very large format sculptures. In parallel, 90 other works (sculptures and drawings) produced by Plensa between 1998 and 2009 are on display on the theme of �L'Ame des Mots�.
Until October 17th at the mus�e Picasso, Antibes (04 92 90 54 20).

Head back to this peninsula in the Var and dance to the eclectic sound of the great Capleton, Julian Marley, the energetic M, the illustrious DJ Bob Sinclar, the group Pink Martini, not forgetting Wax Tailor, Christophe Ma�, Amandine Bourgeois, Simple Minds... Ten days of top-notch concerts in the open air with cicadas singing in chorus, this new edition of �Les Voix du Gaou� promises yet more memorable moments.
From July 17th to 29th, Ile du Gaou, Six-Fours. www.voixdugaou.fr

�From my very first visit in April, 1971, I fell in love with Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Today, it gives me great pleasure to present the exhibition �Stone Alone in Saint-Paul�, which opens a window on the years I have spent in this wonderful village.� Ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman thus unveils 94 of the 20,000 photographs he has taken over the years. A unique collection which notably includes portraits of other musicians and artists.
Until September 30th at the Mus�e eand the Espace Verdet, Saint-Paul de Vence (04 93 32 41 00).

This summer�s major exhibition is devoted to Japan, the fascinating Land of the Rising Sun. �Kyoto-Tokyo, from Samurai to Manga� offers a wide-ranging tour of a decidedly mixed culture. In fact, moving constantly between ancestral customs and an avant-garde approach, Japan is sometimes highly confusing to us Westerners. Delving into its history brings a clearer understanding. From the old capital to the new, following the Tokaido road, with one eye on the horizon and the legendary Mount Fuji, the spectator is invited to admire the country�s riches. It winds its way through Japanese culture, crossing the Samurai, monks, great authors of literature, legendary film directors, the architect Kenzo Tange, mangas now filmed as cartoons... Nearly 600 exhibits from the collections of the National Museums of Tokyo and Kyoto, or on loan from Western institutions such as the Mus�e Guimet in Paris and the Museum of Asian Art in Berlin, compose this impressive installation, dedicated to the discovery of this insular land.
From July 14th to September 12th at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 20 00).

The Marlborough Gallery fully intends to celebrate its decade of existence in a fitting and worthy manner ! Which is why it has decided to hold a major exhibition bringing together some of its most iconic artists. As eclectic as one could wish, this art-gallery that quickly became an institution in the field of contemporary art in Monaco has invited Arman, Bacon, Botero, Chihuly, Sosno, Vald�s, Zao Wou-ki...
Until September 10th at the Galerie Marlborough Monaco (00 377 97 70 25 50).

A collage, a showcase, a suitcase, a video, photographs and photo-engravings comprise six sets of work by German artist Carsten H�ller, revolving around the theme of the fly agaric. Students from the Ecole Sup�rieure des Arts Plastiques are palying a part in this exhibition by adding their own work on the red and white mushroom with hallucinogenic powers�
From July 8th to August 30th at the Ecole Sup�rieure d�Arts Plastiques, Monaco (00 377 93 30 18 39).

The Ch�teau Grimaldi is playing host to the biennial of the U.M.A.M. (Union M�diterran�en pour l'Art Moderne), a major event that provides the opportunity to admire the work of certain artists from the greater Mediterranean region. Representatives of contemporary creation have worked on the theme of �Clairs Obscurs�, and the U.M.A.M., presided by Simone Dibo-Cohen, proudly unveils a selection with the accent on quality and eclecticism (the selection panel is composed of personalities from the art world). Well-established artists and budding talents thus compete for the Henri Matisse Prize (an endowment of 3,000 euros), Pierre Bonnard Prize (publication of a catalogue on the artist�s work) or the Cagnes Prize (one-man show at Cagnes-sur-Mer).
Until September 10th at the Ch�teau-mus�e Grimaldi, Haut-de-Cagnes (04 92 02 47 30).

