Work is now underway on several major cultural facilities , which are scheduled to open their doors between 2004 and 2010: Museum of European Mediterranean civilisations, Cité de la Méditerranée, Grand Longchamp, Belle de Mai, regional municipal library, Cité des Arts de la Rue.
Recently ranked as one of the top eight “new cultural capitals of the world” by Newsweek, after winning the “award for cultural innovation” in Barcelona in 2003, the city of Marseilles is characterised by its cultural effervescence nourished through exchanges between the two shores, which stands out as a result of the fact that it is not just limited to “learned” culture, but keeps a highly popular, festive and federating dimension : 200,000 spectators for the “Massalia” parade, an extraordinarily active scene in the field of world and traditional music, urban culture (rap, hip hop), street art, circus arts, etc. |
 The municipal library | Many artists come to live and create in Marseille, which is seeing a growing number of international exchanges and residences. |
Museum of European and Mediterranean civilisations 
A major international, innovative, transversal project , a key place for mediation between cultures, making it possible to see, discover and understand the civilisations of Europe in the Mediterranean.
Faced with the walls that can sometimes come up, misunderstandings that can build up and rejections that may occur, the creation of the museum reflects the commitment of France, Marseille and its region to building bridges, to connecting rather than closing up, to selecting exchange, circulation and sharing rather than the rejection of others.
The future Civilisations Museum aims to build understanding of changes in society through lifestyles (transport, housing, clothing, festivals and rituals, religions, etc.), that cross one another, share with one another and sometimes oppose one another between Europe and the Mediterranean.
Based on a lively and attractive format, the museum will propose an exhibition that sets the standard with various events focusing on issues linked to the latest developments in the Euro-Mediterranean world.
The museum will propose a forum for ideas and images , with cycles of meetings, conferences and debates.
This National Museum is financed by the French state, Marseille's regional local authorities and the European Commission. |
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