Artistic Recycling Festival
Eco-responsible art and craft festival at the Forges Royales de Guérigny
2026
About Artistic Recycling
Artistic Recycling — edition 2026
The 3rd edition of the Artistic Recycling Festival takes place at the Forges Royales de Guérigny, in the Nièvre region, over two weekends: September 19th and 20th, 2026, for the European Heritage Days, themed around the 400th anniversary of the French Navy, followed by November 28th and 29th, 2026, for the Artistic Recycling Christmas. Around twenty artists and craftspeople will showcase their creations made from reclaimed materials. The opening reception is on Saturday, September 19th, at 11:30 AM in the Salle Olympe de Gouges. Free admission, from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Two events in 2026
For its 3rd edition, the Guérigny Artistic Recycling Festival is being held over two weekends at the Forges Royales: September 19th and 20th, 2026, during the European Heritage Days at the Espace Lafayette and the Salle Olympe de Gouges, and November 28th and 29th, 2026, for the Artistic Recycling Christmas at the Salle François Mitterrand. The organizers count these two weekends as the 10th and 11th Artistic Recycling events.
400 years of the French Navy
The September weekend will feature the 400th anniversary of the French Navy, a theme chosen by Guérigny for 2026. A collective painting will be created live in front of the Espace Lafayette, led by painter Nicquo Boucher.
Painting in the spotlight
In the Salle Olympe de Gouges, the "Pièces Détachées" (Spare Parts) exhibition brings together this year's patrons: Elisabeth Sandillon, Francis Colin, and Guy Matchoro. Sophie Juramy is launching a new format in 2026 by inviting artists who are not typically recyclers to try their hand at recycling for the festival and serve as patrons. All three will also be exhibiting their own artistic recycling works.
Art and upcycled crafts
Wood, branches, hemp, cotton, linen, leaves, metal, earth, fabric, and paper: exhibitors transform these materials into works of art, functional objects, accessories, jewelry, decorations, and upcycled clothing. Admission is free, from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Highlights Artistic Recycling 2026
- 2026 Theme: 400 years of the French Navy, with a collective canvas painted live in front of the Espace Lafayette
- "Pièces Détachées" exhibition by Elisabeth Sandillon, Francis Colin, and Guy Matchoro, Salle Olympe de Gouges
- Opening reception on Saturday, September 19th, 2026, at 11:30 AM, Salle Olympe de Gouges
- Around twenty recycling artists and craftspeople at the Espace Lafayette
- Seated massage with Manora on Sunday, September 20th
- Second weekend on November 28th and 29th for the Artistic Recycling Christmas
- Free admission, from 10 AM to 6 PM
Programme Artistic Recycling 2026
Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th, 2026 — European Heritage Days
Forges Royales de Guérigny, free admission from 10 AM to 6 PM both days. Theme: 400 years of the French Navy.
- Saturday 19th, 11:30 AM — Festival opening reception · Salle Olympe de Gouges
- 10 AM - 6 PM, both days — Artistic recycling artists and craftspeople exhibition · Espace Lafayette
- 10 AM - 6 PM, both days — "Pièces Détachées" painting and artistic recycling exhibition · Salle Olympe de Gouges
- 10 AM - 6 PM, both days — Collective painting on the theme of the 400th anniversary of the French Navy, created live in front of the Espace Lafayette by painter Nicquo Boucher
- Sunday 20th, all day — Discover seated massage with Manora, a wellness massage practitioner from Coulanges
2026 Patrons · Salle Olympe de Gouges
- Elisabeth Sandillon, painter from Cercy-la-Tour — work built on the reuse of materials, as well as oils and inks
- Francis Colin, visual artist — "furniture-objects" assembled from scrap, accompanied by canvas paintings
- Guy Matchoro, painter from Nevers — pieces derived from recycling
Exhibiting artists and craftspeople
List published by the organization, noted as non-exhaustive.
- Adèle Poubelle — jewelry, lamps, prints, cards, mirrors
- Rurbain, Armust Blegde — painter
- Belle 2e Vie — handmade jewelry, bags, and accessories from recycled materials
- Bywyd Newydd — repurposed objects
- Cora.C — upcycling, second-hand, bags, aprons
- De Bulle en Aiguille — recycled fabric accessories: pouches, coin purses
- Kako Créations — jewelry (kako-creations.fr)
- La Borboleta — decorative objects made from recycled materials
- L'Arc-en-Gemmes — artisanal stone jewelry
- L'Atelier de fleurs savon et soie — soap and silk flower arrangements
- Les Ateliers de Noëlle — decorative recycling
- Les créations d'Annick — cotton seating
- Mikart créations — creative lighting
- Nathalie Lenne-Civard, Les végétales créatives — eco-print paintings, embroidery, plant-based dyes on recycled fabrics
- Nicquo Boucher — painter
- Sculptures Didier — metal sculpture
- Sophie Juramy, festival founder — accessories, jewelry, clothing upcycling
- Stanislas le Sculpteur — sculptures made from stainless steel or silver-plated forks, spoons, and knives
- Sybile Rousseau — miniature displays
- Manora Massages Bien-être — seated massage, Sunday, September 20th
Saturday, November 28th and Sunday, November 29th, 2026 — Artistic Recycling Christmas
Salle François Mitterrand, free admission from 10 AM to 6 PM. Details for this second weekend have not yet been published as of mid-August 2026.
