From Versailles to Al Ula
Panel
Left: (c) Ali Lajami; Right: (c) Romaric Juvanon
On March 18, join Villa Albertine for a special talk about the role of museums across the world with Catherine Pégard.
The former cultural advisor to the French President and the CEO of of the Château de Versailles for more than a decade, Catherine Pégard is now the Director for Cultural Development at Al Ula in Saudi Arabia.
In conversation with Olivia Bourrat, the former Curatorial Director of Agence France Museum for the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the current Cultural Attaché for Museums and Cultural Heritage at Villa Albertine, Pégard will share insights from her exceptional career and her vision for the future of museums.
Panelist
Catherine Pégard
After studying history and political science, Catherine began her career as a journalist, first contributing to the political desk of Le Quotidien de Paris before joining the weekly Le Point in 1982. She then became the head of the political department at Europe 1 Radio.
Her keen understanding of French political affairs led to her appointment as an advisor to President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.
In 2011, she was named President of the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum, and National Estate of Versailles, a role she held for over a decade, until 2024.
That same year, in October, the French Agency for the Development of AlUla announced her appointment as Director of Cultural Development. The agency, through a collaboration between France and Saudi Arabia, aims to foster the sustainable economic, tourism, and cultural development of AlUla, a region in northwestern Saudi Arabia renowned for its exceptional natural and cultural heritage.
Catherine Pégard was awarded the insignia of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in April 2012. She is a prominent and respected figure in both the political and cultural spheres in France.