Francis Maréchal
Francis Maréchal received training in both music and economics. First Prize in flute at the École Nationale de Musique in Bobigny, he is also a graduate of ESSEC, one of France’s major business schools. He was Music and Dance Department Delegate for Val d’Oise from 1976 to 1982, while, starting in 1978, working as Cultural Programs Director at Fondation Royaumont. Appointed General Manager of the foundation in 1985, Maréchal has also administered various festivals, musical ensembles and corporate foundations. He also regularly goes out on culture engineering missions, especially in the field of old building re-using for cultural purposes. Established in the buildings of a 13th century Cistercian abbey it owns, Fondation Royaumont is now the largest Centre culturel de rencontre in Europe; between 1978 and 2010, it has invested 27 million euros in restorations and equipments; it has an operating budget of €8M and a permanent staff of 61.