Les Arts'Osés — Hip-hop and urban cultures festival

Fifteen years of urban cultures at the foot of the castle

Since its creation in 2011, Les Arts'Osés has grown to become the main festival dedicated to urban cultures in the north of Deux-Sèvres. Organized by the Centre Socio-culturel du Thouarsais, the event takes over the esplanade of the Thouars castle every June, a remarkable site overlooking the Thouet valley, for two days of celebration dedicated to hip-hop, rap, electro, breakdance, and street sports.

The festival celebrates the diversity of urban cultures in all their dimensions: musical, choreographic, sporting, and visual. On stage, nationally renowned artists rub shoulders with emerging talents and local artists from the Thouarsais region, in a program that rejects labels and embraces all the aesthetics of the city. Breakdance battles, rap concerts, electro DJ sets, street basketball, asphalt sports demonstrations, and graphic arts exhibitions make up an eclectic and unifying program.

An accessible and committed festival

Les Arts'Osés upholds the values of the Socio-cultural Center that organizes it: accessibility, social diversity, and cultural openness. Prices are deliberately kept low, with discounts for students, minors, and job seekers, and free admission for children under 12. A campsite is available on the festival site, allowing festival-goers to experience the full two-day event.

The festival is also committed to being eco-responsible, with recycling facilities, reusable tableware, and public awareness campaigns on environmental issues. The music competition, organized before the festival, offers a stage to young local artists, making Les Arts'Osés a true springboard for the local urban scene.