How to find Perfect Provence

In this episode, I interview Nicky Ginsberg, a life force in the international art world and creator of the NG Art Residency and Gallery here in Provence. The residency is an opportunity for creatives worldwide to come and work in Provence and, in 2022, celebrate five years of being here in Provence. The location is a converted 17th-century Provençal olive mill providing a gallery, working and residential space in the Provencal countryside. Nicky describes how she came to create the residency, the creators who have been here, and the opportunities for anyone who'd also like to experience the NG Art Residency.

Shivani Jey from Australia, Audrey Archambault from France and Hannah Watkins from the U.K. have all made their homes here in Provence. Creating their own businesses and combining their individual talents to create self-care days and retreats. In this episode, we learn how living in a foreign environment can bring people together to make business relationships as well as socialise in an international community. Network Provence makes creative connections and gives the opportunity for women to promote themselves.  You can connect with Network Provence here. To work with these three ladies and find out more about their retreats contact Hannah Watkins,  Audrey Archambault and Shivani Jey.

I had such a delightful time interviewing Julie Scolnik about her book Paris Blue which was published on October 5 of this year. Julie, an American flautist and well known for her concerts here in Provence has written a memoir of her first love in Paris. We talk about how she eventually came to share her story nearly forty years later. https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Blue-Memoir-First-Love/dp/1646634691

Summers in Provence means music, performed by professional musicians from around the world. We have annual festivals and concerts in villages throughout the region. I talk to Julie Scolnik a professional flautist who performs each year in the charming village of Eygalières where she and her family spend part of their year. In fact this year 2021 July 10 Julie will be performing with her son and daughter who are both professional musicians in their own right. In Boston, Massachusetts Julie and her husband created Mistral https://www.mistralmusic.org/ their aim is to offer chamber music of the highest artistic standards to the Boston area,  accessible and affordable, likewise, the concerts in Eygalières are free allowing all to enjoy. Julie is a passionate fundraiser and Mistral creates concerts regularly to raise funds for underserved women with breast cancer. To find out what's going on in Provence I recommend two blogs Perfectly Provence and Provence Post and if you'd like to know more about making creative connections in Provence join Network Provence

Jean-Paul Ritrovato a native of Nice is an artist and local guide. We met some years ago in the South of France working for Australian Pacific Touring, showing guests from Australia and New Zealand the stunning Riviera. Jean-Paul's passion and knowledge as a local guide are equally enjoyed through his artwork. In this podcast, we talk about two of his painting series the 'Romans in Nice' and Brigitte Bardot and the book he is currently working on dedicated to various historic incidents in Nice described through painting and writing. Go to https://www.jpritrovato-art.fr/ to see his artwork. Come and join Network Provence 

March 2020 was the beginning of the first confinement here in France. After cancelling a sold-out retreat, Ruth Ribeaucourt sat at her kitchen table in a small village in Provence and started to map out her next dream. A printed magazine dedicated to real inspirational stories. One year later Faire Press is published and distributed worldwide. Ruth says she is a major enabler of craziness, and that the idea of not trying and living with regret is not an option.  A jeweller, a photographer, running successful photographic retreats, this is a story about daring, sharing and going for it. To find out more about Faire and Ruth Ribeaucourt go to https://www.fairepress.com/ and https://www.thefrenchmuse.com/ if you’d like to join Network Provence http://networkprovence.com/join-us-2021/

 In episode nine Canadian Carolyne Kauser Abbott explains why she keeps coming back to Provence and how one life is simply not enough, to explore and enjoy everything that's on offer in this region. There is something for everyone whether it's fabulous food, breathtaking scenery, nature, history, hiking and cycling and so much more. Forget the guide books just discover Perfectly Provence where you'll find articles and reviews written by the people who live here permanently or semi-permanently. https://perfectlyprovence.co/

In this episode, I talk to Wuin Hopkins a graphic designer and art director from California living in Provence. This is a story of how painting portraits brought a community together. Wuin's fascination with people's faces when wearing glasses inspired her to approach some of the spectacled residents of her village in 2017 and ask if they'd be happy for her to paint them. The result was a series of more than twenty-five portraits of local people coming from all walks of life and a successful exhibition.  To see some of the portraits and Wuin's work take a look at her website https://www.wuinhopkins.com  If you'd like to know more about Network Provence take a look at our website http://networkprovence.com/

A firm favourite with photographers and explorers, the fabulous Camargue is one of the most important wetlands in Europe. In this episode Marlene Boyer shares with me some of the secrets and well-known facts about this paradise of nature, history and agriculture.  'Experience Provence' runs private chauffeured excursions in the region. You can connect with Marlene by going to her website http://www.experience-provence.fr/ If you'd like to know more about Network Provence take a look at our website http://networkprovence.com/

Chef Tasha Powell of Pitcher & Powell Cuisine & Culture is a food stylist, writer and culinary tour developer who specialises in working with celebrity chefs and leaders in the hospitality industry. She cooks and styles for monographs, cookbooks and Satellite Media Tours, working between North America and Europe. In this episode we talk in detail about the food of Provence, and why it's such an inspiration to cook with as well as eat!