Discover What Makes Les Ateliers Ouverts Forcalquier’s Most Wonderful Art Festival

The annual festival Les Ateliers Ouverts has become a must-attend event for both tourists and residents of Forcalquier and the surrounding area. The twelfth edition will take place from July 25 to 29, 2025, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Each year, nearly a thousand visitors attend this event and explore Forcalquier.

With thirty studios and galleries opening their doors throughout the town, the event presents a remarkable showcase of the region’s artistic creativity, highlighting local artists and artisans, as well as cultural figures who contribute to the town’s vibrant and generous spirit. It’s the perfect opportunity for the public not only to discover their work but also to acquire unique pieces.

The desire to share the passion for creativity through hands-on and participatory workshops is one of the highlights of this artistic gathering.

Festival Highlights

This year’s new features, for a preview of the festival:
• Official opening on Wednesday, July 23 at 7 pm, in the presence of Mayor David Gehant, Place du Bourguet.
• Outdoor photography exhibition. Cour des Artisans: From July 15 to 29
• Giant participatory painting: Place du Bourguet. The preliminary work will be officially unveiled on July 23. The finished work will be visible through Sunday, July 27.

Photo exhibit:

The temporary exhibit will be displayed on the railings of the Cour des Artisans. Photographs by Amélie Héroux and Sébastien Renard will spotlight the studios of Forcalquier’s artists and artisans. The exhibit will combine portraits of artists at work and workshop details, presented in the form of diptychs.

©Photo courtesy of the Mairie de Forcalquier

The Photographers:

Amélie Héroux spent her childhood in the countryside, surrounded by familiar scents and the vivid sensations of a natural environment that sparked her curiosity. From a young age, she developed a deep fascination with light, textures and colours around her—a sensitivity nurtured and refined over her secondary school years, where a course in audiovisual studies sharpened her eye. In Paris, she embarked on a career in artistic makeup and special effects, bringing fascinating materials to life and working in prestigious settings, including workshops, theatres and film studios.

Self-portrait ©Amélie Héroux

Later, she turned her attention to education, discovering the richness of human relationships and the field of psychology. A trip around the world further broadened her understanding of others, and with a camera in hand, she began capturing the souls and unique moments of those she met. As president of a charitable association, she experienced the power of images as a means of sharing. Today, trained in photography, she applies her sensitive eye to human-interest reportage, making each shot a vivid testimony—a personal and social story she invites others to explore.

©Sebastien Renard of LOeil du Goupil

Sébastien Renard, a Belgian-born nature photographer, fell in love with Haute-Provence in 2013 and has never left. Through his lens, he pays tribute to this adopted land by capturing its wildlife, flora, forms, and unique light, as well as the beauty of the town of Forcalquier, which he photographs with the same sensitivity.

Sébastien offers sustainable art prints on wood, paper, and textile—a poetic way to honour the Provençal landscape. His work is available at Les Mirettes, Place Martial Sicard, Forcalquier.

Giant Fresco on Place du Bourguet

As part of the festival, Place du Bourguet—the vibrant heart of Forcalquier—will be transformed by a monumental, ephemeral painting created by Lucy Allard and fellow artists from the Les Ateliers Forcalquier association. A 10m x 5m artwork will take shape on the ground, with the public invited to join the creative process on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

©Photo courtesy of the Mairie de Forcalquier

An Artistic Project Open to All

Inspired by a project previously carried out in local schools, Lucy is adapting this participatory work especially for the festival. The concept is simple, fun, and open to all ages: using stencils of human figures, participants fill in the shapes with paint, gradually bringing a joyful and colourful scene to life.

Around the figures, backgrounds can be painted, and everyone is encouraged to add personal touches—such as decorative flourishes, hair, clothing, glasses, jewelry, hats, and shoes. Each detail enriches the collective work, turning it into a lively tableau that reflects human diversity.

©Photo courtesy of the Mairie de Forcalquier

About Lucy Allard:

Based in her studio at the Hôtel d’Astier on Rue Marius Debout, Lucy Allard is a committed, generous, and passionate artist. Co-founder of Les Ateliers Forcalquier, she shares her skills by supporting fellow artists and engaging with children in schools. A graduate of the Beaux-Arts in Marseille, Lucy finds inspiration in everyday life and the vibrant cultural energy of Forcalquier: “I love filling my paintings with people!” she says.

Lucy Allard Photo ©Aurelien

Her expressive, colourful work evokes theatrical scenes filled with joy and vitality. Blending realism with dreamlike elements, she captures slices of life—carnivals, cafés, beaches, and intimate interiors—infused with humour, poetry, and human warmth.

Lucy’s dense, playful compositions combine elements of Fauvism and Cubism in a vibrant patchwork of forms and patterns. Bold colours, large formats, and a lively line reinforce the spontaneity of her work, creating an immediate and immersive visual experience.

Follow Lucy on Instagram.

The complete festival programme will be available on the Ateliers Ouvert association’s website.

Guest Author Bio:

Jeanne Belanger de Sainte Marie is a Franco-American artist and author-illustrator based in Forcalquier and Paris. Working primarily in watercolour—her favourite medium—she creates art inspired by a deep sense of wonder, celebrating nature’s splendour, the interplay of light and shadow, and the vibrant creativity found in everything from architecture to a child’s imagination.

Her work is exhibited and published on both sides of the Atlantic and figures in private collections as well as the collections of the Bibliothèque Forney in Paris (Art and Graphic Design Library) and the Mazza Museum at the University of Findlay, Ohio.

Jeanne’s website

Art in Forcalquier

Painters, sculptors, ceramists, jewellers, bookbinders, weavers, engravers, and illustrators will show the incredible creative enthusiasm of this Provencal town. The festival is a joyful and convivial opportunity to explore. Exhibitors will be listed on a map. A guide will give tours of the art route and exceptional places around the historic centre of Forcalquier, which was once the seat of the powerful Counts of Forcalquier and Provence.

Continue Reading About the Art Scene in Forcalquier

Sylvie Hooghe and Cécile Vitrant are jewellery creators based in Forcalquier, a town in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. Forcalquier offers many reasons to visit, including an impressive citadel and a pedestrian-friendly old centre, but the main reason is the concentration of artists’ workshops and boutiques. While you are in Forcalquier, stop by this new atelier-boutique.

Flavourful Route des Saveurs et des Senteurs

The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department is the road slightly less travelled but not undiscovered. With easy access to natural settings, this area is a perfect getaway with activities for sporty types, including mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, trail running, and more. Many family-run operations produce high-quality lamb, honey, legumes (such as lentils and chickpeas), grains, and truffles for those interested in gourmet products. The ‘Route des Saveurs et des Senteurs de Haute-Provence’ is a renowned discovery trail that combines artisanal, small-scale food products, unblemished countryside, and Provencal villages with an alpine flair. Route des Saveurs et des Senteurs is a must-do drive for any food lover interested in the tastes of Haute-Provence and its culinary and cultural heritage.

Visitor’s Guide Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

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