Le Tout Petit Festival

Le Tout Petit Festival: Artistic Awakening for Toddlers in Erdre et Gesvres

Since 2008, Le Tout Petit Festival has been the major cultural event dedicated to early childhood in the territory of the Communauté de communes d'Erdre et Gesvres, north of Nantes. Born from a strong political will to place the cultural awakening of young children at the heart of the territorial project, this biennial festival offers toddlers—from 3 months old—and their caregivers the chance to share their first artistic emotions together.

A Project Born from a Community Charter

Faced with strong demographic growth and the demands of early childhood professionals, the elected officials of Erdre et Gesvres developed a community charter for welcoming young children based on three pillars: training for professionals, intervention by artists in childcare facilities, and a unifying cultural highlight. Le Tout Petit Festival has thus become the most visible part of an ambitious policy supported by the DRAC, the Région Pays de la Loire, the Département de Loire-Atlantique, and the CAF.

Twelve Towns, One Week of Shows

Each edition unfolds over a full week in October, taking place in the twelve towns of the territory: Casson, Fay-de-Bretagne, Grandchamp-des-Fontaines, Héric, Les Touches, Nort-sur-Erdre, Notre-Dame-des-Landes, Petit-Mars, Saint-Mars-du-Désert, Sucé-sur-Erdre, Treillières, and Vigneux-de-Bretagne. Performances are held in various venues: performance halls, media libraries, public gardens, crèches, childminder reception centers, and multi-activity centers, weaving a close link between the festival and the early childhood professional network.

A Multidisciplinary Program Adapted for Toddlers

Each edition, the festival invites about a dozen professional companies from all over France, offering creations specially designed for a very young audience. The disciplines represented encompass the full richness of performing arts: music, dance, object theater, puppetry, circus, mime, cine-concerts, and sensory awakening workshops. The shows are adapted by age group, from 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years old, allowing each child to have an experience tailored to them.

A Festival Supported by Hors Saison

Le Tout Petit Festival is organized by Hors Saison, the cultural programming structure of the Communauté de communes d'Erdre et Gesvres, under the coordination of Mickaël Bougault, Early Childhood Project Manager. Throughout the year, Hors Saison provides a program of shows for young audiences and families in the territory's towns, with the festival being the highlight. The early childhood network—childminders, crèches, daycare centers—is closely involved in the preparation and running of the festival.

Moments of Dreams and Poetry

As highlighted by psychologist Sophie Marinopoulos, a guest of the festival, culture is a "symbolic milk" that helps children grow healthily from birth. Le Tout Petit Festival thus offers tailor-made moments of dreams and poetry designed to awaken perceptions, nourish imagination, and stimulate the emotions of the youngest, in a caring atmosphere shared with parents and professionals.