Les mARTmites

Art and Agriculture in Dialogue in the Villages of Haute-Provence

Born in 2015 from the desire to create bridges between the agricultural world and artistic creation, the festival Les mARTmites is an itinerant cultural adventure that travels through the rural villages of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Supported by the association of the same name, based in Forcalquier, the festival sets up each year in farms, village squares, and unique locations in the territory of the Montagne de Lure and the community of communes of Forcalquier, to offer a rich and accessible artistic program for everyone.

Farms Transformed into Open-Air Stages

The festival found its roots at the Ferme des Gipières in Cruis, an organic sheep cheese farm run by Céline Drouin and Florentin Schaal. In this bucolic setting, festival-goers discover world music concerts, circus and theater performances, dance performances, and artistic installations, while participating in farm tours and cheese-making workshops. Over the years, the festival has spread to other villages such as Saint-Maime, Revest-des-Brousses, and Saint-Étienne-les-Orgues, remaining true to its nomadic spirit.

An Eclectic and Participatory Program

Each edition of Les mARTmites offers a program that blends world music (Ecuadorian percussion, Burkinabe music, Cajun folk, gypsy jazz), street arts (clown, magic, storytelling), creative workshops (wild basketry, beatbox, mural painting, poetic writing, wild plant candy making), and traditional dances. The festival pays particular attention to young audiences with storytelling shows, farm discovery tours, and workshops adapted for children. Among the artists hosted are Fidel Minda (Ecuadorian percussionist), Patrick Kabré (musician from Burkina Faso), Céline Etter, the Zoulouzbek Band, and the collective Folk You.

A Local Banquet and Values of Sharing

True to the spirit of the festival, the banquets offer meals made from local and seasonal products, often from the host farm or neighboring producers. Shared picnics, artisanal crêpes, pizzas from the Longo Maï community, and méchouis complement the culinary offerings. The festival operates on a "pay-what-you-want" basis, ensuring access to culture for everyone in these sometimes isolated rural areas.

La mARTmite Nomade: A Sociocultural Project Rooted in the Territory

Beyond the festival, the association Les mARTmites develops La mARTmite nomade, an itinerant sociocultural project that offers cultural events throughout the year in villages with fewer than 1,500 inhabitants: Tuesday programming ("Youpi c'est mardi"), workshops for toddlers ("Le mardi des tous petits"), artistic creation residencies, and participatory film screenings. Approved by the CAF (Family Allowance Fund) as a social living space, the association works to strengthen social and cultural ties in rural areas.