The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ Normandy: Welcomes its artistic and cultural director - Bernard Faivre d’Arcier

Source: News Release/Claire Montremont

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy
welcomes its artistic and cultural director - Bernard Faivre d’Arcier.

The huge celebration being lined up in Normandy from 24 August to 7 September 2014, will showcase equestrian culture and bring together a diverse public. The event’s artistic and cultural consultant, Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, has now come on board the Normandie 2014 Organising Committee. This maestro of the international festival scene brings a wealth of experience with him and his arrival will further enhance the artistic side of the non-sporting events programme. A man of far-reaching culture, whether it be in theatre, dance, cinema or broadcasting, Bernard Faivre d’Arcier has made quite a mark in French and European cultural circles during his fifteen years at the head of the Festival of Avignon. He will be casting an expert eye on proceedings, bringing the ideas and experience necessary so that festivities organised in Normandy fit in with the spirit of the event.

Bernard Faivre d’Arcier: « The horse has played an intrinsic part of our culture since ancient times and in fact continues to do so. We need to spark the public’s interest in the horse world and strengthen the bonds between all those who come into contact with horses. From a cultural viewpoint, this is all very exciting and somewhat of a challenge.”

Harnessing the energy and passion of the equine world.
The artistic and cultural programme will kick off fifteen months before the beginning of the event.
The focus on the bond between humans and horses will be the starting point, bringing everyone together, irrespective of their age or background. This common theme will help to structure each and every activity and even give direction to the opening ceremony. The artistic/cultural event programme will promote the limitless supplies of innovation and creativity that the region boasts: artists, associations, equestrian centres, athletes, educational and cultural organisations. It is all about working together over the fifteen months, everyone with a common goal: the fifteen days of competition. This teamwork plays an important part of the territorial/regional project that the district councils have undertaken.

Marie-Jeanne Gobert, the vice-president of the Organising Committee and of the Lower Normandy Region, welcomes « the arrival of someone with so much experience in artistic, cultural and media circles. He will be able to turn this into a popular and festive event by harnessing all the local initiatives and involving horse lovers everywhere. The Lower Norman representatives will be there to give him their full support in getting the whole region behind the event and making it ours. »

Welcome to the Equestrian Village!
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy village will set up for fifteen days of fun and festivities in the very heart of Caen. Centred around a vast outdoor riding ring, visitors will be able to explore four different themed-areas: country & western, circus, sporting exploits and Normandy. « The village will be open all day, with affordable entrance fees and free entrance for those with tickets to the competitions. When it comes to the horse world, we don’t need much of an excuse to get together!” highlights Laurence Philippot-Reulet, manager of entertainment and activities.

Bernard Faivre d’Arcier’s background, a short summary…
Member of the Avignon Festival directorate for 15 years, founder & president of LA SEPT, the French division of the Franco-German cultural television station ARTE, director for theatre and live entertainment at the Ministry of Culture, director of the National Centre for Theatre, president of the « Biennales de Lyon » contemporary arts festival, consultant for the “ Festival Automne” in Normany …

About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy mark the beginning of a whole succession of international sporting events in France: UEFA EURO 2016, the 2017 World Handball Championships and the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Held every 4 years, alternating with the Olympic Games and under the authority of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), the World Equestrian Games are the biggest equestrian event in the world. They will be held from 24 August to 7 September 2014.
The event brings together 8 official disciplines over a period of two weeks of competition: jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting, endurance and para dressage.
Over 60 nations and nearly 1000 competitors will come together to demonstrate equestrian competitions of the highest standard to the 500 000 visitors expected at the various sites.
www.alltechfeiwegnormandy2014.com