Franco-Spanish choreographer Blanca Li has been chosen to become president of the public establishment of the park and the Grande halle de la Villette, in Paris, the Ministry of Culture announced in a press release on Friday.
Initially, Blanca Li was appointed member of the board of directors of the establishment by the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, specifies the press release,
“with a view to (her) appointment by the President of the Republic to the presidency of the public establishment on the proposal of the board of directors.”
“Faithful to the great markers who make the artistic reputation and popular success of the park and the Grande halle de la
Villette
”
, the choreographer, dancer, director and actress, aged 60,
“has the ambition to further open up the programming for digital creation, fashion as well as urban arts and in particular hip hop
,” indicates the ministry. It also plans to
“consolidate the place of youth”
and
“populations furthest from culture”
. The one who choreographed and directed ballets, operas and musicals, directed three feature films and collaborated with big names in cinema, music and fashion (Pedro Almodovar, Daft Punk, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Chanel...) was director of the Teatros del Canal in Madrid until December.
Julien Bargeton, president of the City of Architecture and Heritage
In a separate press release, the ministry also announced the appointment of Julien Bargeton as president of the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, in Paris, which notably includes a museum, a library and an archives center.
Aged 51, Julien Bargeton was a member of the Socialist Party then of La République en Marche, member of the Paris Council from 2017 to 2020, senator of Paris from 2017 to 2023 and vice-president of the culture commission. He has been regional councilor for Ile-de-France since July 2021. He succeeds Catherine Chevillot, in place between 2021 and 2024. Blanca Li succeeds Didier Fusillier, appointed president of the Réunion des musées nationaux and the Grand Palais end of August.