“This is the best year for Voyage à Nantes since its existence in 2012,” proclaims, delighted, Jean Blaise. Some 745,000 visits were recorded in July-August on the route of the green line in Nantes, announced this Thursday the Trip to Nantes, as a summary of the 2023 summer event. That is an increase in attendance of around 22% compared to the previous year and 5% compared to 2019, a “record year” for the VAN. Foreign visitors, whose share varied from 20% to 40% depending on the site, increased. The economic benefits for the Nantes region (estimate of 75 million euros) are also increasing.
Why this success? The novelty of a central theme (statues), the choice to “narrow the route” to the city center and the “return of tourists” to urban destinations after the Covid years are put forward as arguments. We could add the gloomy weather which led to a transfer of tourists from the coast.
Installation locations still to be found
Among the works exhibited this summer, several of them will remain permanently in public spaces in Nantes. An approach that the VAN organization tries to repeat every year but which will be particularly enhanced this time. This will be the case of the statue made by Sanam Khatibi, visible this summer in the garden of the Psalette (cathedral) this summer, which is reinstalled on the Persagotière site, on the banks of the Sèvre. This is also the case for pictographs The Field of Signs drawn on the square in front of the Graphic Arts Center on the island of Nantes. The permanent collection will also be enriched with six creatures by Olaf Breuning present at Place du Commerce this summer but the final location has “not yet been found”.
A new location is also being sought for the totem Achronia 39 by Marion Verboom which was visible in Sainte-Croix passage. Finally, and this may please the public, the four statues diverted by the artist Olivier Texier (general Cambronne, general Mellinet, allegory of Nantes and allegory of the Loire) should also make their return. “We wanted to find them somewhere. There is a good chance that they will be in place in March,” indicates Jean Blaise.
“The sale price was much too high”
Furthermore, a reflection was opened to preserve the 19 sculptures by Xu Zhen, exhibited on rue d’Orléans this summer, and considered as the “major piece” of the 2023 edition. This reflection resulted in a renunciation, mainly for reasons financial. “The sale price was much too high for us. And then we couldn’t place it anywhere, it wasn’t simple,” explains Jean Blaise. “We would like to keep everything,” continues the director of the VAN. But that is not possible. Maintenance must also be taken into account. We employ two people full-time for this mission. »
For the next summer season, Voyage à Nantes intends to “continue with a theme”. He is also considering offering a second route outside the city center, “making visitors want to come back the next day”. In the meantime, the organization is also preparing the second edition of its event accompanying the end-of-year celebrations, entitled “The Winter Journey”, from November 24 to January 7. Unfriendly and unspectacular, the first edition disappointed observers. “I think this winter trip will be wonderful,” announces Jean Blaise. We had more time to prepare it. We were able to analyze the successes and failures. It will be good. »