An open-air scene for all of Gironde
Supported by the Department, the Summer Scenes in Gironde are celebrating their 23rd edition this year. It’s hard to miss out: 300 dates are lined up between June and September across 150 municipalities, from the coast to the countryside. The goal is clear: to make culture accessible to everyone, especially in rural or less-served areas.
And the audience is all in: every summer, around 345,000 spectators attend these cultural events in sometimes unusual places, like a mill, a ferry, or an old railway track. “It’s a way to bring culture closer to people, right into the heart of community life.”, emphasizes Martine Jardiné, Vice President of the Department in charge of.of cultural life and associative dynamics.
17 shows on tour, 51 supported festivals
Alongside special events, 17 "on tour" shows will be traveling through the Gironde communities all summer long. Selected through a project call launched every spring, they receive logistical and financial support from the Department. Over 35,000 spectators get to enjoy these performances, which are sometimes unique and often unforgettable.
From jazz to street theater, and even creations in Occitan, this program stands out for its diversity and its aim to highlight the local scene. In 2025, it will bring together Koko Loko, Slowfest Orchestra, and The Gluteens. The 51 partner festivals (Fest’Arts, Nuits Atypiques, Jazz 360, Ouvre la Voix…) also benefit from the Summer Scenes label, gaining financial support and increased visibility.
An eco-responsible cultural policy
A new strong focus of the initiative: ecology. In 2024, several pilot festivals tested concrete solutions to reduce their carbon footprint, with .jpg)
The Department also offers rates tailored to each municipality, depending on its size, and can fund up to 40% of the cost of a performance, with technical support from IDDAC (the Department's cultural agency). The result? Every summer, there’s always a show nearby.
Culture to Illuminate the Area
With this program, Gironde is committed to a local, inclusive, and vibrant culture. The performances labeled as Scènes d’Été promote artistic employment, strengthen local dynamics, and allow very diverse audiences to connect with various artistic forms, often set in picturesque or heritage environments.
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“Who wants to travel far stays in Gironde”: this slogan for the 2025 edition captures the ambition of this one-of-a-kind program.