What’s on in Paris this August?

22 August 2016

Re(discover) the Beat Generation & Learn How Cities Evolve During a Summer Stay at Amarante Beau Manoir

After a few days exploring the beautiful, cobbled streets of the French capital, tasting the best French cuisine and shopping at the finest French designer boutiques, it’s time to head to the city’s leading museums and galleries. This August, Paris offers an exciting cultural programme; from works by the Beat Generation at Centre Georges Pompidou, to an exhibition that shows how major cities grow at Cité des Sciences. Both exhibitions are suitable for grown-ups and kids alike… and guaranteed to ensure a fascinating day out during a luxury stay at Amarante Beau Manoir!

Beat Generation

Centre Georges Pompidou

Until 3^rd October 2016

Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs were the three founders of the Beat Generation in New York in 1944. Thirsty for freedom, love and art, they encouraged a whole generation to express their dreams, and recover from the devastation of World War II and the emergence of the Cold War, with art. They created a movement that changed America’s modern writing, poetry and music, captivating its progressive youth, whilst shocking puritanical America.

Another example of modern art that shocked those with traditionalist values is Centre Georges Pompidou; making it the perfect venue to host this exhibition in Paris. The colourful, glass pipe structure of the gallery has long displeased its neighbours, who were used to Haussmann-style buildings. Although today, just like the Beat Generation is to American culture, Centre Georges Pompidou is inherent to the Parisian landscape.

Stroll through its vast rooms to learn more about these revolutionary minds and how they developed contemporary countercultures. Admire the Beat Generation’s minimalist and contemplative, yet sometimes violent aesthetic. There’s also the chance to explore the movement’s biggest success, which was to combine diverse mediums such as poetry and jazz, allowing a true de-compartmentalisation within art. Take the opportunity to dive into one of the most important art movements in the 20^th century through sound and visual works displayed in the French gallery.

This exhibition’s ‘organised mess’ relates to the beautiful chaos that the Beat Generation created, which resulted in doors opening to a whole new world centred around freedom of speech.

Urban Mutations, the City is Ours!

La Cité des Sciences

Until 5^th March 2017

The exhibition’s brochure states “since 2008, more than half of the human beings live in cities. Every second, two people add up to the urban dwellers”. With ‘Urban Mutations, the City is Ours!’, Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie aims to explain how and why both megalopolises and makeshift towns are going to extend their perimeter, and to further make visitors become actors in their own cities.

The exhibition is structured around three topics; ‘Cities Under Pressure’, ‘Urban Earth’ and ‘Urban Futures’. It displays educational activities, workshops and documentaries for grown-ups and kids alike to help them learn more about their urban environment. The exhibition also explores questions such as social diversity and its importance, how nature is indispensable to urbanism and why being born in a certain neighbourhood can affect one’s entire life. A true reflexion on people’s lifestyle and daily life, ‘Urban Mutations, the City is Ours!’ will leave you thinking of the diverse ways you can improve your daily life whilst preserving your environment.

From a 40’s movement that revolutionized art, to why people must adapt their daily lives to population growth, Paris’ galleries and museums can boast a fascinating and inspiring exhibition line-up this August…