Les Photographiques

Les Photographiques: Contemporary Photography at the Heart of Le Mans

Founded in 1988 under the name Festival de l'image, the Les Photographiques festival is one of the oldest photography festivals in France. Supported by the association Festival de l'image, chaired by Freddy Coudray, it celebrates contemporary photography every spring in all its diversity: documentary, artistic, and engaged.

A Multi-Site Festival Throughout the Agglomeration

Les Photographiques takes over about ten remarkable venues in Le Mans and its surrounding area. The Centre des expositions Paul Courboulay, the festival's main venue, hosts the major exhibitions. The Collégiale Saint-Pierre-la-Cour, ESAD Talm Le Mans, the Médiathèque Louise Michel in Allonnes, the Centre d'art Île MoulinSart in Fillé-sur-Sarthe, and the Parc Théodore-Monod in Le Mans complete a rich and varied exhibition trail.

A Demanding Selection of Authors

Each edition brings together about fifteen photographers selected for the quality and originality of their work. The festival highlights works of great plasticity and pictorial quality, exploring the boundaries between photography, painting, and visual arts. An annual call for authors and a photographic residency program allow for the discovery of emerging artists alongside established photographers.

Openings, Meetings, and Conferences

Beyond the exhibitions, Les Photographiques offers festive openings, meetings with photographers, conferences, and debates on contemporary imagery. The festival also organizes guided tours of the exhibitions and educational workshops for schoolchildren and young audiences.