For its fifth edition, the International Festival of Gastronomy "Les Etoiles de Mougins" welcomes with legitimate pride Anne-Sophie Pic, the iconic 3-star Michelin chef, thereby consecrating the return of women to the kitchens ! Cooking demonstrations, samplings high in flavour and gourmet discoveries will celebrate the work accomplished by these pioneers who have left their tasty imprint on our memories, while looking forward to the future with high hopes for the next generation.
From September 10th to 12th, Mougins Village (04 92 28 06 97).

This exhibition devoted to Giorgio Morandi aims to show how the Italian artist appropriated reality. Some forty oil paintings, watercolours, prints and drawings, still-lifes, landscapes and especially flowers have been carefully selected by expert Laura Mattioli. Abstraction and poetry take on all their meaning.
Until September 16th at the H�tel des Arts, Toulon (04 94 91 69 18).

Glam Events offers a unique experience : Luxuria, a private, ephemeral club. For three days, luxury will be the focus of this event with encounters between its creators and its participants. The iconic brands and personalities in the sector who will participate in this first edition have been very carefully selected. Boucheron, Pinel&Pinel, Studio Harcourt, Carlo Ramello... The Societe des Bains de Mers, Banque de Gestion Edmond de Rothschild and Sotheby's International Realty are among the prestigious partners. Clotilde Courau will chair the gala dinner organized in aid of the associations �Dessine-moi un Mouton� and �Monaco Aide et Pr�sence�. Even the guests will be hand-picked. In fact, only those selected by the admissions committee will be allowed to visit Luxuria. You can try your luck by registering on the site www.luxuria-events.com.
From July, 23rd to 25th, at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 97 70 87 00).

From Japan to Chile via Egypt, France, Africa and the United States, the 13th edition of the �Nuits du Sud� festival will continue to explore the musical riches of the planet by offering a series of concerts that will not fail to please its faithful audience. Youssou N�Dour, Natacha Atlas, Johnny Clegg, Mickey 3D, Toots & the Maytals, Luz Casal and many others are on the bill.
From July 18th to August 7th, place du Grand Jardin, Vence (0 951 323 323). www.nuitsdusud.com

The �Rencontres Internationales de Musique M�di�vale du Thoronet� are celebrating their 20th anniversary. This splendid abbey with its exceptional acoustics will again provide a backcloth for groups from all over the world : Les Flamboyants (Switzerland), Gilles Binchois & Syntagma (France), Cinquecento (Austria), La Reverdie (Italy), Hijiri-Ka� (Japan) and Oshakan (Armenia). Also as part of this event, Vox Suavis will give a concert in the church at Le Luc-en-Provence.
From July, 18th to 25th, at the abbaye du Thoronet (04 94 60 10 94).

The Kuna people live on coral islands near Panama, on the Atlantic side. Here, women have developed an art of rare esthetic quality. They make incredible clothing called �molas�. They are composed of various layers of fabrics, cut to create patterns and enhanced by embroidery or patchwork. �Molas� are thus extremely diverse, colourful and original. They always go in pairs because one forms the front of the garment and the other, the back. In this exhibition entitled �Tableaux Kuna - Les Molas, un Art d�Am�rique�, split into ten different sections, visitors can appreciate the diversity of these artefacts from a distant land. They will also discover photographs paying tribute to the Kuna, their environment and habitat.
From June 19th to October 18th, at the Palais de l�Europe, Menton (04 92 41 76 66).

Not content with meeting them, Didier Gicquel has even taken the time to capture them on film. The leading representatives of contemporary art (James Turrell, C�sar, Julian Schnabel), the world of music (Patti Smith, Sting...), film (David Lynch, Johnny Depp...) and literature (Albert Cossery, James Ellroy...) and thus immortalized.
Until August 4th at the Galerie Monaco Modern� Art, Monaco (00 377 92 16 71 17).

