“An earthquake for Arles”. In the mouths of cultural actors as in those of political leaders of the small city of Bouches-du-Rhône, the expression has come back constantly since the announcement of the sudden death of Jean-Paul Capitani, Tuesday, April 4. At 78, the publisher, entrepreneur, environmental activist and husband of the former Minister of Culture Françoise Nyssen, fell to her death while riding a bicycle in the streets of his hometown. For several decades, this man of always overflowing energy had asserted himself as an essential driver of the cultural metamorphosis experienced by Arles.
On the banks of the Rhone, whose house ran along the bank, few events, demonstrations, festivals do not owe him something. Founding member of the publishing house Actes Sud, of which he strongly contributed to make a group of more than 300 employees by occupying several management positions there, Jean-Paul Capitani piloted, among other things, the creations of the cultural space of Méjan, which includes a cinema, a bookstore, a restaurant, the Cruise, a place for exhibitions and parties, or even the Agir pour le vivant festival, of which he was preparing the fourth edition. He also played a decisive role in the installation of the foundation of the Korean artist Lee Ufan, whom he had managed to seduce by inviting him in 2013 for an exhibition.
While the mayor of the city, Patrick de Carolis (Horizons), greeted “a man of letters curious about everything, a tireless worker”, the board of directors of the Rencontres d’Arles, paid tribute to the “long-time travel companion” the international photography festival, which has enlivened the city throughout the summer for half a century. The Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, for her part, spoke of her faith “in the power of books, arts and education to connect people”.
environmental advocate
Coming from a family of Italian immigrants, Jean-Paul Capitani trained as an agricultural engineer. From these studies, this born entrepreneur keeps a passion for the land, breeding, horses and wine, as well as a strong commitment to the defense of the environment. In the early 1980s, when the city’s image was still limited to ferias and Roman remains, he met publisher Hubert Nyssen and invited him to set up shop in the old family dairy he owned in Mejan. The site will be the launching pad for the Actes Sud adventure, which has become, more than four decades later, one of the largest independent French publishing groups.
You have 40.11% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.