À Ciel Ouvert
Contemporary art trail — Plaine de la Rivoire, Riorges
About À Ciel Ouvert
Created in 2008 under the name « Land Art », À Ciel Ouvert is a biennial contemporary art trail that unfolds every two years (even years) along the Renaison river and in the Plaine de la Rivoire in Riorges, a 10-hectare protected natural area classified as a « Remarkable Natural Site ». Each edition invites national and international visual artists to design ephemeral in situ works, in dialogue with the landscape, the river, and the site's biodiversity. Supported by the Ville de Riorges, this open-air contemporary art trail is freely accessible and free of charge. Cultural mediation plays a central role, with adapted tours for people with disabilities (visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, mobility impaired), participatory workshops with schoolchildren and families, and a program of meetings and performances throughout the five months of the exhibition.
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À Ciel Ouvert: Contemporary Art at the Heart of Nature
Since 2008, the À Ciel Ouvert trail has transformed the Plaine de la Rivoire in Riorges into an open-air art gallery. This remarkable 10-hectare natural site, crossed by the Renaison river and located between the Prieuré park and the Beaulieu park, hosts new visual creations designed specifically for the location by renowned national and international professional artists every two years.
An Artistic and Civic Project
Each edition is based on a call for projects open to visual artists, architects, designers, landscape architects, and photographers. A jury, chaired by an associated artist duo, selects seven to nine proposals to be realized in situ. The works must be original, unpublished, interact with the landscape and visitors, and withstand the weather for the five months of the exhibition. The associated artists for each edition also conduct participatory creation workshops with schoolchildren, families, and seniors, resulting in collective works presented along the trail.
Accessibility and Mediation
À Ciel Ouvert stands out for its commitment to universal accessibility. Free specialized tours are offered throughout the exhibition: adapted tours for people with reduced mobility (in partnership with Petits Sabots et Grandes Oreilles), audio-described tours for the visually impaired (Mon Regard association), and French Sign Language tours for the deaf and hard of hearing (Mots Croisés association). 3D printed labels also allow visually impaired visitors to discover the works through touch.
A Living Artistic Heritage
Over the editions, some works are acquired by the City and remain permanently visible on the Plaine de la Rivoire, forming a lasting artistic trail that walkers can discover between biennials. The site, also classified as an LPO (League for the Protection of Birds) refuge, is home to 45 species of birds, making the visit an experience that blends art and nature.
History of Editions
- 2008 — 1st edition (under the name « Land Art »)
- 2012 — 2nd edition
- 2014 — 3rd edition
- 2016 — 4th edition
- 2018 — 5th edition
- 2020 — 6th edition
- 2022 — 7th edition (associated artists: Lika Guillemot and Ludovic de Valon)
- 2024 — 8th edition (associated artists: Tereza Holá and Hynek Skoták)
- 2026 — 9th edition (associated artists: Muro Atelier — Joana Tomás and Vincent Rault)
À Ciel Ouvert — edition 2026
The 9th edition of À Ciel Ouvert will take place from June 6 to November 9, 2026, on the Plaine de la Rivoire in Riorges. Ten new works will be presented on the site. The associated artists for this edition are Muro Atelier, a duo formed by Joana Tomás and Vincent Rault, who will chair the selection jury and conduct participatory creation workshops during their residency. Seven in situ installations will be selected from the applications of artists and collectives, with a theme favoring « humor, lightness, and unexpected perspectives ». Each selected artist will receive a grant of €4,800.
9th Edition — À Ciel Ouvert 2026
The 9th edition of the À Ciel Ouvert contemporary art trail will take over the Plaine de la Rivoire from June 6 to November 9, 2026. Ten new works will be presented, including seven in situ installations selected through a call for projects and participatory creations made during the associated artists' residency.
Muro Atelier, Associated Artists
The duo Muro Atelier, formed by Portuguese artist Joana Tomás and French artist Vincent Rault, is the associated artist pair for the 2026 edition. Already present in the 8th edition with an ephemeral architecture, they will chair the work selection jury and lead participatory creation workshops with schoolchildren, families, and seniors during their residency in Riorges.
Call for Projects
The call for projects, open from April 14 to July 14, 2025, allowed for the selection of seven in situ installations from the applications of artists and collectives. Proposals had to favor « humor, lightness, and unexpected perspectives », be original and unpublished, interact with the landscape and visitors, and withstand weather conditions for five months. Each selected artist benefits from a creation grant of €4,800.
Inauguration
The inauguration will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, with the mandatory presence of all artists until 4 PM. The trail will then be freely accessible every day until November 9, 2026.
Programme À Ciel Ouvert 2026
Provisional Program for the 9th Edition
- Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Inauguration and opening of the trail
- June to November 2026 — Free and open access trail every day
- Free Guided Tours — Regular schedule throughout the five months
- Adapted Tours — For visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, and mobility-impaired individuals
- Participatory Creation Workshops — Led by Muro Atelier with schoolchildren, families, and seniors
- Meetings with Artists — Throughout the exhibition
Highlights À Ciel Ouvert 2026
To Remember for the 2026 Edition
- Dates: June 6 to November 9, 2026
- 9th edition of the contemporary art trail
- Ten new works on the Plaine de la Rivoire
- Muro Atelier (Joana Tomás and Vincent Rault), associated artists and jury chairs
- Grant of €4,800 per selected artist
- Free and open access — Universal accessibility
Prices À Ciel Ouvert 2026
Practical information — À Ciel Ouvert
Practical Information
Location
Plaine de la Rivoire, along the Renaison river, Riorges (42153). The trail extends for approximately 2 kilometers in a protected natural area.
Access
Free and open access, every day, from June to November. The trail is accessible to strollers and partially accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Price
Free and open access.
Guided Tours
Free guided tours are offered throughout the exhibition, including adapted tours for people with disabilities (visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, mobility impaired).
How to Get There
By car: From Roanne, follow signs for Riorges centre, then « Plaine de la Rivoire ». Free parking nearby.
By train: Roanne station (TER from Lyon or Saint-Étienne), then a 10-minute drive or bus ride to Riorges.
Contact
Cultural Service of the Ville de Riorges
- Phone: 04 77 23 80 27
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Mairie de Riorges, 411 rue Pasteur, 42153 Riorges
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach À Ciel Ouvert at the best price.
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Where does it take place — À Ciel Ouvert
Plaine de la Rivoire — Bords du Renaison
Plaine de la Rivoire, 42153 Riorges