The Best City for Culture
Now with Time Out Magazine confirmation!
Hello friends!
When French people ask me why I wanted to move to Paris, my answer is pretty simple:
“I’m an artist”.
Generally, that elicits a knowing nod and recognition that, for the artistic soul, Paris is paradise.
Of course, that’s nothing new, artists for ages have been flocking to Paris to be inspired by its ornate architecture and beautiful views of the city that can make your heart melt (especially at sunset). There’s a reason why Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker, and so many more ended up here (not to mention all of the French artists who called Paris home). Whether it’s the tiny galleries that pepper the quartiers, grand museums that attract thousands of visitors a year, or even the street art that covers the sides of building, there is something to be seen at every turn.
And it’s not just visual art. Paris is brimming with theatre, music, and performance every night. On a random weeknight, it is possible to walk along the Seine and see a large group of people ballroom dancing. Move a little bit further and you’ll hear a jam session with people from all over the world coming together in song. Every night, there are countless plays, comedy shows, concerts — you name it. Culture and art pulse through the windy cobblestoned streets of the city.
Recently, Time Out Magazine named Paris the best city for culture, based on 96% of Parisians rating the city’s cultural offerings as either “good” or “amazing.”
I would be in the group that calls it “amazing”. In the last week alone, I saw Esperanza Spalding (fulfilling a dream concert bucket list item), went to a jam session along the Seine, participated in the nuit européenne de musées (a night with over 300 free events at museums around the city), watched Eurovision in a public square, saw a stand up show, and went to the free Musée Cognacq-Jay to take an afternoon walk. And the week isn’t even over yet.
When I visited Paris last May, I was lucky enough to be in the city for the nuit européenne, and spent a lovely — if crowded — evening in the Musée D’Orsay (my favorite museum). This year, my friend Emeline and I decided to venture a little off the beaten path and we went to the Musée Bourdelle, where a contemporary dance group was performing throughout the museum. I had no idea what to expect, thinking we’d watch the dancing for a little bit, then wander around the sculpture garden and museum. Instead, we were enchanted by the enthralling — and somewhat erotic — series of dance duets that led us on a complete tour of the museum. The dancers told a story of passion, heartache, love, and pain, accompanied by classical music and against the backdrop of the incredible sculptures. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
As an American, it really struck me how comfortable the audience was with the sensuality of the performance. The dancers were generally in undergarments, with the women wearing oversized, open shirts. My favorite dance was a very sensual dance of longing between two men. In both instances, audiences of all ages sat at rapt attention, particularly a group of young children who were spellbound by the artistry. I couldn’t help but think about how this would go over in the US and marvel at the acceptance of the human body and expression here. Though the dances were sensual, they were never overtly sexualized; we were watching natural human experiences.
Later that evening, Emeline and I joined a crowd of exuberant Parisians to cheer on Louane as she represented France in Eurovision — an entirely different type of cultural event. As an ardent enthusiast of anything that is campy and over the top, not to mention being the world’s greatest bandwagon fan, this was right up my alley. While the results weren’t what we were hoping for (Louane ended up in 7th place), it was so exciting to experience the camaraderie and spirit that was throughout the square. I already can’t wait for next year.
The access to so many cultural activities is probably my favorite thing about living in Paris. There’s always something to do or see — so much so that it can feel that I’m not taking advantage of it enough (though reading back the week I just had proves otherwise). As I build my life here, I am reminding myself to slow down and appreciate where I am and allow myself to be inspired to create. I am an artist, after all.
For a good list of museums other than the most famous ones, Time Out Magazine as great suggestions. I’ll be working through it slowly myself :).
À la prochaine!
Melanie