Presentation
The European Bienniale “Premières Rencontres : Art, petite enfance et spectacle vivant” (“First Encounters: Art, early childhood and live performance”) showcases contemporary European performances for very young audiences (0-3 years old) in approx. 15 partner cities in the Val-d’Oise (95), Seine-et-Marne (77) and Oise (60) districts, in the Greater Paris region in France. It is organised every two years over a period of 3-4 weeks in March and April.
A highlight, the European Forum, is also organised during which conferences, project presentations, debates and exhibitions take place over two days in Villiers-le-Bel.
Finally, training sessions for cultural and early childhood professionals are organised before, during and after the festival to allow a better knowledge and questionning of contemporary performing arts dedicated to young children.
The festival was born in 2004 from the will of artists contributing to :
- Furthering the reflection on European creation and stimulating the circulation of European artistic work for young children in the Île-de-France (Greater Paris) region
- An in-depth work through debates, training and exchanges on the sensitive and concrete knowledge of the child throughout Europe in a spirit of co-creation (involving parents, children and professionals)
- Strengthening a European and international network of artists and professionals in the field of culture and childhood in order to share strategies.
Since 2004, the festival PREMIÈRES RENCONTRES has been :
10 European Forums in Villiers-le-Bel
30 weeks of festival
In 16 to 20 cities in the Val-d’Oise (95), Seine-et-Marne (77), Oise (60) and Normandy (14) districts
European Forum 2018, photo credit ACTA
European and international speakers
Sophie Marinopoulos, photo credit Slaven Rébélo
Learning and participation projects : workshops and european artists residencies
Mammoet by Klankennest, photo credit Klankennest
A springboard for the circulation of European performances :
1090 performances out of which 438 from outside France
More than 76 000 spectators
What is that ? by Aaben Dans, photo credit Aaben Dans
425 participants to the “Early years, Art and Live Performance” training sessions
European Forum 2022, photo credit ACTA
Extensive media coverage and a positive image of the local commuity