L'Événement Photographique

Contemporary photography in dialogue with the city

L'Événement Photographique is a contemporary photography biennale organized by the Nouvel Observatoire Photographique du Grand Est (NOP-GE). Every two years, this major event takes over Nancy and its metropolitan area to offer a rich and demanding photographic journey, blending established artists and emerging talents.

More than thirty artists exhibited

Each edition hosts more than thirty photographers, selected through three channels: artists invited by the artistic direction, photographers selected following an open call for applications, and winners of the Grand Est Young Photography Creation Grant. This diversity of profiles guarantees a broad and stimulating panorama of contemporary photography.

A unifying theme

Each edition is structured around a philosophical and poetic theme. The 3rd edition (2025) explored the theme “H₂O between Scylla and Charybdis”, addressing the symbolic and poetic dimension of our relationship with the planet, the environment, and society through the prism of water.

Decentralized exhibitions

One of the strengths of L'Événement Photographique is the decentralization of its exhibitions in numerous cultural venues across the Nancy metropolitan area:

• L'Octroi — main festival site
• CCAM – Scène Nationale de Vandœuvre
• Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy
• Jardin Botanique Jean-Marie Pelt
• L'Autre Canal

Support for emerging creation

L'Événement Photographique places a special emphasis on young creation through the Grand Est Young Photography Creation Grant. This initiative allows young photographers from the region to benefit from financial support and visibility within the festival.

The Nouvel Observatoire Photographique du Grand Est

The festival is driven by NOP-GE, an organization dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of contemporary photography in the Grand Est region. Based in Nancy, NOP-GE carries out in-depth work to support photographic creation, coordinating exhibitions, residencies, publications, and mediation activities.