The 9th Children’s Book Festival in Midi-Pyrénées Region will be held on January 28, 29 and 30 in Saint-Orens de Gameville (near Toulouse), with a focus on the following theme « girls, books and boys ». The festival will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Prince de Motordu with cartoonist Pef !

Girls who want to become a fireman, boys who like to play with dolls, a woman who does DIY, a man who cries and expresses his feelings, it does  exist ! What if we invented new games to hear and understand each other ? «The Merchant of monsters, princesses-rugby, acrobatic football, the pastry chef woodcutter and his chainsaw for cakes » (Are you a flower or a cabbage ?by Gwendoline Raisson, Rue du Monde editions).

Stereotypes about girls and boys in children’s literature are still very present. But there are books that help children develop their personality and their potential freely.

Here’s what this festival’s 9th edition offers through dozens of cultural events in the Midi-Pyrénées region: nearly 20 places will be dedicated to children’s books with more than 40 authors and illustrators, unique exhibitions, thousands of books will be presented at the library’s festival and many shows, workshops and activities …

Also, do not miss the 30th anniversary of the Prince de Motordu with Pef !

Useful Info

Free Access

Location: Pierre Paul Riquet High School in Saint-Orens de Gameville.

Phone: +33 5 34 63 98 83

More information: Children’s Book Festival in Midi-Pyrénées Region – http://association.flj.free.fr

Source : Presse Release FLJ 2011

The 23rd edition of the Inrocks Black XS music festival will take place in Paris, Lille, Nantes and Toulouse from November 3 to 9, 2010.

As usual, the festival’s line-up has focused on young talented artists and famous bands. The festival 2010 edition will present: Scissor Sisters, The Drums – who got famous this year with their single ‘Let’ s go surfin’-, LCD Sound System – this is the band’s last gig in France before they stop ! -, The Coral, Local Natives from California – stars of many festivals in England last summer -, La Patère Rose, previous member of Libertines Carl Barât, Anna Calvi, Monarchy and many others. This 23rd edition will also welcome special guest French artist Katerine, the man that nobody will prevent from eating bananas !

Useful Information:

Paris, Lille, Nantes and Toulouse line-up

Prices and concert halls

More information: Inrocks Black XS Music Festival – http://blogs.lesinrocks.com/festival-les-inrocks/

Source : Press release Les Inrocks Black XS

The exhibition “Goya – Il était une fois… la Tauromachie, les Proverbes” is a must-attend event. Until November 28, 2010, the Goya Museum of Castres is showing an exhibition of the famous Spanish artist, the central theme of which is : bullfighting and proverbs. 

Since 2009, the Goya Museum has started restoring all Fransisco Goya’s prints, which used to be exhibited in the museum’s permanent rooms. Now, the Spanish artist’s four sets of prints, which belong to the museum’s collection, are shown occasionally to the public during temporary exhibitions.

In 2009, visitors had the opportunity to see an exhibition of Goya’s Los Caprichos (meaning The Whims), in 2010 both Bullfighting (40 prints published in 1816) and Proverbs sets (18 prints published in 1864) will be presented after their restoration. To this exhibition will be presented a few additional rare boards, among which two were purchased very recently and never shown : El Embozado and La Maja.

Useful information:

Dates : from June 26 to November 28, 2010

Location:  Goya Museum -  Hôtel de ville – 81108 Castres Cedex

Pone: +33 5 63 71 59 27

Opening times:

• Open daily in August from 10 am to 6 pm
• Open between 9 am to 12  and 2 to 6 pm in sept. april, may and june
• 10 am on Sundays and bank holidays

Prices:

• Full price: €3 – Reduced price: €1,50
• Free: under 18, job seekers, Castres Museums card holders

Around the exhibition: Guided tours of the exhibition during the summer. In August, from Tuesday to Sunday at 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm. No booking needed, price of entry ticket. Duration: 30 min

Plus d’informations : Ville de Castres – www.ville-castres.fr

Music Day, also known in other countries as World Music Day, is held every year in France. This year, for its 29th anniversary, the event will put the spotlight on women… So let’s meet on Monday 21st June !

Be they music composers , opera singers, conductors, street singers, songwriters or DJs, the focus will be put on their creativity, their struggles and the deep and true nature of their music.

Since ancient times, women have always been an endless source of inspiration that has inspired the greatest melodies. Muses, singers or musicians, they take a leading part in the practice of this art. In order to pay a tribute to them, the 29th edition of Music Day in France will be focused on “music and women”.