For many years, R�mi Vignolo accompanied great names on the European music scene such as Aldo Romano, Bojan Z, Claude Nougaro and Richard Galliano... Today, he takes the stage in his role as drummer and lead player in a quartet. Jazz, of course, for that�s the world he came from, but above all a superb fusion of different horizons. Rock, pop, groove, funk and Latin influences contribute towards the explosive cocktail that R�mi Vignolo and the AKDMIK Orchestra offer their audiences.
18th and 19th of June at La Note Bleue, Monaco (00 377 93 500 502).

1960-2010 : the Jazz � Juan festival has thus enchanted music-lovers for half a century ! To blow out its 50 candles, it needed to bring in reinforcements, so, alongside its �god-father� Marcus Miller, its many other performers will include Kyle Eastwood, Manu Katch�, Melody Gardot, Avisha� Cohen, George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diana Krall, Maceo Parker and more. Fans should note that July 18th will be a special evening, in tribute to Django Reinhardt. And if this year�s event is scheduled at the same time as the Nice Jazz Festival, it does not see itself as a rival, but rather as allowing the public to select their favourites from their respective programmes, sometimes in the gardens of Cimiez, sometimes in the famous pine-grove of Juan-les-Pins, on enchanting summer evenings enhanced by music.
From July, 14th to 25th, Pin�de Gould, Juan-les-Pins (04 97 23 11 11). www.antibesjuanlespins.com

In 1860 and 1861, aboard his ship �Le Redoutable� and on his stop-overs, Osmond Romieux traveled throughout Lebanon. Beirut, Ka�ffa, Baalbek, Smyrna, Mount Lebanon... The captain of the French Navy frigate explored and sketched, leaving behind a precious testimony. Some of his drawings, offset by photographs taken in the late 19th century, are the subject of an exhibition highlighting relationships between Marseille and Lebanon.
Until August 30th, at the Mus�e d�Histoire de Marseille (04 91 90 42 22).

At a time when one hears talk of an up-coming relocation even though work on the Ar�nes has been completed, it is nevertheless on the Gallo-Roman site of Cimiez that the Nice Jazz Festival is preparing to host a plethora of hand-picked artists for evenings of real charm and quality for the 37th consecutive year. The �god-father� of this new edition is the most international of all Nice-born musicians, the outstanding percussionist Andr� Ceccarelli, who will present his tribute to Claude Nougaro : �Le Coq et la Pendule�. Spectators will also be invited to welcome other major names such as Al Jarreau, Ornette Coleman, Jean-Marc Jafet, Herbie Hancock, Robert Cray, Pat Metheny and Buddy Guy, while discoving less widely known talents in France including Diego El Cigala, Nikki Yanofsky, Gurrumul, Julian Lage and Imelda May. The programme is rich, eclectic and first-class ! Everyone keeps asking for more !...
From 17 to 24 july, Jardins et Ar�nes de Cimiez, Nice. www.nicejazzfestival.fr

Since 2004, from the start of the Film Festival, Cannes has exhibited lifesize photos of celebrities on hoardings. An event which goes by the name �Cannes fait le Mur�. This year, photos taken by Lorenzo Agius adorn the Festival City�s walls with another selection of his portraits visible in the Jaeger LeCoultre boutique. Diane Kruger, Robert Downey Jr, Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman are part of the show.
Until July 5th at Jaeger-LeCoultre shop, Cannes (04 93 38 18 17).

You'll recognize Dali in works by Henry ! His paintings indeed inherit the same humoristic touch as those of the great Salvador, but also this kind of naivety that softens the eye of the beholder. They sometimes reveal lunar landscapes, sometimes the watery depths, where strange characters cross each other's paths. Alongside them, Jean-Claude Henry also presents drawings evoking medicine (his original profession).
Until June 20th at Ch�teau Sainte-Roseline, Les Arcs-sur-Argens (04 94 99 50 39).

