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Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, where he spent the first sixteen years of his life. His relationship with his native city was often turbulent. Nevertheless his works retain a distinctive Genevese flavour and the City of Geneva has arranged for an important celebration of the Tercentenary of the thinker’s birth - 2012 Rousseau for all. This jubilee gala, underlining Rousseau’s Geneva heritage, is but the latest in a tradition of commemorations that down the ages have honoured the memory of the most illustrious of our citizens. The City of Geneva’s Department of Culture and Sport has called on cultural and scientific experts from a wide variety of fields to provide a rich synergy of events for the coming year.  Many will be the pleasures awaiting us in 2012.

Start-date - 19 January 2012

On the Ile Rousseau, mid-way between the city’s right and left banks, the natural focal point for the celebrations, the official Opening Ceremony of 2012 Rousseau for all will take place at 3pm on 19 January 2012. This will be followed by the first showing of a series of short-length films, “All Rousseau's fault”. The public will also be able to admire the new pavilion, the re-landscaping of the isle, and the temporary building designed to house the information and publicity centre for the celebrations. And the magazine, L’Hebdo, in association with the City of Geneva, will be bringing out, a Special Edition celebrating the great Jean-Jacques Rousseau in its own distinctive style.

Throughout the year, the Isle will serve as a public relations centre for the commemoration events and a permanent sign system will go up at the bridge leading to the Isle and all other places in the city associated with Rousseau.

Richly varied Events Program

Since December 2010, a series of Republican Banquet Debates—public discussions followed by informal get-togethers with refreshment—have been encouraging the general public to consider Rousseau’s life and works in the light of contemporary society. By weaving together institutions, community relations, and Geneva’s social structure, the Banquet Debates provide a guiding thread running through the programme of events organised for2012 Rousseau for all taking place in various parts of Geneva and elsewhere in Europe. Several topics have already been discussed—Liberty of Expression, Education, Happiness, and Nature. On 5 March 2012, the Comédie de Genève will be hosting the first Banquet Debate of the new year under the thought-provoking title “Society show – show society”. Then there will be the Salon international du livre et de la presse with a Banquet Debate devoted to “Nomadism”—Rousseau’s passion for seeking new ways of looking at ideas, from 25 to 29 April 2012. Finally a large number of participants are expected in the Parc de la Grange, on 28 June 2012, to debate and celebrate at an evening centred on Modernity.

Two authoritative symposia and a number of study days will provide 2012 Rousseau for all with a sound pedagogical basis. This will be reinforced by a series of publications, including Rousseau’s Complete works, a catalogue raisonné of his Geneva manuscripts, an important work on Geneva in the time of Rousseau, a calendar by well-known Geneva cartoonists, and several translations.

Without doubt, the major event of 2012 will be the world premiere of an opera about Jean-Jacques Rousseau, “JJR (Citizen of Geneva)”, showing at the Grand Théâtre de Genève from 9 to 24 September. A large number of other Rousseau-themed musical performances (concert of classical music, marionette opera, and original opera with instructional intent) will be taking place throughout the year.

A great many exhibitions are scheduled. “My very own Rousseau” will be showing at the Book Fair from 25 to 29 April 2012. Highlighting themes intimately related to Rousseau’s life and works, it is aimed at the general public, regardless of age or education. Other exhibition topics in the City of Geneva’s museums and libraries will include: Rousseau the musician; Rousseau the botanist; Rousseau and his turbulent relations with Voltaire and his contemporaries (organised in close association with the Martin Bodmer Foundation); Rousseau and the 18th century Genevan savants; Rousseau and the Genevan watch-makers; not forgetting Rousseau and international education.

Throughout 2012 on the Ile Rousseau, the cinema will be making its own contribution with a number of full-length films and “All Rousseau's fault”, a collection of shorts sub-titled in English. The festivities will be brought to a close on the Anniversary Evening of 28 June with two stage plays, a spectacular fancy‑dress show in the village of Dardagny, and a multimedia presentation combining video and live performance.

Walking and nature are also on the programme with several theme trails accompanied by a talk tour commentary provided by the singer Stephan Eicher, downloadable from 19 January to 12 December 2012 at www.rousseau2012.ch.

Culture Access for the Handicapped

Rousseau, though no stranger to honours and glory also experienced exile, loneliness, and rejection. It seemed therefore fitting, on the occasion of 2012 Rousseau for all, to do something practical about making culture more accessible to the disadvantaged. “Improving Culture Access for the Handicapped” is a far-reaching project led by the City of Geneva’s Department of Culture and Sport, in a association with the Cantonal Culture Service and the Franco-Genevese Regional Committee (CRFG), with the financial and promotional assistance of Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Cultural Foundation.

Rousseau international

2012 Rousseau for all is intended to establish Geneva as the focal point for all the international commemorations that will be taking place throughout the world.

Rousseau has always been intimately associated with Switzerland, the Rhone-Alpes Region, and more widely with France as a whole. In French-speaking Switzerland, Neuchatel, Montreux, Vevey and Chillon are making a number of contributions. There will also be commemorative events in Lyon, Vizille, Chambéry, Montmorency, Ermenonville, Noyon and of course in Paris, where a large-scale exhibition is scheduled for the Pantheon.

And then there are to be very welcome, collaborative celebrations involving the Symphony Orchestra and University of Sao Paolo, the Library of Congress in Washington, the New York Public Library and State University, and the Voltaire Library in St Petersburg, not to mention Rousseau College in Bohicon, in Benin.

“Rousseau Regattas” will be held in St Petersburg and at Enghien-les-Bains in June, and from 5 to 7 August 2012 in Geneva where, as part of the programme for the Fêtes de Genève, the Société nautique will be making its contribution immediately after the Sprint Cup.

Finally, it should not be forgotten that negotiations with UNESCO have recently resulted in the inscription of Rousseau’s manuscript and published works in the Memory of the World Register.

How to keep up with all that’s going on

Detailed information about all commemoration activities is available on-line at www.rousseau2012.ch

The Cultural Newsletter (in French) provides a three-monthly update of 2012 Rousseau for all