Laon becomes an open-air gallery

For a week, Laon turns into an open-air gallery. From June 15 to 21, seventeen artists from the four corners of the world will make the city’s facades their canvas for the 5th edition of the International Urban Arts Festival. An edition which deliberately chooses to shine the spotlight on the creators, through new collaborations and committed works. Their creations will be added to the 64 frescoes strewn throughout the city over the course of the editions previous ones.

From traveling workshops to battles, a 100% free week

The kick-off was given on Monday June 15, with the arrival of the artists and the first bomb blasts on the walls. Traveling workshops come from the Île-de-France, Montreuil, Abbaye St-Martin and Champagne districts: visual creation with MC Baldassari, introduction to mixing with Space Caravan and dance with Racines Carrées.

Powerful programming

The programming ramps up on Saturday June 20. The day opens at 11:30 a.m. with an opening and a discussion on the place of women in urban art, at the Cloître St-Martin, followed by an electronic nap at the Petit St-Vincent at 3 p.m., a performance by Margaux Toqué at 5:30 p.m., then a major Talent Show on the square in front of the cathedral from 8 p.m. Hip-hop, roller skating, contemporary dance, freestyle football and Battle All Style take place there, before a DJ set until 11 p.m. The week ends on Sunday June 21 with a big day of finalizing the paintings, the opportunity to travel around the city to meet the artists at work. On the boutique side, a Shop set up from Wednesday to Sunday at the Tourist Office will offer original works, prints and goodies. The only paid event in the program, the Racines Carrées show, on Friday evening, can be reserved at the Maison des Arts et Loisirs. <!–

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