Amies Voix Festival

Amies Voix: The Art of Storytelling at the Heart of Libraries

The Amies Voix Festival is a unique event in Loir-et-Cher. Created in 2000 by the Departmental Media Library, it celebrates the art of storytelling and oral tradition every autumn by taking over libraries throughout the department. For a month, from October to the end of October, professional storytellers travel across Loir-et-Cher to offer free performances in public reading spaces.

25 Years of Stories and Sharing

In a quarter of a century, Amies Voix has become an essential event of the cultural season in Loir-et-Cher. The festival has hosted dozens of storytellers from all over France, each bringing their own universe, voice, and repertoire. From traditional tales to contemporary creations, from world stories to musical narratives, the diversity of artistic offerings is at the heart of the festival's identity.

The Library as a Venue for Live Performance

Amies Voix's originality lies in its choice of the library as a performance venue. By hosting storytellers in their spaces, the libraries of Loir-et-Cher become vibrant cultural hubs, where books and spoken word echo and complement each other. This proximity between the storyteller and their audience creates an intimacy conducive to listening and emotion, transforming each session into a unique moment of sharing.

A Festival for All Audiences

Amies Voix is aimed at all audiences: children, families, adults, and seniors. The program includes young audience sessions suitable for toddlers from 3 years old, family shows for Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, and more intimate storytelling evenings for adults. This diversity of formats allows everyone to find a performance to their liking and contributes to the intergenerational mix of the audience.

A Network of Libraries Mobilized

The success of Amies Voix relies on the mobilization of the library network in Loir-et-Cher. Each year, about twenty libraries host the festival's performances, from Blois to Vendôme, from Romorantin-Lanthenay to Montoire-sur-le-Loir, including Salbris, Mer, Contres, and many other towns. The Departmental Media Library coordinates the entire operation and supports the libraries in organizing the performances.