Printemps des Poètes Val-d'Oise

Printemps des Poètes Val-d'Oise: Poetry Everywhere

The Printemps des Poètes in Val-d'Oise is the departmental version of the Printemps des Poètes, the largest national event dedicated to poetry, created in 1999 and coordinated nationally by the association of the same name. Every year in March, for two weeks, poetry takes over thousands of venues across France. In Val-d'Oise, this event finds a particular echo in a department that maintains close ties with literary and poetic creation.

The department's libraries and media libraries play a central role in organizing local events. With a highly developed public reading network, Val-d'Oise has numerous media libraries that offer readings, poetic writing workshops, exhibitions, and meetings with authors. These events are open to everyone and are most often free.

An Annual Theme Explored Locally

Each edition of the Printemps des Poètes is placed under an annual theme – 'The Bird', 'Living Bodies', 'Furies and Delights', etc. – which inspires the local programmers of Val-d'Oise in their choice of invited poets and the forms proposed. This theme is an opportunity to create a dialogue between poetry and other art forms: music, visual arts, dance, or photography.

Poetry in Schools

The Printemps des Poètes places great importance on transmitting poetry to young audiences. In Val-d'Oise, interventions in primary schools, middle schools, and high schools allow poets to meet students, lead writing and public reading workshops, and bring poetry to life in ways other than through textbooks.

Unusual Venues and Poetic Heritage

Val-d'Oise has a rich poetic history: Guillaume Apollinaire lived in Stavelot, Francis Ponge stayed in the region, and the nature of Vexin and the banks of the Oise have inspired many writers. The Printemps des Poètes is an opportunity to explore this literary heritage and create links between poetry and the territory.

Varied Forms

Readings, slam, performances, poetry concerts, sound poetry, writing workshops, calligraphy exhibitions, and visual poetry: the Printemps des Poètes in Val-d'Oise explores all forms of contemporary poetry, from the most classic to the most experimental, to reach diverse audiences.