Complètement Gaga - Street Arts Festival

Complètement Gaga: When Street Arts Take Over Saint-Étienne

Complètement Gaga is a street arts festival that sets up camp every year in Saint-Étienne, in the Loire region. The festival's name is a nod to the local dialect: in Saint-Étienne's patois, "Gagas" refers to the inhabitants of Saint-Étienne. To be "completely gaga" therefore means to be deeply Saint-Étienne, but also a little crazy – much like this festival that blows a wind of artistic madness through the city.

An Adventure Born from Volunteer Passion

The Complètement Gaga association was founded in September 2018 by a collective of volunteers driven by the desire to promote performing arts and street arts. The first edition of the festival took place in May 2019, with the ambition of reclaiming public space through art and revitalizing the city center of Saint-Étienne. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, evolving from a niche event to a major fixture on the Saint-Étienne and regional cultural scene.

An Eclectic and Demanding Program

For three days, the city center squares, Parc François Mitterrand, and the Cité du Design are transformed into open-air stages. The program blends street theater, contemporary circus, dance, concerts, participatory performances, and itinerant shows. The festival seeks a balance between different forms of street art, between local artists and companies from elsewhere, and between daring creations and shows accessible to all audiences.

Artistic gender parity is a strong commitment of the festival: the program ensures a balance between male and female artists, and the visibility of underrepresented minorities in performing arts.

A Solidarity-Based Economic Model

Complètement Gaga operates on a pay-what-you-want (or "hat") system: each spectator is free to contribute to the financing of the event according to their means and desire. This economic model, based on trust and solidarity, ensures the event's accessibility to the widest possible audience. All artists and technicians receive a fixed remuneration, independent of the "hat" revenue.

Festive Evenings at Parc François Mitterrand

The festival village, located in Parc François Mitterrand, is the beating heart of the festival. Spectators can dance, eat, and extend the celebration during evenings featuring concerts and DJ sets. The catering is 100% vegetarian and homemade, made with organic and local products. The drinks offered are also local, reflecting a strong commitment to eco-responsibility.

A Committed Festival

Complètement Gaga is committed on several fronts: eco-responsibility (reusable cups, dry toilets, waste sorting, shared equipment), prevention and risk reduction in festive environments with a dedicated stand, and combating sexist and sexual violence with a trained team and an intervention protocol. The festival is also a place for transmission, with participatory workshops and shows designed for young audiences.