Metz Constellations Meetings

2026 marks a turning point for the international Constellations festival in Metz. This tenth edition brings together public space, urban arts, and digital cultures, having become a local and international benchmark.

This past decade therefore invites us to question and measure the festival's impact, primarily for artists and partner organizations. Paradoxically, while the digital culture sector seems to be reaching a form of maturity, the economic context of culture is becoming fragile. Therefore, a question arises: how to consolidate achievements and support the artistic creation of tomorrow.

These meetings invite us to question artistic practices, draw inspiration from peer initiatives, and imagine new horizons. We will discuss support programs, residencies, creative freedom, European collaboration, and economic models.

‍

DAY'S SCHEDULE

Day hosted by: Céline Berthoumieux & Adrien Cornelissen

‍

8:30 AM - Welcome coffee

‍

9:00 AM - Introduction to the day

‍

9:30 AM - 10 years of creation in public spaces: What a journey!

A look back at ten editions of an extraordinary festival that has transformed public space into a ground for experimentation and artistic reappropriation. How have the creative challenges evolved over the editions? What moments have left their mark and redefined the uses of the city? Through memories and analyses, this session invites us to reflect on the journey so far… to better imagine the next ten years.

‍

10:15 AM - Supporting and training emerging talents in the region

An international-scale festival, Constellations first takes root in a regional ecosystem where artistic emergence is built collectively. At the heart of this dynamic, art schools train the artists of tomorrow, balancing experimentation in public spaces and exploration of digital environments. How are these future professionals prepared? And how do initiatives like the Nova Prize, driven by the DRAC, help to highlight new talents from schools in the Grand Est region? Testimonials from artists, educational leaders, and stakeholders involved in cultural policies.

In partnership with and with the support of the DRAC Grand Est.

‍

11 AM - Cross-border collaboration, unity is strength

Presentation of the GRACE cross-border residency program through pitches by award-winning artists, and CinEuro, a cross-border program dedicated to European film and audiovisual policies. Amidst the exchange of ideas and shared experiences, one thing is certain: structuring the digital and urban arts sector relies on the power of collective action.

‍

11:25 AM - Break

‍

11:40 AM - Creative Freedom, a Threatened Right

Ensconced in French law, creative freedom is regularly undermined. But what are we really talking about? Where are its limits, and how can its exercise be guaranteed, especially in public spaces? At a time when public censorship is re-emerging (and with it, phenomena of self-censorship), this discussion explores the tensions at play in urban and digital creation. To defend creative freedom is also to keep it vibrant.

‍

12:30 PM - Lunch

‍

1:30 PM - "Work in Progress" Sessions

Presentation of works in progress. Meet the artists (registration required).

‍

2:30 PM - Participatory Sessions (choose one)

Blueprint for the Grand Est Creative Hub

The Grand Est Region aims to become a hub for digital creation, following in the footsteps of the first hubs launched in 2025. But what could this future hub look like? What unique characteristics should it embody, and which stakeholders should it bring together? Between structuring an ecosystem and choosing methodologies, this meeting collectively outlines the contours of this foundational project.

Imagining the Festival of the Future?

Historically, digital arts festivals have been essential laboratories for the emergence of digital forms. Today, as new venues for dissemination emerge, how can the role of festivals be reinvented? Will they still hold the same place tomorrow? This participatory session opens the debate on economic models, governance methods, and possible futures.

Creating in Public Spaces: What's Allowed... and What's Not

Creation in public spaces is governed by rules set by the Architects of Bâtiments de France, which are often not well understood by artists. But how does it really work? Dialogue is invaluable for better grasping the constraints, responsibilities, and perspectives of all involved.

‍

4 PM - Break

‍

4:10 PM - Your Choice

Spotlight on Stories: Mapping that Engages Young People!

Video mapping transforms public spaces into a narrative and artistic medium. This panel brings together professionals from the Greater Region to discuss a strategic challenge: using storytelling to transmit knowledge, by leveraging emotion to reach and engage a young audience, balancing innovation, creativity, and freedom of expression.

Experience Sharing

Here, you won't find a user manual or a ready-made solution. Instead, professionals will share their real-world experiences on diverse and very practical topics. Successes, doubts, and sometimes detours. Because often, peers are the best ones to talk about it.

Structuring and Professionalizing Cultural and Artistic Activities

From project management to communication, administration, and marketing, we shine a spotlight on the back office of creation. This is an open and frank discussion about the needs and tips for effective project structuring and professionalizing artistic careers, featuring insights from 3 alumni of the Fluxus Incubator.

5 PM - "Work in Progress" Sessions

Presentation of works in progress. Meet the artists by registration.

‍

‍

These meetings are developed as part of the GRACE project, dedicated to making artistic education accessible to all residents of the Greater Region, and financially supported by the European Union's Interreg Greater Region 2021–2027 program.