Montélimar 2026 (Year of Asia) Festival

"Art & Beyond" participated in the Montélimar 2026 (Year of Asia) Festival and exhibited selected works from "Collision and Fusion" at Salle Saint-Martin.

Montélimar 2026 "Year of Asia" Festival Program Overview

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 14:00 – Sunday, February 1, 2026, 20:00 (1.5 days)

Venue: Place de Provence, Salle Saint-Martin, and Gymnase Saint-Martin in downtown Montélimar

Organizers: Co-hosted by Montélimar Franco-Chinese Exchange Association and the Montélimar City Council

Capacity: Approximately 2,000 people

Expected Attendance: Approximately 10,000 visitors over the two days

Montélimar is a major city in the Drôme department of southern France, featuring a thriving industrial and commercial sector, strong consumer purchasing power, and a rich cultural and artistic atmosphere. Local interest in Asian culture has been steadily growing. However, as a non-major metropolitan area, the city still lacks access to high-quality Chinese cultural and culinary resources.

Against this backdrop, the Montélimar Franco-Chinese Exchange Association plans to establish an annual large-scale Chinese cultural festival—"Montélimar Chinese Year 2026"—centered in Montélimar and reaching across southeastern France. Through cultural exhibitions, culinary experiences, and artistic exchanges, the organizers hope to provide local residents with an immersive cultural experience, presenting authentic and diverse Chinese folk customs and cultural heritage. This event aims to foster mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and French people.

"Art & Beyond" Club Booth

As I had previously organized a solo exhibition of traditional Chinese painting in Lyon, I received an invitation to participate in the "Asian New Year" event. Through negotiation and effort, we successfully arranged to take part in this event under the banner of our student association, "Art & Beyond."

We curated a selection of artworks that exemplify Chinese art and culture, alongside pieces that reflect the integration of Eastern and Western artistic styles—works drawn from our "Collision and Fusion" themed exhibition. These were submitted to the calligraphy and painting exhibition held at Salle Saint-Martin.

By participating in this event, our association was able to share our creative philosophy and artistic perspectives with a broader audience.