FIMA - International Festival of Art Crafts

ℹ️ Event on hold. As of our editorial verification (May 2026), we have found no public source (organizer, town hall, tourist office, local press) announcing a new edition of FIMA. The last documented edition was the 5th, organized from July 5 to 7, 2019. The official website is no longer accessible, and no edition has been held despite the usual biennial rhythm. This entry is kept for archival purposes.

Baccarat, land of artisanal excellence

The city of Baccarat, world-renowned for its crystal factories founded in 1764, was the natural and symbolic setting for the FIMA (International Festival of Art Crafts). This biennial celebrated the excellence of art crafts by bringing together artisans, creators, and enthusiasts in a festival combining exhibition, competition, and shows.

An international creation competition

The heart of FIMA was its international contemporary creation competition, which invited artisans from around the world to present original works around a theme renewed with each edition:

• 2010: “Transparency” (1st edition)
• 2012: “The Reflection” (2nd edition)
• 2014: “The Homage”, in memory of Josette Renaux (3rd edition)
• 2017: “The Balance” (4th edition, June 23-25)
• 2019: “Temporal Reflection” (5th edition, July 5-7)

The competition was open to professional artisans and students from art craft schools, offering a showcase for young creators. The works of the 12 finalists were exhibited in the honorary hall of Baccarat town hall, and the Josette Renaux Grand Prize rewarded the laureate.

A village of 50 artisans

The festival hosted an art crafts village bringing together about fifty exhibiting artisans who presented their savoir-faire and their creations:

• Glass and crystal: glassblowers, stained glass artists, crystal makers.
• Jewelry and adornment: goldsmiths, jewelers, enamelers.
• Wood and cabinetmaking: sculptors, turners, marquetry artists.
• Ceramics and clay: potters, faience makers, ceramists.
• Textile and leather: embroiderers, weavers, leather goods makers.
• Art restoration: specialists in heritage conservation.

The legacy of Josette Renaux

FIMA owed its existence to Josette Renaux, former mayor of Baccarat, passionate about art crafts and convinced of the need to promote this living heritage. After her death in May 2013, her daughter Karine Renaux-Cheikh took up the torch to perpetuate this vision. The festival paid tribute to this founder by continuing its mission: to promote artisanal excellence and encourage contemporary creation.

Music and conviviality

FIMA was not limited to the exhibition: a musical program accompanied the festival, with open-air concerts that contributed to the festive and convivial atmosphere of the event.