association eclat
The history of the Festival of Aurillac is a unique element within the French cultural landscape. Created in 1986 and deliberately set in a rural territory, it quickly established itself as one of the main performing arts events in France, a reference for public authorities, and sets the standard for street theatre both internationally and within Europe.
Michel Crespin followed by Jean-Marie Songy and their teams opened the festival programme to various art forms and created strong and sustainable relationships with street artists. This festival was built thanks to and with the artists from this sector of the performing arts. Since the beginning, the number of companies has never ceased to grow: in 1986, Aurillac welcomed 6 official companies and 0 ‘compagnie de passage’ (from the OFF festival); today, the official programme gathers an average of 20 companies, a programme well-known for its quality and its opening to all and to every form of expression. More than 600 companies de passage come to perform as well, putting together the big street arts market and making the Festival of Aurillac an outstanding event of artistic creation, research and diffusion.
The number of people attending the event confirms its success. During the festival, Aurillac triples its population: more than 100.000 people cross paths, during the 4 days. We meet there a vast and inter-generational audience, representing all social classes. The inhabitants of Aurillac and its surrounding areas made the festival their own as well. Through their attendance each year, Aurillac’s inhabitants have gradually got fonder and more knowledgeable of street theatre. This is highlighted by the immediate and growing success of the ‘Préalables’ (initiated in 1999), a programme of shows performed in the weeks leading to the Festival in towns and villages in the Aurillac area, county and region, even bordering counties.
In 2004, the Parapluie, first creation centre built from scratch and dedicated to street theatre, opened its doors in Naucelles. The Association Eclat runs the space.
MICHEL CRESPIN – Founder of the Festival in 1986
He creates the Théâtracide company in 1973 with Bernard Maître, Jean-Marie Binoche and his brother Claude Crespin. Together, they experiment with the actor play in public space and practice the ‘tour de force’ in a reinvented form with burlesque humour that makes them famous.
In 1974, Michel Crespin takes part in Aix, open city to acrobats and entertainers, a festive and popular event imagined by jean Digne, then director of Aix Local Theatre.
That same year, he creates the fairground theatre act Monsieur Roger et Madame Lucie with actress and dancer Puce – Annick Hémon. Streets become his playground.
In 1976, Théâtracide teams up with the F.B.I company, directed by Guenolé Azertiope, to become Les Charmeurs réunis. It is with this company that he explores all possibilities offered by public space. With a multidisciplinary approach, he proposes great-scale ephemeral forms, creating new performing codes.
In 1980, Michel Crespin organizes La Falaise des fous, a leading event that shapes the figure of the new acrobat and entertainer. Activist amongst the activists, he becomes the leader of an artistic movement that he will defend his entire life.
In 1983, he creates Lieux Publics (National Creation Centre for Street Arts), a production and support tool for artists.
In the 1980s, the number of companies and artists stating themselves as part of the street theatre movement explodes as well as their needs. While a golden age based on a popular appetite appears, street arts are not recognized as an artistic discipline in itself by the Ministry of Culture. It lacks of a large-scale event allowing professionals to unite, to defend their vales, prove their legitimacy and their ability to gather a large audience. The idea of a festival dedicated to street arts only grows in Michel Crespin’s head.
It is in Aurillac in 1986 that he creates the Eclat Festival, European street theatre festival, which will become the International Street Theatre Festival of Aurillac 10 years later.
He directs the Festival until 1993, then hands it over to Jean-Marie Songy.
Michel Crespin never ceases to operate for recognition and legitimacy of street arts as a creative field in itself and creates and creates the FAI-AR (Advanced Itinerant Training course for Street Arts) in 2002, which remains so far, the only training course in this discipline.
Authentic founding father, he has permitted the development of street arts and shaped the discipline to its actual form.
JEAN-MARIE SONGY – Artistic director from 1986 to 2018
In 1981, Jean-Marie Songy and Michèle Berg found the Turbulence company, multidisciplinary artists collective based in Châlons-en-Champagne. While directing Turbulence, he acts, dances and work with other companies. In 1988, Turbulence performs at the Festival of Aurillac as part of the official programme and comes back in 1989 as an invited Compagnie de Passage.
In 1990 he creates Furies, Street Theatre and Circus Festival in Châlons-en-Champagne, which he still directs today. That same year, he meets again with Michel Crespin at the Festival of Aurillac and becomes his assistant. Michel Crespin will hand him over the Festival direction in 1994.
