Rural Graff

Rural Graff: When Street Art Takes Over the Countryside

Born in 2025 on the initiative of the Lorenzo Padilla Foundation and the Community of Communes of Cléry, Betz, and Ouanne (3CBO), Rural Graff is a unique street art festival. Its ambition: to demonstrate that urban art is not just for big cities and that it can be a powerful lever for revitalizing rural areas. Under the artistic direction of Dave Baranes, the festival invites leading urban artists to create monumental frescoes on the walls of communes in eastern Loiret, between Montargis and Sens.

Ten Frescoes in Nine Communes

The concept of Rural Graff is as simple as it is spectacular: for four days, renowned national artists take over nine communes in the 3CBO territory to create live mural frescoes, right before the eyes of the residents. The participating communes — Courtenay, Château-Renard, Bazoches-sur-le-Betz, Chuelles, La Selle-en-Hermoy, La Selle-sur-le-Bied, Douchy-Montcorbon, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and Saint-Hilaire-les-Andrésis — are thus transformed into a true open-air museum, offering an unprecedented artistic trail through the Loiret countryside.

Leading Urban Artists

The first edition brought together six major artists from the French and international street art scene: Ardif, master of animal collage blending nature and mechanics; Cofee, an engaged artist with colorful and poetic frescoes; Jo Di Bona, famous for his pop portraits and monumental collages; Louyz, a specialist in large-format frescoes with vibrant colors; Onemizer, a graffiti virtuoso with abstract and explosive compositions; and Dave Baranes, the festival's artistic director and an accomplished artist, whose fresco already adorns the Passage du Cygne in Courtenay.

Hip-Hop, Workshops, and Camaraderie

Beyond the frescoes, Rural Graff offers a festive and participatory program. The old-school hip-hop evening is a highlight of the festival, with free concerts blending rap and hip-hop culture. The first edition hosted the legendary group Scred Connexion (Koma, Mokless, and DJ Idem), preceded by Sidney, an iconic figure of French hip-hop. A hip-hop dance demonstration by Karima Khelifi and the Compagnie Primitif completed this memorable evening.

Street art workshops open to all levels allow the public to learn graffiti and urban art techniques, guided by professional artists. These workshops embody the festival's philosophy: making art accessible to everyone, regardless of age or background.

A Lasting Legacy for the Territory

The frescoes created during the festival constitute a permanent artistic heritage. A fun tourist trail allows visitors to discover the works throughout the year, inviting them to explore the 3CBO territory from a new perspective. Furthermore, an exhibition dedicated to the artists is presented at the Galerie Solidaire of the Lorenzo Padilla Foundation, Passage du Cygne in Courtenay, throughout the summer, extending the artistic experience beyond the festival.