Journées Photographiques du Val d'Ocre

The Journées Photographiques du Val d'Ocre: Photography at the Heart of the Village

Nestled in the Val d'Ocre, a rural area in northern Yonne with landscapes of ochre earth and hedgerows, the Journées Photographiques du Val d'Ocre were born in 2019 from the initiative of the association L'Oiseau à Ressorts. Founded in January 2015 by cultural and social activists, the association chose photography as a tool for encounter, curiosity, and wonder. Since their first edition in spring 2019, these days have established themselves as the benchmark photographic festival in Puisaye-Forterre, attracting a loyal and growing audience each autumn from the Yonne, Île-de-France, and the entire Burgundy region.

A 100% Photographic Program

The festival defines itself as a 100% photographic proposal that fosters privileged links with performing arts, visual arts, and writing. Its main venue is the Atelier 19b (19 bis Grande Rue, Le Val d'Ocre), a creative space developed over the years by the association to host exhibitions, screenings, and workshops in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Each edition offers:

• Exhibitions showcasing eight to ten photographers with diverse backgrounds — author photography, reportage, documentary, fine art photography, scientific photography, street photography, portraiture. Prints are central to the concept: the association advocates for embodied, printed photography that can be contemplated at length.
• Projection-conferences led by renowned photographers who present their work, books, and artistic approach in direct dialogue with the public.
• Practical workshops open to adults, teenagers, and children: film photography (development and printing in a darkroom), cyanotype, 3D photography, creative writing immersed in exhibition spaces, photography and genealogy.
• Encounters and book signings (“Sur la table”) allowing direct exchange with photographers, browsing their books, and portfolio reviews.
• Off-site partnerships: since the 7th edition, the festival has extended to other spaces in the region (galleries, media libraries, community halls) to reach new audiences.

The Spirit of the Festival: Encounter Above All

What distinguishes the Journées Photographiques du Val d'Ocre from major urban festivals is the quality and depth of human contact. Here, photographers are present, available, and engaged in conversation. The association L'Oiseau à Ressorts has built its philosophy on this conviction: “to create opportunities for contact with photographers, stimulate curiosity, ensure that everyone feels their own gaze, and inspire the desire to practice photography.”

The festival is entirely free and open to all, accessible to people with reduced mobility. This accessibility reflects a cultural ambition rooted in the values of public cultural service: not to leave photography solely to connoisseurs or to large metropolises.

Seven Editions, A Collective History

In seven editions (2019-2025), the Journées Photographiques du Val d'Ocre have hosted dozens of photographers with very diverse universes. Among the artists who have marked the festival's history are: Richard Bellia (rock photography), Kourtney Roy (international artist, author of The Other End of the Rainbow), Philippe Dollo (photojournalist), Denis Darzacq (renowned photographer), Pierre-Olivier Deschamps (documentarian of the Grand Paris Express), Vasil Tasevski (photography and circus), as well as numerous regional and emerging talents.

The 7th edition (2025) marked a symbolic milestone with a special exhibition “10 years of L'Oiseau à Ressorts” featuring 27 photographers who have participated in the festival since its inception, and an off-site extension in collaboration with the Sounya Art Gallery during their photography week.

Strong Territorial Roots

The Val d'Ocre — the name of the new municipality formed in 2016 by combining Saint-Aubin-Château-Neuf and several neighboring communes — is a rural territory in Puisaye-Forterre, in northern Yonne. Far from the usual cultural circuits, this area has turned its rurality into a strength: the Photographic Days offer an intimate and authentic experience, where one takes the time to look, discuss, and marvel. The festival contributes to the cultural influence of the entire Yonne department and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.