Festival Central Vapeur

Central Vapeur: Strasbourg's Creative Spark for Illustration

Born in 2011 from the passion of a collective of Strasbourg-based illustrators and graphic designers, Festival Central Vapeur has established itself in just a few editions as one of the major events for contemporary illustration in France. The founding idea: to offer an ambitious showcase for graphic creation in all its forms — author comics, children's illustration, screen printing, independent publishing, print art — in a spirit of conviviality, sharing, and discovery.

A Festival Rooted in Strasbourg's Creative Ecosystem

Strasbourg, a UNESCO City of Literature and home to the prestigious Haute École des Arts du Rhin (HEAR), possesses fertile ground for the graphic arts. Central Vapeur is fully integrated into this ecosystem, uniting artists, publishers, students, and enthusiasts around a rich and accessible program. The festival is an integral part of the Rencontres de l'Illustration, a cultural highlight of the City of Strasbourg that mobilizes museums, media libraries, and cultural venues around drawing and imagery every spring.

La Coop: An Industrial Setting for Creation

For several editions, the festival has been held at La Coop, a former cooperative converted into a cultural third place in the rapidly developing Deux-Rives district of Strasbourg. Its vast industrial spaces provide an ideal setting for the monumental exhibitions, the independent publishers' fair, and the participatory workshops that define the festival's identity.

A Rich and Diverse Program

Each edition revolves around a unifying theme — painting in 2025, dogs in 2026 — explored through solo and group exhibitions, immersive installations, screenings, and performances. The Salon des indépendants brings together alternative publishers, micro-publishing houses, and fanzine collectives from across Europe. The Battlestar, timed live drawing duels, have become a cult moment of the festival, blending graphic virtuosity with a wrestling match atmosphere.

Central Vapeur also offers illustrated concerts, screen printing workshops open to all, professional meetings, and guided tours, making each edition an immersive experience where the public is invited to dive into the creators' worlds.

A Launchpad for Young Talent

True to its role as a discoverer, the festival places great importance on emerging artists and experimental projects. Creation residencies, calls for projects, and collaborations with HEAR help to reveal new talents in European illustration each year. The festival also has an online shop and a professional space (Central Vapeur Pro) dedicated to players in the illustration industry.