[Ars] Numerica

ℹ️ Festival discontinued. The [Ars] Numerica festival no longer takes place in its historical form. Its last documented autonomous edition dates back to the early 2010s (2nd edition in 2013, from October 29 to November 16). Since its integration into MA scène nationale – Pays de Montbéliard, «Ars Numerica» has become a venue and a label (the «digital stage» and Ars Numerica Studios) rather than an annual festival. Digital programming is now spread throughout the season, and MA scène nationale's festival highlights take other forms (PARLEMONDE in odd years, GREEN DAYS in even years).

[Ars] Numerica, an avant-garde laboratory for digital arts

An emblematic festival of digital creation in Montbéliard, [Ars] Numerica had established itself as a key event for digital arts in France. Located at the heart of Numerica, the Franche-Comté multimedia hub at 11 cours Louis Leprince-Ringuet, it benefited from a unique technological setting: an 80-seat room dedicated to immersive and innovative projects combining dance, music, and theatre.

A festival at the crossroads of art and technology

Each edition offered bold programming exploring the frontiers between art and digital technology: interactive exhibitions, immersive installations, electronic concerts, audiovisual performances, augmented dance shows, and theatre pieces using new technologies. The festival oscillated between retrogaming, video, cinema, mime, photography, and sound art to question how technologies reflect reality and emotions, separate or bring people together, and invent social connection.

A laboratory for creation and experimentation

Beyond dissemination, [Ars] Numerica functioned as a true creative laboratory. The Ars Numerica Studios, a residency and production space, hosted artists to develop cross-disciplinary projects. The festival was the privileged moment for presenting these researches.

The legacy of MA scène nationale

Born in 2011 from the merger of l'Arche, l'Allan, and Ars Numerica (and then MALS in 2013), MA scène nationale offers ambitious, joyful, and international programming. The Ars Numerica component continues today as a «digital stage» and immersive audio creation center, making Montbéliard a reference hub for digital arts in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, even if the dedicated autumn festival no longer takes place.