What’s On in Paris – March/April 2021

As announced by the French government on March 31st, all of metropolitan France is subject to the same measures to stop the spread of Covid virus: 7pm-6am curfew, travel limited to within 10km of your residence, and closure of all non-essential stores, art galleries, restaurants, bars, theatres, museums, and cinemas. The French government has indicated these measures will stay in place until the beginning of May. We’ll be posting any rare events as they’re scheduled throughout the month, however be sure to confirm for last-minute changes. In the meantime, checkout The Best of Virtual Paris for online events.

Note: Daylight savings in France takes place at 2am on March 28th.

March 2nd – April 10th ART GALLERIES HAVE BEEN CLOSED AS OF MARCH 20th
The Galerie Italienne (15 rue du Louvre, 1st) is hosting the exhibit “Andy Warhol: Instantanés”, featuring the largest collection of photographs taken by the artist ever shown in public. “The exhibition is divided into several themes including sections devoted to his iconic Polaroids, photo booth portraits alongside lesser-known pieces such as prints from film, nude captures from his Sex Parts & Torsos series, and mixed-media work. One of the highlighted pieces in the show is Warhol’s “stitched photographs” comprised of black and white prints attached together with thread that will also go on display.”

March 3rd-17th
The singer Mika has teamed up with the Paris Museum of Decorative Arts and nine artists — Aurélia Durand; Laurindo Feliciano; Ugo Gattoni; Annick Kamgang; Marie Mohanna; Lamia Ziade; Alexandre Benjamin Navet; Lamarche-Ovize; and Rosa Maria Unda Souki — to create an open-air art show inspired by Belle Epoche posters. Look for these colorful posters on flag poles, Morris columns and billboards throughout the city.

March 4th-7th
This year’s world-famous FIAC contemporary art market, will take place, but with a novel new format: browse the works in the “online viewing rooms” of over 200 participating galleries, then make individual appointments with the galleries to see or purchase the works in person.

Through March 7th
The Château de Chantilly, whose gardens and boutique are currently open to the public every day except Tuesday from 10:30am-5:30pm, have a little “marché gourmand” of four chalets set up nera the entrance to the domain selling local treats Wednesdays and weekends. Entrance to the gardens €6 (free for kids under 7).

March 6th
Grande Brocante du Port Royal (flea market) outside the RER Port Royal (49 avenue de l’Observatoire, border of 6th/14th) from 8am-6pm.

March 7th
Brocante (flea market) along the Rue des Fossés Saint Bernard (the foot of the Institut du Monde Arabe, 5th) from 8am-6pm.

Most Tuesdays and Wednesdays
The American Library in Paris is hosting free “Evenings with an Author” event on Zoom every Tuesday and Wednesday night at 7:30pm Paris time (CET). RSVP required to get the Zoom link. See the full schedule here.

Through March 14th
Free exposition at the Galerie d’Instant (47, rue de Poitou, 3rd) featuring portraits of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo taken by Lucienne Bloch. Vernissage on the 15th at 7pm. Opening hours Mon 2-7, Tues-Sat 11am-7pm, and Sun 2:30-6:30pm.

March 16th-23rd
Although museums are still closed, you can see a rare Van Gogh painting of a rural Montmartre scene on display before it goes up for auction on March 25th. See it at March 16-18 at Drouot Auction House (9th) from 11am-6pm, and then on display at Sotheby’s (8th) from March 19th-23rd from 10am-6pm. .

March 18th – May 28th ART GALLERIES HAVE BEEN CLOSED AS OF MARCH 20th
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the 1871 Commune de Paris, a bloody civil war that tore Paris apart. Despite the pandemic, there are still plenty of events taking place in commemoration, such as the free exposition at the Galerie Le Fil Rouge (4 rue Wurtz, 13th) from March 19-28. The very loooong list of events is online here (all in French, of course). There’s also an app to find all of the heroes of the Commune in Père Lachaise Cemetery, where the final battle with the Versaillaises troops took place between the tombstones. There’s an excellent online exposition here, but for some info in English, you can read about the spark that set off the insurrection here.

March 25th
Calling on volunteers for the 4th annual Nuit de la Solidarité. “The objective of this process is to reach out to homeless people to better understand their situation and their needs. In order to carry out this operation, the City needs team leaders and volunteers in the field for one night, March 25th.” You can sign up to participate in your own arrondissement or — if it’s full — any other arrondissement in Paris. (you’llneed to be able to speak french for this event)

Through April 18th THE FLEA MARKETS ARE CLOSED AS OF MARCH 20TH
Thirty artists — photos, drawings, street art — have created artworks to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of the notorious French musician, Serge Gainsbourg, on display at the Marché Dauphine in the Puces de St-Ouen (stands 120-123 and 78-79).

Starting April 19th
Monet’s gardens in Giverny will be open to the public starting today. Tickets available online in advance on the official museum website and FNAC.