Why look for the words?
We are often asked why we make this Festival. Why do we still do it, ever since its foundation by Jean Vilar in 1947, at a time when society was looking for the words to relearn to live together after the Second World War, Nazi occupation, the Holocaust, resistance and liberation? Why do we make this Festival, generation after generation, like a treasure passed on through time? Why do we still organise today this celebration of the performing arts, in a world threatened by wars, inequalities, the climate crisis, and the rise of extremism, demagoguery, and misinformation? We are a festival of creation fighting for the freedom of artists to look for words, sounds, gestures, and images to talk about and live in this world. We believe that the encounter between artists and spectators looking for the words together is a cultural public service in Europe more necessary than ever. That encounter is a vital moment of discovery of the unknown, of awakening of the senses, of love of difference, of debate about the challenges of our times, of imagining other possible worlds. We demand the right to celebrate looking for the words together because while art is not a guarantee of happiness, it increases our chances of finding it. We love the performing arts, and we share that love with our audience. And this combative love must be celebrated.
Tiago Rodrigues
Director of the Festival d’Avignon — avril 2024