Prices Artistic Recycling 2026
Practical information — Artistic Recycling
Access
Guérigny is located 15 km north of Nevers, in the Nièvre region.
- By car: Via the D977 from Nevers (15 minutes).
- By train: Nevers station, then a 20-minute drive.
Location
Forges Royales de Guérigny, 58130 Guérigny.
Dates
Several weekends between September and November. See the current edition's program.
Hours
From 10 am to 6 pm daily.
Prices
Free admission.
Contact
Sophie Juramy, festival creator
Tel: 07 64 20 97 30
Email: [email protected]
Accessibility
The event site is accessible to people with reduced mobility. For specific needs, it is recommended to contact the organizers in advance to best prepare your visit.
Accommodation nearby
Guérigny and its surroundings offer a varied choice of accommodation: hotels, bed and breakfasts, rural gites, and seasonal rentals. It is strongly advised to book in advance, especially during the event period, as accommodation capacity can be quickly saturated. The local tourist office can direct you to available establishments that meet your needs.
Dining on site
Catering facilities and a refreshment stand are generally available on the event site. The restaurants, bars, and food shops in Guérigny are also open and offer local cuisine highlighting products from the Nivernais and Burgundian regions.
Recommended equipment
Bring comfortable walking shoes, as most activities take place outdoors. Depending on the season, consider bringing sunscreen and a hat in summer, or warm and waterproof clothing in autumn and winter. A light backpack can be useful for carrying your purchases and personal belongings.
Pets
Dogs on a leash are generally accepted on the event site, unless otherwise indicated by the organizers. Bring water and waste bags for your pet.
Photography and social media
Photography is permitted throughout the site. Feel free to share your memories on social media and follow the official event pages to stay informed of the latest news and detailed program.
Art in the service of recycling
The Artistic Recycling Festival takes place at the Forges Royales de Guérigny, an 18th-century industrial site once used to forge marine anchors. Around thirty artists and craftspeople gather here to demonstrate how reclaimed materials and natural elements can be transformed into both fine art and everyday objects.
Diverse creations
Exhibitors work with a wide range of materials:
- Wood and branches: sculptures, furniture, and decorative items made from driftwood, branches, and reclaimed timber
- Metal: sculptures and artistic ironwork crafted from scrap metal
- Textiles: clothing, accessories, and textile art made from recycled fabrics (hemp, cotton, linen)
- Paper: creations in recycled paper and papier-mâché, including sculptures and lighting
- Earth and plants: ceramics, botanical arrangements, and floral art
Planet Days
The town of Guérigny hosts the festival as a centerpiece of its "Journées de la Planète," an environmental awareness program. Each edition features a specific theme: water in 2025, and the 400th anniversary of the Navy for the September 2026 weekend.
Activities
The exhibitions are complemented by various activities depending on the edition. In 2025, the first weekend featured an interactive debate, the Fanfare du Contrevent brass band, and a documentary screening, while the Clef Verte school in Guérigny created a mural on the water cycle.
Two weekends a year
The festival is now held twice a year: one weekend in September during the European Heritage Days, and another in late November for the Artistic Recycling Christmas. Depending on the weekend, exhibitions are held in the Espace Lafayette, the Salle Olympe de Gouges, or the Salle François Mitterrand. Around 2,000 people attended in 2024, and the event has welcomed nearly 5,000 visitors since moving to the Forges Royales.
Created by Sophie Juramy
Sophie Juramy opened her artistic recycling workshop in 2022 in her home village of Giry, later organizing the first festival in Prémery in 2023 after building a network of artists. Jean-Pierre Chateau, the mayor of Guérigny, subsequently offered her the Forges Royales, where the festival has been held since 2024. Admission is free, from 10 am to 6 pm.
Where does it take place — Artistic Recycling
Artistic Recycling in brief
History of Artistic Recycling
Edition 2025 Jun 2025Other festivals near Guérigny
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