This unifying theme will provide an opportunity for all artists, whether they are amateurs or professionals, to celebrate Music Day and women by interpreting compositions made by or for women … A large selection in prospect !

For one day and one night, French cities and towns will be swept away by all kinds of music, with concerts, free events and also the possibility of discovering amateur music players or singers in pubs and cafés.

More information: 2010 Music Day – www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr

Source: presse release “Fête de la Musique 2010″

Based on a successful 2009 edition, the MAP10 Photography Festival comes back to Toulouse, from May 1 to 30, 2010. This  festival, which has a unique position in France, aims at highlighting the best of photography including photo lovers, amateur photographers and young talents.

This festival is much more than just a massive exhibition in the streets of Toulouse , it is an event which creates “connections”

In different areas of the town, at university, throughout the whole country and abroad this event creates connections by initiating meetings and exchanges in relation with a common passion. By exhibiting the work of amateur photographers the festival also acts as a “stepping-stone” and talent finder. To highlight people’s talent and to be a meeting point both for amateur photographers and visitors is indeed the main purpose of MAP10 Festival.

The festival highlights:

For this event, MAP10 offers no less than 20 exhibitions and as many places to discover for the whole month of may. Discovering again areas of Toulouse, be they well-known or not, is also a way of building up ties.

This year you will have the opportunity to discover Elliott Erwit, the festival’s special guest of honour.

A Meeting Area (Espace Rencontres) weekend will host professionals, amateur photographers and newbies in order to exchange and share with photography experts

Amateur photographers will have the opportunity to come and show their work to dozens of both local and nationwide renowned phototography experts.

In order to be ever more consist in its sharing and building up relationship approach, MAP10 offers this year, throughout the whole festival, free photography workshops.

More information: Toulouse Photography Festival – www.map-photo.fr

Source: MAP10 Festival Press Report

Spring will soon be here and so does the festival season ! Without necessarily giving you an comprehensive list, here is an overview to our selection of France’s coming festivals…

• In April:

Printemps de Bourges, from April 13 to 18, will start proudly the festival season by celebrating its 34th anniversary. More info: http://www.printemps-bourges.com/en/home/welcome.php

• In June:

Hellfest open air, from June 18 to 20 for its 5th edition in Clisson, Western France. This 2010 edition already promises to be THE  major metal event ever organised in France! More info: www.hellfest.fr

Solidays, from June 25  to 27, at the Longchamps-Paris racecourse, this festival will bring together many artists all commited to the fight against AIDS. More info: www.solidays.org

• In July:

Eurockéennes of Belfort, from July 2 to 4 : this rock festival will bring together 80 artists on 5 different stages. The must-see artists: Jay-Z, Mika, The Hives, Charlotte Gainsbourg. More info: www.festival.eurockeennes.fr

The Avignon Theatre Festival from July 7 to 27, is a major and must-attend event of the european art life. For 3 weeks, this the festival will please theatre lovers with its 64th edition.  More info: www.festival-avignon.com

Francofolies, from July 13 to 17 , in La Rochelle, western France. New places, new names, new artists on stage to give you more fun and emotions!  The must-see artists: Phœnix, Diam’s, Émilie Simon, Cœur de Pirate. More info: www.francofolies.fr

Vieilles Charues, from July 15 to 18, in Carhaix, Brittany. The must-see artists: Muse, Mika, Indochine, Alain Souchon. More info: www.vieillescharrues.asso.fr

Musilac, from July 16 to 18, in Aix-Les-Bains, Esplanade du Lac, southern France, will celebrate its 9th anniversary. The must-see artists: Pony Pony Run Run, M, ZZ Top, Peter Doherty, Luke, Indochine, Cœur de Pirate. More info: www.musilac.com

• In August:

Route du Rock, will take place from August 13 to 15, in Saint Malo – Le Fort Saint Père, Brittany, for its 20th edition. The must-see artists: Massive Attack, The Flamming Lips, Yann Tiersen. More info: www.laroutedurock.com

Rock en Seine, will be held in the Saint Cloud gardens from August 27 to 29 for its 8th edition. The must-see artists: Blink 182, Arcade Fire, Cypress Hill, Queens of the Stone Age, The Kooks, Foals and  Massive Attack. More info: www.rockenseine.com

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day (March 8th) and the World Poetry Day (March 21st), this 12^th edition of the Poetry Festival « Le Printemps des Poètes » in France will focus on the theme of women.

