Festival En Vie Urbaine

Festival En Vie Urbaine: Seventeen Years of Urban Cultures in Niort

Created in 2006 by five friends passionate about hip-hop culture, the association En Vie Urbaine first organized the "Culture Basket Tour" in 2007 and 2008, combining street-basket tournaments, rap concerts, graffiti jams, and urban dance initiations between La Rochelle, Poitiers, and Niort. Building on this success, the collective consolidated the concept in Niort by launching the Festival En Vie Urbaine in 2009, a multidisciplinary event dedicated to urban and alternative cultures.

Since then, the festival has continued to grow. From three days at its inception, it now spans four to five days in the heart of Niort's summer, taking over Place Louis Jouvet at the foot of Tour Chabot, the parvis of the Halles, and the lawn of the Moulin du Roc. The program mixes headliners of French rap with emerging artists, in a spirit of transmission and discovery that forms the DNA of the festival.

An Ambitious and Eclectic Hip-Hop Program

Each year, Festival En Vie Urbaine offers a lineup that spans all facets of hip-hop culture. French rap legends like Arsenik or Médine mingle with the new generation embodied by artists such as Chilla, Omar Paco, or Phenom. The "100% hip-hop" evenings on Thursdays have become an anticipated event, offering a deep dive into the world of rap with DJ sets and open mics.

Beyond Music: A Multidisciplinary Festival

The richness of Festival En Vie Urbaine lies in its ability to embrace all disciplines of urban cultures. Graffiti and street art workshops allow festival-goers to try their hand at aerosol cans under the guidance of experienced artists. Breakdance battles bring together local dancers and crews from all over the region. Niort-based companies like Cie E.go and Cirque en Scène present performances blending urban contemporary dance and circus arts.

A Free Event Rooted in its Territory

True to its founding values, Festival En Vie Urbaine remains an entirely free event, accessible to all audiences. This free access, made possible by the support of the City of Niort, the Department of Deux-Sèvres, and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, is at the heart of the association's project: to democratize access to urban cultures and promote social and generational diversity.

The festival plays an essential role in Niort's summer entertainment and contributes to the influence of the hip-hop scene in the Deux-Sèvres region, offering a showcase for local artists like the collective LS79 while also hosting national artists.