The Grand Palais newsletter

Quadriges: This is the second time that Saut Hermès will have been held at the Grand Palais. What decided you to continue the show jumping event that you inaugurated last year in the Nave?
From the start we wanted to persuade riders to take part in the competition. Their response was very positive, and they all wanted to come back this year. The world’s top riders will be there on April 15, 16 and 17. This bears out our original idea that the Saut Hermès in the Grand Palais could become an annual event. What’s more we have been in close daily contact with the FEI and the FFE, who backed us from the start, to ensure that the organization of this CSI five-star competition goes smoothly.
 
Quadriges: What will be new this year compared to last year?
In 2010, we introduced the original idea of a competition ─ the Saut Hermès ─ for a male/female duo of riders of the same nationality. In 2011, in addition to the CSI 5* events, we are introducing three original events called "Les Talents Hermès”. This will feature young riders, under 25, selected by their national federations, who will be competing in two individual events and one event for two riders with the same nationality. The riders will be coached by champions from their own country. This principle echoes Hermès’ own attachment to the handing down of knowhow from one generation to the next.

Quadriges: Can you tell us more about the equestrian spectacular?
Just like last year, the show has been created specifically for Saut Hermès at the Grand Palais. This year’s guest, Jean-François Pignon, designed his tableaux to be accompanied by the Kalena Choir from Ukraine.

Every month, we invite the Lycée Jacques-Feyder, a Grand Palais partner for the last three years, to write for Quadriges. In their own words and from their own viewpoint, pupils at the high school will talk about the building, the exhibitions, and the professionals they meet there.

Episode 6: Lam and slam

On Tuesday March 22, our class, preparing a diploma in tourism, had the honour of being invited to the premiere of "slam tours” for schools at the "Aimé Césaire, Lam, Picasso” exhibition at the Galeries nationales in the Grand Palais. The exhibition traces the lives of these artists, their friendship and the artistic bonds they created over the years. Racism, slavery, war and other themes that have been part of our history were discussed and illustrated by a lecturer and… slammer: Emanuel Campo. The "slam” touch brought extra vitality to the exhibition. This form is still in its infancy and it was a really good way to present the exhibition to an audience like us, representing a young generation. It made a complete change and, for us, the visit would not have been the same without it. As we are studying in the field of tourism, it gave us plenty of ideas for future cultural mediation projects. It isn’t often that you see ideas like this at an exhibition. Emmanuel Campo explained that when he set out to write his texts, he always started by jotting down a few key words and a list of impressions. From our visit we took away our own impressions, summed up in this list: tearing, wounds, identity, roots, anger, revolt, friendship, hope!

By students following a vocational training program in Local Tourism