Les Moissons d'Été

A festival born from the land and the performing arts

Les Moissons d'Été is the annual festival supported by the Centre Culturel Marie-France Meunier, located in the heart of the Ferme du Grand Béon in Soucy, in the Yonne region. This extraordinary artistic living space, born from the conversion of a former farmhouse into a cultural venue, hosts artists in residence, theater companies, dancers, and musicians every year, who come to create and present their work to the public of the Yonne and its surroundings.

The festival, which takes place in September, offers public showcases of these artistic residencies conducted throughout the season. It is a unique opportunity for the public to discover creations in their nascent state, in the warm atmosphere of a preserved rural setting, far from the usual distribution circuits.

A multidisciplinary and demanding program

The program of Les Moissons d'Été embraces all forms of contemporary performing arts:

• Theater: contemporary creations, text-based plays, stage performances
• Contemporary dance: residency showcases, works in progress, solos, and collectives
• Music: closing concerts of musical residencies, amplified music, jazz, world music
• Circus and street arts: outdoor performances in the farm courtyard
• Shows for young audiences: specific programming for children and families

Each edition features about ten shows spread over ten days, with daytime and evening slots to fit all schedules. The intimate capacity of the venue fosters interaction between artists and spectators, and post-show discussions are encouraged.

The Ferme du Grand Béon: a unique creation space

The Ferme du Grand Béon is much more than just a performance venue. This renovated farmhouse, surrounded by meadows and gardens, houses a modular performance space, creation workshops, accommodation for artists in residence, and a friendly bar offering carefully prepared food. The rural architecture of the place, with its barns, paved courtyards, and unobstructed views of the Icaunais countryside, lends a special atmosphere to the performances that cannot be found anywhere else.

The cultural center is named after Marie-France Meunier, founder and guiding spirit of this artistic and human project. Her commitment to cultural democratization in rural areas and contemporary artistic creation continues to inspire the programming of the venue and Les Moissons d'Été.

A highlight of the cultural life of the Yonne

In a department where rural culture is vibrant but contemporary creation venues are few, Les Moissons d'Été plays an essential role. The festival attracts a loyal audience from all over southern Yonne—Sens, Joigny, Auxerre—and beyond, as well as families from surrounding villages. The quality of the artists hosted and the warm atmosphere of the venue make it an anticipated event, contributing to the cultural influence of this territory between Burgundy and Île-de-France.