Notes from Avignon
“I felt blessed. Not only did we see memorable, innovative, provocative work, but equally important to me was getting to know each other. We laughed hard, opened up, found kinship, and I yearn for more.” This is how Susan Bay Nimoy described time spent in Avignon, France alongside a small group of CAP UCLA supporters who joined Executive and Artistic Director Edgar Miramontes this summer for an immersive week at the Festival d'Avignon, one of the world's leading festivals for contemporary theater and performance.
Also joining were Lionel Popkin, dean of the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, and members of our development team. The group attended acclaimed productions by artists shaping the future of performance, enjoyed private tours and behind-the-scenes access to historic festival venues, and shared intimate meals and receptions with artists, directors, and festival leaders.
This year’s festival focused on Korean-language work and provided an especially meaningful lens through which to explore the role of international exchange in contemporary performance. Throughout the week, conversations were lively, wide-ranging, and insightful. “Again and again, we found ourselves returning to the same questions: how artists across cultures are responding to this moment, and why international exchange matters more than ever.” said Miramontes. “There is something irreplaceable about experiencing a new work in the presence of others, live and in-person. That's what the performing arts offer that nothing else can.”
This summer’s trip to Avignon created the rare opportunity for supporters to encounter firsthand the artists, ideas, and creative practices shaping the future of performance. International festivals like Avignon are where new work is discovered and artistic relationships are formed, relationships that eventually bring groundbreaking work to stages around the world.
For CAP UCLA, experiences like this deepen our understanding of the global artistic landscape and strengthen the relationships that make ambitious international programming possible. Just as importantly, they invite our supporters into the curatorial journey itself: the discoveries, conversations, and partnerships that ultimately shape what audiences experience across our stages back home in Los Angeles.
We returned from Avignon energized with new ideas, new connections, and as Susan put it, a yearning for more. It is a privilege to share this journey with a community of supporters whose curiosity and generosity make experiences like this possible, and who champion Miramontes in shaping what's next for CAP UCLA.
