Reaching out, Mains ouvertes

 

The city of Grenoble is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the "Grenoble roundup" on 11th November 1943 and is supporting the cultural project "Reaching out, Mains Ouvertes" devised by the Grenoble-Oxford twinning committees, the Alliance Grenoble-Oxford (AGO) and the Oxford-Grenoble Association (OGA).

1) 6th and 7th November 2023 from 2pm to 6pm at the Maison de l'International (Jardin de Ville, Grenoble)

Oxford artist Diana Bell will be exhibiting a participatory work. You can contribute to this work by bringing ... a glove!

2) Friday 10 November 2023 at 6.30pm, at the Théâtre Municipal de Grenoble. FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL - booking required.

Artists, dancers and musicians from twin cities, Grenoble and Oxford, have created a multi-faceted show, an expression of living together across the world. With the participation of vocal ensembles Variations and Quintessence, dancers from the Albatros company accompanied by choreographer Sophie Chardonneau, and actors and dancers from Oxford accompanied by choreographer JJ Formento.

Admission is free, but booking is essential by clicking on the Helloasso button on this page

3) A visit in ENGLISH (duration 1 hour) of the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation in Grenoble, on Friday 17th November at 2.30pm. Reservation is required by clicking on the Helloasso button on this page (entrance fee: €4)

Historical background: In 1943, the Nazi occupation of Grenoble began.

In 1943, the Nazi occupation became more ferocious. Thousands of carefree young Grenoble residents sang the Marseillaise at the foot of the Diables bleus monument (in what is now the Parc Paul Mistral) to celebrate the armistice of the First World War (11th November 1918-1943).

It was a trap.

Six hundred Grenoble residents were arrested. For some, the long road to deportation began: Compiègne, Buchenwald and even Dora, the infamous and inhumane factory where engineer Von Braun was trying to develop the V2 ballistic missiles that were to wipe London off the map.

Passers-by, remember...