Villa Hegra: a home for Franco-Saudi creativity
Saturday 12 Sep 2026 from 4pm to 5:30pm
Free on booking
Talk in french
Like the Villa Medici, the Villa Albertine, and the Villa Kujoyama, Villa Hegra joins the network of French residencies abroad.
Upon its founding, Gaël Charbeau and Basmah Felemban (artistic directors) decided to invite a designer-in-residence to design the Villa’s furniture, all of which is 100% produced in Saudi Arabia. Paul Emilieu Marchesseau spent over a year in residence and now speaks with us about his project within this emerging institution.
Inaugurated on October 2, 2025, in AlUla, Villa Hegra joins the network of French cultural centers abroad and hosts artist residencies, exhibitions, and workshops, with a mission to foster dialogue between the Saudi and French art scenes, building on the exchange of expertise already underway in AlUla.
On the occasion of this event, Gaël Charbau, artistic director of Villa Hegra; Feriel Fodil, its executive director; and designer Paul Emilieu Marchesseau discuss the origins of this new institution, the ambitions of its programming, and the role design plays within it.
Talk moderated by Arnaud Morand.