Launch of Montparnasse International

Since 2018, the L'AiR Arts program has mapped the traces of historic Montparnasse to introduce artists from around the world to its monumental legacy. Focusing on intercultural dialogue aligned with the inclusive spirit of the École de Paris, our residency facilitates artistic research by providing access to key sites inhabited by international artists from the late 19th century to the present day. 

To mark our 10th anniversary in France, L'AiR Arts has partnered with the Association Cité Falguière and the Columbia Global Paris Center to bring all these local organizations together under one umbrella: "Montparnasse International." With Atelier 11 Cité Falguière as a long-standing symbol of artistic Montparnasse, this district-wide community initiative represents the living history of the neighborhood by strengthening links between heritage institutions and contemporary spaces. By reclaiming this history, it reaffirms Montparnasse as a historic epicenter for global exchange and positions the École de Paris legacy as a vital, contemporary model for fostering international solidarity through artistic and cultural heritage. 

Montparnasse International Week

The inaugural edition of Montparnasse International Week will take place from November 15th to 21st, 2026. Launching in the days following Armistice Day (November 11), the event honors a historic turning point that reinforced shared values of peace and solidarity. It was precisely this postwar momentum that fueled the legendary inter-war period of the École de Paris, transforming Montparnasse into a thriving, borderless sanctuary for a diverse international community.

Today, this legacy remains a powerful model for cultural hospitality, demonstrating how the intersection of exile and creativity within a specific territory can produce a universal language of humanity. Building upon this foundation, the Montparnasse International initiative scales local heritage into a cultural ecosystem with global reach. The curated program of public events, site visits, and walking tours hosted by participating institutions, maps the district to showcase the enduring history of the École de Paris and its vibrant spaces for creative exchange today.

Global Symposium: Montparnasse and its Legacies

The 2026 Montparnasse International Week will open with a two-day Global Symposium hosted at Reid Hall on November 13 and 14. The symposium will trace the history of Montparnasse as a locus for creative innovation and migration. 

Call for speakers: We invite proposals from scholars, artists, practitioners, archivists, heritage professionals, and key actors in cultural mobility working both inside and outside academic institutions.

Contributions may take the form of a 20-minute academic paper, participation in a themed panel discussion, or a performance. 

Apply online by July 17th.