Champ Libre !

Champ Libre !: Street theater closer to the inhabitants of Cantal

Champ Libre ! is the traveling tour program designed and produced by ÉCLAT, the National Center for Street Arts and Public Space based in Aurillac. Every summer, between late July and early August, this ambitious initiative brings street theater to the heart of Cantal's villages and small towns, in the lead-up to the Aurillac International Street Theater Festival.

A Legacy of Les Préalables

Champ Libre ! was launched in 2020, replacing the "Les Préalables" program which had existed since 1999. This change in format allowed for a rethinking of how street arts engage with the Cantal territory. Where Les Préalables offered one-off events, Champ Libre ! deploys a true departmental tour, creating a dense cultural network across the communes of Cantal.

A Unique Format: Six Companies, Twenty-Five Communes

The principle of Champ Libre ! is simple and ambitious:

• Six street theater companies, selected by ÉCLAT, take to the roads of Cantal for two to three weeks.
• They give approximately 25 performances in as many different communes, from villages of a few hundred inhabitants to larger towns.
• All performances are free and in the open air, in locations chosen in consultation with the communes: village squares, schoolyards, parks, parking lots, sports fields.

Close Collaboration with the Communes

The strength of Champ Libre ! lies in its collaborative dimension. Each participating commune makes a committed and enthusiastic choice to champion culture in its territory and to welcome artists and audiences with conviction. Municipalities are involved in logistical organization, local communication, and providing performance spaces.

Among the communes in the Aurillac urban area that have hosted Champ Libre !, notable ones include Ytrac, Velzic, Naucelles, Giou-de-Mamou, Sansac-de-Marmiesse, and Saint-Paul-des-Landes. Beyond the urban area, many communes throughout the department also participate, creating a cultural dissemination network across the entire Cantal region.

Shows for All Audiences

The companies selected for Champ Libre ! offer varied and accessible artistic forms: street theater, circus, dance, puppetry, participatory performances. The shows are designed for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest, and transform village squares into spaces of creation and emotion for a few hours.

A Stepping Stone to the Aurillac Festival

Champ Libre ! is part of the overall dynamic of the Aurillac International Street Theater Festival, serving as its departmental prologue. By bringing street arts to the villages of Cantal before the main festival, this program creates anticipation, connection, and familiarity with public space art forms. It thus contributes to democratizing access to culture and integrating art into the daily lives of rural territories.