News

Culture and solidarity with 'Jazz in Marciac'

Published on 20/08/2024
2 min reading time
  • As part of its sponsorship actions, TotalEnergies Foundation focuses on youth and the firm belief that culture is a fundamental right and a means of personal and social emancipation.
  • TotalEnergies is a longstanding partner of the International Jazz Festival in Marciac and supports the Jazz Music Initiation Workshops (AIMJ) at the Aretha Franklin middle school in Marciac.
  • TotalEnergies, via the Pau Site and its partner associations, gave away one hundred concert tickets to young people so that they could attend the prestigious cultural event.

The 2024 edition was the 46th year that the iconic 'Jazz in Marciac' festival has been celebrating both music from the Gers region and  from around the world. Far from running out of steam, the festival continues to attract the crowds in an electric atmosphere where musicians give memorable performances. Performances that celebrated the diversity of jazz and encouraged open-mindedness through music that breaks down borders.

The young people from Pau, in particular migrant students, met to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the lively celebration of music and culture. TotalEnergies Foundation gave away 85 concert tickets to Pau-based association who organized the journey in groups, to ensure that their beneficiaries had the best possible experience.

Being able to enjoy enriching experiences is part of the sponsorship commitment of TotalEnergies Foundation, to promote social inclusion and offer cultural opportunities to those who need them most. Music is a universal language. Attending a high-profile cultural event like this Jazz Festival enables young people to discover exceptional, multicultural, talented musicians with inspiring backgrounds.

Here are the accounts given by the young people and the person who accompanied them from the La Pepinière Social Center in Pau. They were able to attend the flamboyant concert by Imany, proposed by the Festival organizers as an evening suitable for Jazz newbies.

Grace: "I’d never been to that sort of concert before and I didn’t really know what to expect. I really liked it, enjoyed it, I was carried away by the music. Imany explained how she had got where she is today, and I really identified with that, it helped me realize that we shouldn’t stay within limits that prevent us from fulfilling our dreams and moving forward."

Fatima: "Imany made my whole body dance. The sincerity of her speech gave me a lot to think about, and I think I’m going to follow her advice, I’m going to set myself free and fly, just to see how far I can fly..."

Samy: "It was a first for me. Before, I was stuck in a routine where all I did was work and study, and during the holidays, work and sleep. The jazz concert took me out of my comfort zone, I met some incredible people with wonderful mindsets and very positive vibes. An energy that I don’t feel in my room when I'm alone. It was an opportunity for me to go out and see people who are following their dreams."

Moussa: "Culture makes us people who live socially. There’s nothing better than sharing things, sharing experiences, and I think that culture brings people together, and that’s what distinguishes human beings."

Organizer: "We arrived at the beginning of the afternoon, and we went to the concerts that were on at that time. We had a wonderful time at the concert because the atmosphere was really festive, the group danced, and it was obvious that they were so happy to be there! Students don’t have access to this type of event and most of them had never been to a concert. Even though if we have free opportunities in Pau, the youngsters don’t have the courage to go alone."

 
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