A motto welcomes visitors at the entrance to Château de La Napoule: “Once upon a time.” Behind this fortress overlooking the Mediterranean lies, above all, a love story — that of the American sculptor Henry Clews and his wife, Marie Clews.

In 1918, Marie and Henry Clews fell in love with a ruined château. Together, they transformed it into a magical world of art and imagination. After her husband's untimely death in 1937, Marie refused to let their shared vision fade away. In 1951, she founded the La Napoule Art Foundation, turning their private residence into an artistic foundation that continues to welcome creators from around the world to this day.

On Wednesday 24 June, L’Heure FAMM will welcome Nelcy Mercier, Director of the Fondation Château de La Napoule, to share the remarkable story of Marie Clews.

Long overlooked by the dominant narratives of art history, the writings of women artists reveal their aspirations, struggles, and achievements. Through their own words, the podcast Women Artists Speak brings their version of history to life and offers a fresh perspective on art and the women who shaped it.

In this first season, co-produced by AWARE and the Musée d’Orsay, with the support of FAMM, discover the engaged women artists of the second half of the nineteenth century. Through their writings, they advocated for access to high-quality artistic education, the creation of women-only artistic societies, and the right to compete for the Prix de Rome, among other demands.