Jean-Marie Songy also directs other festivals: Spectacles de Grands Chemins in Ax-les-Thermes (since its creation in 1998), 1er Mai at the Familistère Godin in Guise (since 2001), Sorties de rue, Street Theatre Festival in St Jean de Védas (from 2006 to 2008). He also directed the 6th edition of Nuit Blanche in Paris in 2007, with the complicity of Jérôme Delormas.
Jean-Marie Songy was artistic and stage design advisor for various events: Nice Carnival in 1997, the Football World Cup in 1998 (programming of bands and street theatre companies around stadiums), Les Portes de l’An 2000 in Paris (designing of company Azanie’s wheel).
Michel Crespin followed by Jean-Marie Songy and their teams opened the festival programme to various art forms and created strong and sustainable relationships with street artists. Since its creation in 1986, the Festival of Aurillac remains a leading event with an independent spirit, artistic ambitions and an imaginary without limits.
An open city for street artists.
FREDERIC REMY – Director since 2019
1986 : 1st edition of the European Street Theatre Festival of Aurillac. Founded by Michel Crespin, the festival is organized and produced by Lieux Publics with the cooperation of ACADA.
1988 : the duration of the festival increases from 3 to 4 days.
1989 : the Association Eclat is created and takes over from Lieux Publics to organize and produce the Street Theatre Festival of Aurillac.
1994 : Jean-Marie Songy becomes the Artistic Director of the Association ECLAT after having worked for several years alongside Michel Crespin.
1996 : The European Street Theatre Festival of Aurillac become the International Street Theatre Festival of Aurillac.
1999 : the Association Eclat initiates the Préalables. Thought of as a pre-festival programme, a preview of the festival’s frenzy, the Préalables features some companies from the Festival official programme who come and perform in towns and villages around Aurillac, in the county or region.
2004 : the Parapluie, 1st creation centre built from scratch and dedicated to street theatre opens its doors in Naucelles. It is certified CNAR (National Centre for Street Arts)
2017 : the Association Eclat is certified CNAREP (National Centre for Street Arts and Arts in Public Space).
2019 : Frédéric Remy becomes the Director of the Association ECLAT
1988-1989
YvonBec
1990-1992
MireilleLacombe
1993-1994
Pierre-JeanAndrieu
1995-2004
JackCaldefie
2005-2010
LouisJoinet
2011-2014
CatherineTasca
2014-2018
PhilippeMeyer
Depuis déc. 2019
FrançoiseNyssen
A founding member : Mr Michel Crespin, deceased (2014)
An honorary member : Mr Louis Joinet, deceased (2019)
8 full members :
- 2 representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Communication : Mr Marc Drouet (Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes Regional Director of Cultural Affairs) and Mrs Flavie Lejemtel
- The President of Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes’ County Council or her representative : Mr Bruno Faure
- The President of Aurillac area urban community : Mr Pierre Mathonier
- A Community Advisor of Aurillac area urban community : Mrs Patricia Benito
- A Community Advisor (from the City Council) of Aurillac area urban community : Mrs Magali Maurel
- The Mayor of Aurillac : Monsieur Pierre Mathonier or his representative, Mr Frédéric Serager
4 associated members :
- The TRANSFO : vacant position, the structure no longer exists
- The associated company contracted with the city of Aurillac : vacant position, there is no longer an associated company
- Emile Duclaux high school : Mr David Ballieu
- The CEMEAs Auvergne : Mrs Isabelle Watenne
5 qualified members :
- A representative of private partners : the representative of ENEDIS or her representative : Mr Alain Riehl
- A personality undertaking programming activities : Mrs Fabienne Aulagnier
- An artistic personality from the street arts sector : Mr Amédée Renoux
- 2 qualified members : Mrs Françoise Nyssen and Mr Jean-Dominique Prieur
A founding member : Mr Michel Crespin, deceased (2014)
7 full members :
- 2 representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Communication : Mr Marc Drouet (Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes Regional Director of Cultural Affairs) and Mrs Flavie Lejemtel
- The President of Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes’ County Council or her representative : Mr Bruno Faure
- The President of Aurillac area urban community : Mr Pierre Mathonier
- A Community Advisor (from the City Council) of Aurillac area urban community : Mrs Magali Maurel
- The Mayor of Aurillac : Monsieur Pierre Mathonier or his representative, Mr Frédéric Serager
1 associated member :
- The associated company contracted with the city of Aurillac : vacant position, there is no longer an associated company
3 qualified members :
- A representative of private partners : the representative of ENEDIS or her representative : Mr Alain Riehl
- A personality undertaking programming activities : Mrs Fabienne Aulagnier
- 1 qualified member : Mrs Françoise Nyssen