Un Été Ornais Contemporain

A dialogue between contemporary art and heritage

The ambition of Un Été Ornais Contemporain is to create a fruitful dialogue between today's artistic creation and the historical heritage of Orne. By exhibiting contemporary works in historically rich locations — churches, castles, manors, abbeys, private mansions —, the program invites visitors to see these sites with fresh eyes and to discover contemporary art in an unexpected and stimulating context.

The Departmental Fund for Contemporary Art (FDAC) of Orne, with its collection of several hundred works acquired over the years, forms the foundation of this program. The collection's works are complemented by invitations to artists who create specific pieces resonating with the locations.

About fifteen exhibitions throughout the territory

The program covers the entire department with about fifteen exhibition sites spread across the main towns and villages of Orne:

• Alençon: Hôtel du Département, municipal cultural spaces
• Argentan: heritage sites and exhibition spaces
• Bagnoles-de-l'Orne: castle, Belle Époque villas, park
• Sées: cathedral and historical buildings
• Villages of Perche and Bocage: manors, farms, rural buildings

This geographical dispersion makes the trail a true invitation to discover the territory, encouraging visitors to travel through the roads of Orne and combine exhibition visits with the discovery of heritage and landscapes.

Nationally renowned artists

Each summer, the FDAC invites renowned visual artists to exhibit their works or create new pieces for the program. Painting, sculpture, installation, photography, video, digital art: all forms of contemporary expression are represented, offering the public a rich and varied panorama of current creation.

Artists are present during openings and meetings, allowing for direct exchange with the public and a better understanding of their artistic approaches.

A complete cultural program

Guided tours, lectures, and workshops accompany the exhibitions throughout the summer, deepening the discovery of the works and artists. The Arts en Cités initiative selects works from the FDAC to present them in about ten Orne municipalities, thus multiplying access to contemporary art throughout the territory. The entire program is free.