Résurgence Festival

Contemporary art at the heart of Lot heritage

Created in 2017 by the Causses et Vallée de la Dordogne (Cauvaldor) community of communes, the Résurgence festival is a unique cultural autumn event. Each edition highlights a part of the territory's history or a significant figure who left their mark in the north of the Lot, through the lens of contemporary art.

A festival rooted in the territory

The name "Résurgence" echoes the natural resurgences of the Dordogne valley, those underground springs that burst to the surface. In the same way, the festival brings forgotten stories, unknown personalities, and buried heritage of the Cauvaldor territory back to light. The main exhibition is held at the Beffroi Saint-Martin in Souillac, a former deconsecrated church listed as a historic monument since 1925, transformed into an exhibition space.

Strong themes from edition to edition

Since its creation, the festival has explored various ambitious themes:

• Sim Copans and the legacy of jazz in Souillac
• The Musée de l'Automate and its mechanical heritage
• Pierre Betz and the art review Le Point
• Nancy Cunard, an engaged poet who took refuge in the Lot (Infinie Liberté)
• The depths of the territory (Profonde Intuition)
• Architecture and housing (Construction Vivante)
• The link between art and sport (Sportive Attitude), in homage to Roger Couderc
• Exile and migration (Éternel Refuge), inspired by Gisèle Freund

A reach across the entire north of the Lot

Résurgence is not limited to Souillac: the festival extends to about thirty towns in the Cauvaldor territory, from Martel to Carlux, from Carennac to the grottes de Lacave. Each edition brings together over 90 partners — associations, museums, schools, sports clubs — and offers nearly a hundred cultural events: participatory workshops, guided tours, conferences, film screenings, artistic performances, and meetings with artists.

A commitment to all audiences

Entirely free and open to all, the festival places particular emphasis on cultural mediation and actions aimed at schoolchildren, families, and audiences far from culture. Adapted tours, creative workshops for children, and educational trails are offered throughout the program. Résurgence thus embodies the conviction that contemporary art can be a powerful vehicle for social connection and territorial discovery.