Festival À Ciel Ouvert

À Ciel Ouvert: Photography Takes to the Streets in Labruguière

Since 2007, the À Ciel Ouvert festival has made Labruguière a must-visit event for open-air photography. Organized by the Espace photographique Arthur Batut, this annual festival transforms the historic center of the Tarn commune into a vast open-air gallery, where dozens of large-format photographs are freely displayed on facades and in public spaces.

A Living Tribute to Arthur Batut

The festival draws its name and inspiration from the pioneering spirit of Arthur Batut (1846-1918), a Labruguière inventor of aerial photography by kite. In 1888, from Labruguière itself, Batut took the first aerial photographs in history, inventing a technique that would revolutionize our view of the world. À Ciel Ouvert perpetuates this legacy by celebrating photography as an art of vision, discovery, and openness to the world.

The Espace photographique Arthur Batut, located at the Centre Culturel Le Rond Point in Labruguière, preserves Batut's original collections and organizes exhibitions, educational workshops, and cultural events around photography throughout the year.

A Photographic Trail Through the City

Each edition of the festival offers a thematic trail through the streets of Labruguière. The large-format photographs are hung on building facades, in cobbled alleyways, and on the walls of the historic center, creating a unique dialogue between the images and the city's architecture.

This on-site setup invites residents and visitors to rediscover their city through the eyes of the invited photographers. Free-roaming is at the heart of the artistic proposal: no ticket, no imposed visiting route, just the freedom to wander and discover the works at your own pace.

An Accessible and Popular Festival

Total free access is one of the festival's core values. As the photographs are exhibited in public spaces, anyone can discover them at any time of day, throughout the exhibition period – from June to October. This maximum accessibility aligns with the democratic and educational mission of the Espace Arthur Batut, which caters to both informed amateurs and the simply curious.

Guided tours with commentary of the trail are offered by the team from the Espace Arthur Batut, allowing visitors to deepen their understanding of the works and the artistic context of each edition. Photography practice workshops are also organized for young people and families.

Eighteen Editions Serving Photography

Since its creation in 2007, the À Ciel Ouvert festival has showcased the work of numerous French and international photographers, exploring a different theme each year. Past themes include: aerial photography by kite (in tribute to Arthur Batut), typological portraiture, world landscapes, identity, the mask, and revelation. Each edition renews the perspective on Labruguière and on contemporary photographic creation.