Hugo Lucchino is the new General Manager of France’s Villa Noailles, which oversees, among other things, the renowned Hyères Festival and its fashion competition for young designers. The establishment has been in turmoil since its management was criticised by the French Ministry of Culture last April. Its emblematic founder Jean-Pierre Blanc, who is currently on sick leave, stepped down from his role as General Manager and the Hyères institution launched a recruitment process to find a successor.

Minister of Culture Rachida Dati agreed to the appointment, on the unanimous recommendation of the jury, the Villa Noailles centre for contemporary art of national interest said in a press release. Hugo Lucchino is currently working at the Palais Galliera, the fashion museum of the city of Paris, as secretary general, and will take up his new post in the autumn.

“I’m delighted with this appointment. Hugo joins us with great artistic sensitivity and valuable management experience to write a new chapter in our history together,” said Villa Noailles President Pascale Mussard.

“After training in aesthetics, philosophy of art and theory of decorative and applied arts at the University of Paris IV – Sorbonne, in museology, art and fashion history at the École du Louvre and in public administration, management of cultural institutions at Sciences Po Paris, Hugo Lucchino prefigured the Groupement d’intérêt public le Signe, centre national du graphisme, as administrative and financial director, where he later held the position of general secretary”.

At the Palais Galliera, “he oversaw the completion of extension and renovation work, as well as an internal reorganisation as part of the museum’s reopening, and then worked on the design and implementation of the establishment’s new scientific and cultural project”, said the press release, emphasising how his project “fits perfectly with the history, territory and challenges of Villa Noailles, and testifies to his in-depth knowledge of the fashion and design sectors”.

As announced last July, the Hyères Festival, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has confirmed its upcoming edition. It will be held over three days, rather than four, from October 16 to 18, 2025.