Benedict Alio, Director of « Cite International Desi Ar »: Art is always a reflection of reality

Benedict Alio is a doctor of English Philology and Assistant Professor at the University of Paris-Didro until 2002 in the specialty post-colonial literature and translation. He held the position of director of the French Institute in South Africa in Johannesburg (2002-2006), followed by a post as an attach to cultural cooperation at the French Embassy in New Delhi (2006-2010). He later headed the Cultural Seasons department at the French Institute in Paris.

Since the beginning of 2016, Benedict Alio has been the CEO of the Cite International Desi Ar, a center in the heart of Paris, which welcomes more than 300 artists from different nationalities and fields of art. In 2025 he celebrated his 60th anniversary and at the invitation of the French Cultural Institute in Bulgaria, Benedict Alio met with the leadership of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, with the National Academy of Arts and joined as a lecturer at the Credo Bonum Gallery at the Endow Art and the Place of Creation.

What are the main activities surrounding the celebration of the anniversary of the « Site International Desi Ar », which enables so many Bulgarian artists to create and live within three months in the French capital, similar to more than 300 artists from all over the world?

– We have invited new partners for the events related to the celebration of this important and inspiring anniversary, including an art team from Miami. Cooperation with some of our main art partners, with whom we have maintained relationships from the time when the creators of the art center – Madame and Monsieur Bruno, have done. I am very proud that our common project is continuing with several educational establishments in Paris, where students come from, who not only work and show their works, but have the opportunity to take on the role of curators.

These six decades, which are already behind us, are an inspirational example of many artists and independent institutions around the world, but for us there are also a lesson and an opportunity to grow and add new and new things, as well as, of course, to survive and preserve our structure to the reality in which we all live. Because art has always been and will be a reflection of reality. It changes and adapts to the surrounding world without losing its ability to resonate what is happening and to show its position.

But to return to the main part of your question, in the fall there will be a large exhibition with works by artists who have been residents over the years in which works of a famous Bulgarian artist Marin Varbanov and his wife and artistic partner – Madame Song, who are legends in our center. There is a very interesting program that we present with the Louvre.

At the same time, we use the official occasion to pay attention to the artists, curators, collectors, institutions, and the audience, of course, for the new stage in our development, according to the current world situation and the changes it requires. We have a rather limited budget that requires new rules and forms of existence not only of the studios, but also of all the activities surrounding the « Site International Dee Ar ».

With my team in the last eight years, we have tried to work with the means we have, and in parallel, to renovate the studios and the large hall in the main space, where all exhibitions, performances and meetings are usually held. It was important for us to preserve the foundation, bequeathed by the Bruno family, who, from the very beginning, keep the art residence to welcome artists from different countries, which we want to preserve, but also to be adequate to the changes that are required not only in the political and social situation, but also in the arts around the world.

Victor Popov

What has changed over the last nine years in the policy of the « Site International Desi Ar »?

– As I mentioned, we have over 200 patrons and organizations that support us, but I would prefer to be less, because our commitments to them are many. « All International Desi Ar » is like a mirror that gives clarity what the world goes through, what is happening in the present moment. And this mirror in the six decades of the art residence is 35,000 artists from around the world who have left their mark on its history.

« All International Desi Ar » is an incredible place where at the same time over 300 artists from around the world work and live together, get to know each other, sometimes even work together in projects, and sometimes not, but they always exist together in this great art team. This is an incredible experience, unforgettable, because it activates artists’ abilities to provoke and cause communication with other artists, and when artistic meetings happen, which opens the opportunities to work together, it is wonderful.

Changes do not happen easily for sure. It took me nine months to develop my project for the new stage of the existence of the art residence, which I presented to the board of the partners of the « Site International Desi Ar », and on whose basis the ideas for a new strategy and development against the world today, and to our financial capabilities are based. The truth is that there was a serious shortage of funds we had to deal with. And it was important, whatever change we did, to step and respect the heritage of the Bruno family.

Did you have the opportunity to communicate with Madame Bruno before her death in the summer of 2021?

– Yes, I had the honor and pleasure to meet her and learn firsthand about the mission, heritage and responsibilities of the « Site International Desi Ar ». An exceptional woman who continued the idea of ​​Mr. Felix Bruno, who was the initiator of all this, and with him laid the foundations for the structure of the art residence, which has been an independent art institution for sixty years.

What was your meetings in Bulgaria and their expectations?

– I wanted to meet with our partners here – the Union of Bulgarian Artists and the National Academy of Arts to discuss the new direction in the development of « Site International Desi Ar », as well as to gain impressions of the development of the artistic environment in Sofia, to get acquainted with the galleries, gallerists, artists, artists. It was essential to me and my four -day visit, as my team in Paris and I are convinced that a direct connection with partners can find new horizons and achieve evolution in our relationship.

An invitation to my visit came from the Embassy of France to Bulgaria and gave me the perfect opportunity to discuss, but not by « ZUUM » or by phone, the need for change. Because our patrons in France, who have known the Bruno family, have been aware in recent years that changes are needed. And they themselves were inspired by an interesting direction in which Madame Bruno worked in the last years of his life, that if one did not know his past, he could not position himself adequately in the present, and he could not give a corridor to his future.