Poetry of the Living

Embroidered Worlds – Floating Cities and the Universal Forest Event date : from Thursday 16 July 2026 until Wednesday 07 October 2026

Embroidery Workshop
With Morgane Arcent, visual artist and embroidery artist

Natural beauty and poetic curiosities inspire Morgane Arcent, also known as Morfée. Her dreamlike universe, which invites visitors to escape into the imagination and resonates perfectly with the embroidered artworks on display at the museum, can be discovered in her pop-up studio at the heart of the exhibition. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of artistic embroidery through a hands-on introduction.

Thursdays, July 16 & 30 and August 13 & 27 – From 2:30 p.m.
Open to all | Included with admission to the Château-Museum

Art Embroiderers Unbound
Artists’ Village

What if textile arts could take shape through a rich diversity of artistic expressions, materials, and original creations combining poetry, imaginary worlds, living forms, and technical mastery? Set in the château gardens, the Artists’ Village promises creativity, discovery, and inspiration. Visitors are invited to contribute to a collaborative embroidery project while exploring embroidery techniques from around the world alongside committed textile artists.

At 4:00 p.m., enjoy a concert by the Angers-based trio Kalahari, whose repertoire blends jazz and folk influences with vocal harmonies inspired by musical traditions from around the world.

Featuring artists Cécile Palusinski and Elsa Mroziewicz, together with the collective Les Fileuses.

Tuesday, August 25, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. | Kalahari concert at 4:00 p.m. (1 hour)
Open to all | Free admission

Children’s Museum Wednesday
With Sylvain Quément, DJ at Radio Minus

Children are invited to experience the museum through mondopop and become the queens and kings of the dance floor in the château’s main courtyard! The music and musical styles will echo the artworks they discover alongside visual artist Elsa Mroziewicz. A pop-up card workshop will take place before the DJ set.

With the participation of Elsa Mroziewicz.

Wednesday, October 7, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Open to all | Included with admission to the Château-Museum

Creativity and Commitment: Inspiring Solutions

Saturday, July 4, 2026 | 2:00–6:00 p.m.

Filming, photographing and capturing the sounds of living things to reveal their beauty and magic, whilst promoting and protecting our environment – these are the themes that will underpin the exceptional events scheduled for one afternoon at the Château-Musée. Two round-table discussions on the worlds of forests and oceans will bring together scientists, artists and specialist technicians.

Featuring Marc Namblard, a renowned audio-naturalist and César Award winner for the sound design of the film *Le chant des forêts*; Romain Saudubois, director of the documentary series *Espaces sensibles*; and François Gay, director of the Bioparc, whose commitment to numerous programmes for the conservation of endangered species around the world is well known to the public.

Pascal Girault will be exhibiting his wildlife photographs, particularly those of the protected species found in the Méron reserve and the Joreau and Monteaux wetlands.

In the presence of artists Cécile Palusinski and Elsa Mroziewicz

Performance and creative work on the theme of the oceans by Sophie Baranes, actress (subject to confirmation)

In partnership with the Environment Department of the Saumur Val de Loire Urban Community

Suitable for all ages | Free admission

Programme

2:00 p.m. – OPENING
Creativity and Commitment: Inspiring Solutions

2:30 p.m. – "FORESTS" PANEL DISCUSSION
Moderator: Estelle Géraud, Chief Heritage Curator and Director of the Château-Museum of Saumur

Alice Quéré, Curator of the Méron Champagne Regional Nature Reserve, Saumur Val de Loire Urban Community
Romain Saudubois, writer and filmmaker of the nature documentary series Sensitive Spaces: Living Together with the Living World
Marc Namblard, nature sound recordist and recipient of the César Award for Best Sound for The Velvet Queen (La Panthère des neiges), directed by Vincent Munier and Marie Amiguet, winner of the César Award for Best Documentary Film
François Gay, Director of the Doué-la-Fontaine Bioparc, ranked by National Geographic as the world's second most ethical zoo
Cécile Palusinski, writer and sound artist
Elsa Mroziewicz, visual artist and animation filmmaker

3:45 p.m. – BREAK & PHOTO EXHIBITION

Photographer Pascal Girault presents a selection of wildlife photographs featuring protected and endangered species from the region, with a particular focus on the Méron Nature Reserve and the Joreau and Monteaux wetlands.

4:15 p.m. – "OCEANS" PANEL DISCUSSION
Moderator: Estelle Géraud, Chief Heritage Curator and Director of the Château-Museum of Saumur

Séverine Lacombe, Head of the Environment Department, Saumur Val de Loire Urban Community
Sophie Baranes, actress, co-founder and Artistic Director of the cultural association Blue Wave Project
Agnès Bellaches, co-founder, Production Director and Coordinator of the cultural association Blue Wave Project
Cécile Palusinski, writer and sound artist
Elsa Mroziewicz, visual artist and animation filmmaker

5:30 p.m. – PERFORMANCE: LISTEN TO THE WATER

For the first time, actress Sophie Baranes and nature sound recordist Marc Namblard perform together, based on a text by François Sarano, The Return of Moby Dick – What Sperm Whales Teach Us About the Oceans and Humanity.

5:45 p.m. – CLOSING
Creativity and Commitment: Inspiring Solutions