The show entitled � �per et �pis� is definitely unlike any other. Halfway between the theatre and the circus, consisting of a moving stage, steep and perilous, it shows how unstable life can be. Here, we see that everything can change in a split second. The characters wobble, couples form and break apart, playing incessantly on the laws of balance.
From May, 25th to 27th, at the Th��tre de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

If the sculptor holds no secrets for the public in respect of his favourite discipline, he still surprises some spectators with his pencil drawings, washes, gouaches and water-colours. The 30 water-colours exhibited here (mostly combinations of graphite pencil, gouache and water-colour) have been selected to illustrate the importance Auguste Rodin gave to colour. �Rodin et la Couleur� thus shows the change undergone by the artist in his conception of the human figure. This new medium in fact gave him the opportunity to experiment with the fluidity of forms, nudes and faces from a different angle, with an autonomy that sculpture did not allow.
Until June 21th, at the Mus�e de l�Annonciade, Saint-Tropez (04 94 17 84 10).

CB stands for Christopher Bauer, JC for Julien Camy. In the new space (Espace Initial) of the gallery Depardieu, the designer and photographer propose a project for four hands. It is a kind of meeting between their paintings and photographs, organized to tell a story, the famous story...
From May, 5th to 29th, at the Galerie Depardieu, Nice (04 97 12 12 99).

�Uncle Vanya in the Country� is a work by Chekhov revisited and performed outdoors by a merry troupe. Spectators sit on bales of straw and attend an innovative version of this well-known classic. There are seventeen actors who deploy all their energy and talent for the duration of this off-beat cultural escapade. Highly original and enjoyable !
From May, 24th to 26th at the Plateau de Roquevignon, Grasse (04 93 40 53 04).

For the first time, contemporary art has invited itself to the Museum of Oceanography which is thus celebrating its centennial in a highly original way. Who better to choose than Damien Hirst for this confrontation between art and science ? The artist and his �Natural History� series in fact blend very well with the museum�s extraordinary collection of marine specimens and underwater fauna. Assembled under the title �Cornucopia�, 60 major works, paintings, sculptures and other creations trace the last 15 years in the career of this talented British artist. From small canvases made of butterflies� wings to monumental sculptures, via a dove and a lamb both suspended in the air and preserved in formaldehyde, this exhibition leaves no visitor indifferent.
Until September 30th at Mus�e Oc�anographique, Monaco (00 377 93 15 36 00).

One expresses himself through installations made of perishable materials (bread, dog biscuits, eggs, flour, cream pudding...), the other paints and draws. Michel Blazy focuses on passing time and the way things disappear, while Jean-Luc Blanc concentrates on ghosts and paints portraits with a supernatural appearance. Step inside the �Jardin Fant�me� !
Until June 13th at the Galerie de la Marine, Nice (04 93 91 92 91).

How do we perceive today photos which caused a sensation over 20 years ago for their novelty, radicalism and demands ? That�s the question posed by this �Parcours Photographique� in Marseille. At the initiative of the Ateliers de l'Image, many shots taken by Dieter Appelt, Jean-Marc Bustamante, John Coplans and Suzanne Lafont, among others, are on display.
Until May 23th, at "Mus�e d�art contemporain" of Marseille (04 91 25 01 07).

The whole world fights over his work and the most important museums have already devoted many exhibitions to it : Colombian artist Fernando Botero is always unanimously acclaimed. His art is distinguished by his opulent characters who live in a colourful world and delight fans of the genre. Recently, and more precisely since 2006, the artist has been inspired by the circus, this atypical world on which he has based numerous paintings and sculptures in bronze. Among the latest, we can admire in this new exhibition, �Circus Woman� and
�Cyclista� (oils on canvas), �Toreador� and �Standing Woman� (water-colours on paper), �Leda and the Swan�and �Reclining Woman� (sculptures).
Until June 18th juin at the Galerie Marlborough Monaco (00 377 97 70 25 50).

