New leadership at Villa Noailles: Hugo Lucchino takes over from Jean-Pierre Blanc as director
New Director Hugo Lucchino Takes the Reins at Villa Noailles
Villa Noailles, the contemporary art center that hosts the annual International Fashion Festival of Hyères, has announced a change in leadership. Hugo Lucchino, aged 34, has been appointed as the new Director, succeeding Jean-Pierre Blanc [1][2][3].
Lucchino, a seasoned professional in art history, museology, and cultural management, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has served as administrative and financial director and later as secretary general of Le Signe, the National Centre for Graphic Design in Chaumont. Lucchino also played a pivotal role in the renovation and expansion of the Palais Galliera, the City of Paris Fashion Museum [1][2].
The Villa Noailles, a historic monument built in the 1920s and rehabilitated in 2003, offers a program around fashion, photography, architecture, design, and interior architecture. Lucchino expresses his excitement to join the Villa Noailles team and work on the future of its history, focusing on fashion and design [1].
Lucchino's vision for the International Fashion, Photography, and Accessories Festival of Hyères, one of the main events at Villa Noailles, aligns perfectly with the site's history, the region, and the challenges it faces. The 2025 edition of the festival will take place from October 16 to 18, running alongside the Design Parade event also hosted at Villa Noailles [1].
The Villa Noailles is managed by an association, primarily funded by public funds. Lucchino's programming will also focus on the preservation of the site's heritage, the Design Parade Hyères and Toulon festivals, and the patrimonial enhancement of the site [1].
Lucchino thanks Jean-Pierre Blanc for the heritage he is passing on and looks forward to continuing the Villa Noailles' legacy. The Villa Noailles is a site of great historical significance, having hosted the International Fashion Festival in 1986 and the Design Parade Festival 20 years later [1].
The Villa Noailles was designed by architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, a pioneer in modernist architecture. The site has faced financial concerns in the past, with a report presented by the Ministry of Culture in March expressing concern about the level of debt, citing exorbitant representation expenses [1]. Despite these challenges, Lucchino is confident in his ability to lead Villa Noailles to a bright future.
The programming at Villa Noailles, under Lucchino's leadership, is set to commence in the fall of 2025.
[1] Villa Noailles Press Release, 2025 [2] Le Figaro, "Hugo Lucchino, le nouveau directeur de la Villa Noailles", 2025 [3] Le Monde, "Le nouveau directeur de la Villa Noailles : Hugo Lucchino", 2025
