Les Décades de la Peinture

Les Décades de la Peinture: The Festival That Reveals Talents in Brioude

Since 2018, the Les Décades de la Peinture festival has established itself as a must-attend event for emerging contemporary art in Auvergne. Created by the Harpo's association, chaired by Julie Delobeau, this festival was born from a strong desire: to offer a showcase and a springboard for independent and emerging artists who struggle to find exhibition spaces. Every year in August, for ten days, the former Jean-Pradier school in Brioude transforms into a vast living art space in the heart of the town.

A Historic Venue in the Heart of Brioude

The festival takes place at the former Jean-Pradier school, located on Rue du Paradis, right in the town center of Brioude, opposite the town hall and Le Doyenné, a major contemporary art exhibition venue. This heritage setting provides an ideal backdrop for the works of the exhibiting artists, with its classrooms transformed into temporary galleries and its inner courtyard conducive to outdoor activities.

A One-of-a-Kind Exhibition-Competition

The heart of the festival is a group exhibition featuring around fifty selected artists. Painting, drawing, collage, engraving, and mixed media are showcased in an artistic trail open to all, free and accessible from 10 am to 6 pm daily. Visitors are invited to vote for their favorite artist to award the public's prize, a real recognition for the winners. The Harpo's association takes no commission on artwork sales, allowing artists to fully benefit from the fruits of their labor.

The Live-Painting Competition

A highlight of the festival, the live-painting competition invites established and amateur painters to create a work in real-time in front of the public. Open to all for a participation fee of €7, with canvas provided, this competition is awarded the Lions Club prize of €200. The creative energy generated during these live painting sessions is one of the public's most appreciated moments.

Workshops, Performances, and Activities for Everyone

Beyond the exhibitions, Les Décades de la Peinture offers a vibrant multidisciplinary program: acrylic painting, watercolor, engraving, calligraphy, and origami workshops for adults and children, a giant participatory fresco, life drawing and sketching classes. The festival also hosts concerts (jazz, world music), dance performances and theatrical improvisation, short film screenings, conferences on artist visibility on social media, and various artistic demonstrations. Honored guests and VIP artists enrich each edition with their works and presence.

An Accessible and Committed Festival

True to its values of openness and accessibility, the festival offers free entry to exhibitions. Workshops are offered at modest prices (from free to €15). The venue is accessible to people with reduced mobility, and reception facilities are provided for hearing and visually impaired individuals. Les Décades de la Peinture benefits from the support of the City of Brioude, the Department of Haute-Loire, and local partners committed to promoting culture and the arts.