The world's top 30 riders, the best �dresseurs� in the world and the inexhaustible charm of the Croisette come together and make this equestrian event an absolute must, year after year. It is the French leg of the Global Champions Tour (presented by Jaeger-LeCoultre) and the World Dressage Masters.
From June 10th to 12th at Stade des Hesp�rides, Cannes (04 92 68 62 77).

�Designing an itinerary of sculptures within a natural progression that takes into account the size of the spaces and the works,� - that�s the idea behind this unusual art project. The Haras de Gassin is thus adorned with superb pieces, figurative and non-figurative (including those of Jacky Coville, Marion Burkle and Philippe Pastor, photo above), and invites visitors to enjoy a poetic and surprising stroll.
From June 18th to September 30th, at Polo Club de Saint-Tropez, Gassin (04 94 55 22 12).

He progressed from abstract to figurative work in just one brush-stroke, and this, under the influence of European artists such as Delacroix and Bonnard. But it was especially after discovering the works of Matisse that Robert De Niro Sr. decided to give new shape to his art. In both paintings and drawings, the American artist then portrayed the world in a more perceptible manner, whilst maintaining its abstract essence. Today, it is quite natural that his compositions hang alongside those of the master. The exhibition �Apr�s avoir vu Matisse, Robert de Niro Sr. - Peintures et Dessins� enables the spectator to place in parallel two extraordinary paths that have found a fruitful meeting-point, proving that Robert de Niro Sr. is not merely the progenitor of one of the greatest American actors.
Until May 31th at Mus�e Matisse, Nice (04 93 81 08 08).

Artist Patrice Racois presents four of his monumental sculptures, magnificent pieces of extraordinary realism and power. A strong symbolic effect emerges from his work, as he considers each work as a renaissance. The materials are diverse, the technical resources extensive, and the imagination simply unbridled !
From April 1st to May 25th at the JPB Art Gallery, Saint-Tropez (06 11 81 70 19).

George Rousse has found his speciality : he unearths places slated for demolition, transforms, paints and rebuilds them in his own way before immortalizing them through his lens. Last November, he thus invested the site of the Station-Lebon, Rue Meyerbeer, and produced a work which is now part of the Collections of the City of Nice. Along with this most recent achievement, visitors can see the photograph entitled �Nice 2009� together with a score of other large-format creations, some accompanied by their preparatory sketches, drawings and paintings.
Until May 16th at Th��tre de la Photographie et de l�Image, Nice (04 97 13 42 20).

Jean-Antoine Hierro is the �Artist of the dress-object� that he presents using various techniques (collage, compression, paint drips, obliteration, accumulation...) and on different themes. The one proposed here ? Toys, assembled in the form of dresses, of course ! These pieces gain in volume and the spirit of the �seventies/�eighties reigns supreme.
From April 1st to May 31th at Galerie Ferrero, Nice (04 93 88 34 44).

Jacques Bellay stages the famous novel by Antoine de Saint-Exup�ry, �Le Petit Prince�. He also plays the role of this pilot in a leather jacket who breaks his engine and meets a strange little fellow. A philosophical dive into the world of childhood based on the poetry of a cult text, but also on souvenir images and video projections.
From April 28th to May 19th, Th��tre de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

A good description for Wim Delvoye. This Flemish artist cultivates his taste for derision and creates without setting any limits : tattooed pigs, bird houses decorated with sado-masochistic accessories, a football goal in a stained-glass window with a fake marble floor made of ham... His drawings and models surprise, challenge and lead to reflection. For this exhibition, Wim Delvoye has selected tattooed pigs, Gothic models and works on Christ on the cross. Accomplishments that give a glimpse of the artistic, graphic and sculptural quality of this decidedly off-beat artist.
Until May 23th at MAMAC, Nice (04 97 13 42 01).

