Semaine des Arts: Realizing Your Inner Artistic Potential

During the week of April 11-15, the Bureau des Arts (BDA) organized the Semaine des Arts to gather the Sciences Po Menton community and highlight students’ artistic abilities in a supportive and welcoming environment.

The BDA hosted events throughout the week, collaborating with other student associations and inviting external guests. On campus, students could frequent the second-hand vintage clothing stand run by entrepreneur Giulia Castellucci, attend theater workshops led by comedian Lucas Gimello, participate in a dance workshop taught by Marie-Pierre Genovese, and learn dabke, a Levantine dance workshop guidedby 1A Riwa Hassan in collaboration with Sciences Palestine. Other festivities included a bake sale to raise funds for the Minicrit in collaboration with the Bureau des Sports (BDS), and a chant-learning session at Soundproof.

The focal point of this week of celebration was the live performance in the grand amphitheater on Thursday evening — the culmination of weeks and months of preparation by dozens of students who performed with their clubs, friend groups, and artistic workshops. The building’s main entrance showcased a student art gallery that featured numerous physical mediums such as mosaics, ceramics, photographs, and Arabic calligraphy.

The show in the grand amphitheater began with the music club’s energetic performance of “Runaway Baby” from Bruno Mars’ debut album, followed by “Redbone” by Childish Gambino. Vocalist and guitarist Sienna Bertamini (1A), bassist Saoirse Aherne (1A), and drummer Cameron Sterling (1A) faithfully captured the spirit of the original renditions of both songs while adding a unique flair in their interpretation. Shortly afterward, Raphaël Phanor (2A) captivated the audience with an eloquent French spoken ode to the memories he made and the people he met during his two years in Menton. He concluded his talk with a poignant reminder to the rising 2As that it will not be too long before they are in his position, reminiscing on the time they spent at Sciences Po. There were other musical performances and short theatrical pieces, and an improvised percussive jazz and maqam-inspired piece by the vocal music artistic workshop. The evening was rounded out by the oriental dance and polyphonic singing artistic workshops and a lively routine by the cheerleading team.

The show was an opportunity for students to celebrate one another and discover the latent talent within their classmates. The entire week would not have been possible without the time and effort of the BDA.

2A Eliana Seroussi, the BDA president, reflected on her relationship with the arts: “Honestly, the arts mean everything to me. I couldn't imagine my life without at least a hint of creativity. It just means being free, speaking with something other than words, and connecting with people on a level you would have never expected.” She continued, “Of course, organi(zing the events) is tiring and takes up your energy and commitment, but in the end it’s all worth it, as long as it gets one person to smile and escape for a bit. That’s the beauty of art.”