The inauguration evening will take place on Monday, March 8 at the Opéra Comique, with Dominique Blanc, Brigitte Fontaine and Carolyn Carlson.

Celebrated throughout France, the event will especially highlight the work of Andrée Chedid with the 2^nd Andree Chedid’s sung poem contest with Matthieu Chedid as the  president of the jury. The actress Dominique Blanc will be the sponsor of the event.

An original exhibition, entitled “au fil des mots”, will present a selection of poems having a focus on the theme of hope, body and love. These poems have been reinterpreted by designers and artists who bring their own graphic layout of a short text. The set will be embroidered by women of Swaziland, sick of HIV. This work will give them an income. About thirty works will be exhibited throughout the year 2010.

More information:

2010 Poetry Festival: www.printempsdespoetes.com

For its eighth anniversary, once again the « Culture Bar-Bars » festival will raise top line the artistic excitement offered by cafes and bars throughout the year. For 3 days, from November 26 to 28, 2009, more than 300 live shows with over one thousand artists will be offered in 105 participating bars and in 20 cities!

A state of mind.

The festival’s concept is simple: each bar owner has a set of favourite artists  who are in line with his place. The « Cafés Cultures » (Culture Bars) will offer many entertaining live shows: concerts, DJ nights, exhibitions, theater, games, impros, poetry. Therefore, each year there are as many different shows as there are participating bars.

Prevention is a priority at the heart of the festival.

The « Culture Bar-Bars » festival is also an opportunity to take preventive actions towards people. In partnership with associations specialised in prevention, the actions taken will deal with high-risk behaviours as well as taking people to the festival and driving them back home. Several actions will be taken: alcohol test kits, condoms, information materials as well as ear plugs will be given out to people and there will be a stand dedicated to  prevention (especially in Nantes).

More information:

« Culture Bar-Bars » festival: www.bar-bars.com

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/20-french-cities-will-host-the-%c2%ab-culture-bar-bars-%c2%bb-festival-on-november-26-27-and-28-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/november-a-month-dedicated-to-documentary-films-2/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/november-a-month-dedicated-to-documentary-films-2/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:52:07 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=448

To celebrate the Month of Documentary Film 10th edition, november is a must-attend event in France, French West Indies and abroad for documentary films.

The aim of this event is to show to an audience, that is getting larger, and make them appreciate the diversity and strength of creative documentary films by uniting many events organised by enthusiastic programmers in different locations.

Venues: libraries and media centres, cinemas, cultural and educational institutions, French cultural centres abroad…

Programme: viewings of heritage, rare or unreleased films, film previews, tributes, topics, debates and meetings with directors…

In France, 16 regions will also host this event (participating regions: Alsace, Aquitaine, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne and Franche-Comté, Brittany, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Guadeloupe, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Midi-Pyrenées, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Rhône-Alpes)

More information:

www.moisdudoc.com

www.culture.fr

]]> http://www.toorismag.com/en/november-a-month-dedicated-to-documentary-films-2/feed/ 0 http://www.toorismag.com/en/midi-pyrenees-heritage-and-culture-the-way-of-saint-james-of-compostela/ http://www.toorismag.com/en/midi-pyrenees-heritage-and-culture-the-way-of-saint-james-of-compostela/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:35:27 +0000 Toorismag team http://www.toorismag.com/en/?p=247

Taste for travel, spiritual quest or wish for holidays with a difference: for many different reasons, hundreds of people choose the Midi-Pyrenees region so that they can enjoy treading The Way of Santiago de Compostela also known as The Way of Saint James. It gives a renowned status to 8 areas of southwestern France. Open spaces, protected nature, silence and quietness: the region, the assets of which enable to discover the authenticity of the pilgrimage to Compostela, offers the three main routes of St James’ way. These are the route of Puy-en-Velay, the route of Arles and the route of the Pyrenean Piémont. Compostela’s legacy is particularly strong in the Midi-Pyrenees area. The region has 135 kilometres of routes and 33 monuments listed Unesco’s World Heritage as major milestones in these itineraries (France has 76 in total). Among these monuments are the abbey of Conques and Moissac, the Basilica of Saint Sernin in Toulouse, the collegiate of Romieu and the Valentré bridge of Cahors.

More information:

Midi-Pyrenees Tourist Office: www.tourisme-midi-pyrenees.com