Trained at the Villa Arson, Eve Petruschi then joined the group known as KIT, undertaking many projects and acting as curator for exhibitions. Today, she is presenting her work under the title �P�riscope�. These drawings, collages and sculptures that she produces from a photographic source immortalize very special landscapes : areas of wasteland, zones under construction, abandoned or industrial areas, storage facilities... Eve Petruschi focuses her attention on the evolution of these places which can be orderly, disordered, deserted, rehabilitated or occupied. More than just an exhibition, she offers spectators very different atmospheres...
Until June 12th at the Galerie a., Nice (04 93 80 07 48).

Built in 1989 by the renowned architect Frank O. Gehry, the Vitra Design Museum at Weil-am-Rhein in Germany houses a collection of over 1,800 items, mainly consisting of seats (from 1820 to the present day). It is from this collection that 80 works have been selected and brought together for the duration of an exhibition entitled �Icons or Design ?�. Illustrating a century of creation (from 1890 to 1999), they are signed Carlo Bugatti, Adolf Loos, Otto Wagner, Le Corbusier, Lassar Lissitzky, Charles Eames, Javier Mariscal, Tom Dixon, Philippe Starck�
Until May 16th, at Ch�teau de Villeneuve, Vence (04 93 58 15 78).

Since the creation of his character, M, in 1997, Matthieu Chedid has won one success after another. His fourth studio album entitled �Myst�re Mister� again confirms, as if it were necessary, his incredible talent. �Le Roi des Ombres� again adopts his unusual hairstyle, promising new antics on a frenzied stage.
March 9th at Z�nith Om�ga de Toulon and March 26th at Salle Nika�a, Nice.

Three contemporary painters, G�rard Guyomard, G�rard Le Cloarec and Vladimir Velickovic, have attempted to unravel the mysteries of movement. The first by means of image retention, the second using pixels and the third by drawing outstretched bodies. Their works are presented in the exhibition �La M�moire du Geste�, intended as a homage to Etienne-Jules Marey, photographer and pioneer in the world of cinematography. The paintings by this trio of artists are confronted by Marey�s chrono-photographs and documentaries from the �Encyclop�die Audiovisuelle de l�Art Contemporain� compiled by Claude Guibert. Diverse approaches for a fascinating reflection on the relationship between painting and new technologies...
From March, 2nd, to May 30th at Mus�e R�tif, Vence (04 93 58 44 20).

Works by Michel Verjux are neither paintings nor sculptures, but lighting. For him, what is in fact important is the way we show things and why we present them. He thus creates disks, squares, rectangles and cones using a source of light and projects them onto architectural elements. The L�ger Museum lends itself to the concept with a liberal dose of poetry.
From February 5th to May 17th at Mus�e National Fernand L�ger, Biot (04 92 91 50 30).

�Loving couples� were a favourite theme for Jean Cocteau. Engaged and married couples in fact haunt many of his works. In over a hundred drawings, prints, manuscripts, ceramics and photographs from the Jean Cocteau Museum and S�verin Wunderman collections, the public is invited to share moments of eternal tenderness.
Until June of 2010 at the Mus�e Jean Cocteau, Menton (04 93 57 72 30).

Contemporary art has a new outlet for expression. The R�tif Museum was born of the initiative taken by Mr. and Mrs. Andr� R�tif, creators of the famous stores of the same name. Built by the Cabinet Alain Berp, this elegant building is a worthy backcloth for the artworks and welcomes visitors in excellent conditions. Nall, Sasha Sosno, Jean-Claude Novaro, Robert Barriot, Marcestel and Jean Carzou inaugurate this new address.
Mus�e R�tif, Vence (04 93 58 44 20).

Claude Morin and his daughters, G�raldine and Olivia, share a creative soul which is expressed in the fields of sculpture and painting. They each, of course, have their own personal touch. G�raldine and Olivia work with bronze, Claude too, though he complements it with welded iron (his �C�sar� is simply superb). Olivia specializes in sanguines while G�raldine paints in more �underground� style (Gainsbourg, New York...) and Claude opts for voluptuous female nudes (using various techniques : sanguine, oil on canvas, oil on linen) and representations of birds (ostriches, ibises, blue throats, seagulls...). Three talents to be discovered in the family studio-cum-gallery where they permanently display their works.
Atelier galerie Morin, Saint-Paul-de-Vence (04 93 32 77 37).

A rising figure in contemporary art, Kokian is also the worthy heir of Basquiat. Impulsive and rebellious, he does not hesitate to use his art to denounce the hypocrisies of our society. His paintings thus convey real messages. Scattered between Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Corsica, Belgium and Luxembourg, two of them are visible at the Galerie du Vieux Saint-Paul, Saint-Paul de Vence (04 93 32 74 50).

The first stone was laid last December. Since then, the public eagerly awaits the opening (in 2011) of the Jean Cocteau Museum. This new cultural building will house the collection of S�verin Wunderman, the famous watch-maker, a great art-lover who died in 2008. He had collected over 2,000 works by Jean Cocteau : drawings, photographs, manuscripts, prints, posters, sculptures, ceramics... His impressive donation to the town (1,763 items) and the desire to share his passion have allowed this ambitious project to be carried out. Designed by the Rudy Ricciotti architectural firm, the museum will fit perfectly into the landscape. It will contain several exhibition rooms and a bookshop, an educational workshop, garden, cafeteria and storage rooms. It will be built at the foot of the old town close to the Bastion, in a spot known as �Les P�cheurs�. Menton

The concept is original. The Galerie Ars Natura, located in the Old Town of Nice since December, exhibits photographs exclusively inspired by nature. Each one is numbered, signed and proposed in limited editions (maximum 500 copies). The gallery is currently highlighting photos by Mark Gaylard, Naoya Fujishiro, Pierre Lesage and Jean Cazals. It also has a catalogue of about 200 images for which one can choose the print format and finish. A unique chance to treat oneself to a work of art, whose collector value is protected, at a reasonable price (from 23 to 1,550 �). Furthermore, Ars Natura has selected a number of decorative items, also with nature in mind : natural picture frames from Vertical Green, objects made of boiled wool from Hut up Berlin and others with animal or floral motifs from Atelier LZC.
Galerie Ars Natura, 3 rue Centrale, Nice (04 93 79 46 24). www.arsnatura.fr

The town of Cagnes-sur-Mer is reasserting its role in the field of jewellery and has added two new rooms to its exhibition space, one reserved for documentation. Its permanent collection consists of original works acquired over the years from internationally renowned artists, with the accent on contemporary design.
Espace Solidor et Tour Margot, Cagnes-sur-Mer (04 93 72 14 42).

It has taken two-and-a-half years to renovate the Picasso Museum in Antibes which is finally re-opening its doors to the public. While the castle�s fa�ades and roofs have been restored, the undertaking mostly involved plans for interior restructuring. The aim of providing improved conditions for the reception of visitors (access for the handicapped, cloakrooms, washrooms, book shop�) and conservation of artworks (creation of showcases, temperature control�) has been achieved. On entering the ground-floor, one discovers the admirable Hartung-Bergman donation. The first floor is devoted to temporary exhibitions and presentation of the Nicolas de Sta�l collection. Quite logically, the top floor is reserved for the Picasso collection, in and around the studio area where the artist worked in 1946 at the invitation of curator Romuald Dor de la Souch�re.
Mus�e Picasso, Ch�teau d�Antibes (04 92 90 54 26).

Michel Degav�s paintings convey sincere emotion, rare spontaneity and an evident desire to share all the beauty he sees around him. Landscapes of Provence and Italy, fishing harbours, luxuriant gardens, hang alongside portraits of young girls and magnificent horses. Brilliant colours, shimmering light and vibrating heat, executed, or almost sculpted, with a palette-knife to give texture, depth and relief. Michel Degav and his wife Anna, his muse but also an active partner, welcome to the gallery they opened a few years ago, people who appreciate beauty and authenticity and who regularly return to rediscover their captivating world.
82 rue Grande, Saint-Paul-de-Vence (04 93 32 09 86).
www.degav.com