Since 2010, the Central Vapeur association has been dedicated to promoting and disseminating graphic arts such as illustration, comics, contemporary drawing, and graphic design. By bringing together the expertise of professionals from different fields (illustrators, graphic designers, publishers, librarians, consultants, teachers, etc.) and students, the association organizes various events such as the Central Vapeur illustration festival in March and the Format(s) graphic design biennial in the fall.
Central Vapeur works alongside several institutions and cultural organizations dedicated to illustration and other artistic disciplines, as well as with numerous French and European festivals, collectives, and publishers.
Central Vapeur also offers a support service for illustrators, graphic designers, other artists and authors, as well as recent graduates: Central Vapeur PRO. This service provides assistance with administrative, social, financial, and legal issues.
It also organizes free information “clubs” open to all on professional issues, as well as paid training courses.
With these three areas of focus—illustration, graphic design, and professionalization—Central Vapeur enables those who participate in its activities or use its services to act collectively for greater recognition of illustrators, illustration, and graphic design. .
Although its activities are mainly based in Strasbourg and the Grand Est region, Central Vapeur disseminates and promotes illustration elsewhere in France and abroad. The association also invites creators of different nationalities and encourages dialogue between graphic languages. The Format(s) biennial is certified by Graphisme en France and alternates in close collaboration with the Chaumont International Graphic Design Biennial.
Since 2019, at the invitation of the City of Strasbourg Eurométropole, Central Vapeur has taken up residence in the industrial wasteland of the Coop at Port du Rhin. Alongside it are the publishing house 2042, the associations Accélérateur de Particules (contemporary art), IDéE (design) and Gargarismes (screen printing, risography), Pleine Forme (graphic design, scenography), the production company EJT Labo (animation) and a dozen artists and freelancers. Together, they form the Garage Coop, a workspace and cultural venue with offices, workshops, and an exhibition hall, located in the former garages of the Alsatian company and shared with the CRIC artists’ collective.
Our main funders HERE
How it works:
Friendly members : Membership fee: 8€ = Discount for Central Vapeur’s events and for published items (no books), silk-screen printed membership card and all our consideration.
Benefactors : 40€ minimum = same as above + a Central Vapeur poster.
Active membres : Membership fee submitted to the bureau (8€) according to your commitment = Right to make décisions, sweat, blood and tears.
Subscribe to Central Vapeur here
Manager : Fabien Texier
Manager for the professionnal subsidiary, training officer : Louise Metayer
Counsellor for the professionnal subsidiary : Dorian Estève
Graphic designer : Xavier Halfinger
Administration officer : Aude Jouvin
Trainers 2025 : Pierre Faedi, Caroline Klein, Ambre Langlois, Robin Poma, Nikol, Lorry Besana, Guy Pradel
Bureau:
President : Amélie DUFOUR
Vice-President : Amandine LAPRUN
Treasurer : Marie SECHER
Secretary : Guy PRADEL
Adviser: Tanguy CHÊNE
Volunteers leaders :
Stage managers : Amélie Dufour, Lucie Deroin, (gun for hire: Elsa Plaza)
Signage : Guy Pradel
Bar & catering : Marie-Luce Schaller, Léo Righini-Fleur
Guests salon et 24h : Lucille Meister
Artistic Direction 24h de l’illustration: Anne Laval, Violaine Leroy, Éloïse Rey
Format(s) DA : Marie Secher, Maxime Pintadu, Marlène Astrié, Christelle Dion, Hugo Feist, Muriel Issard
Central Vapeur DA : Sarah Ménard, Margaux Meissonnier, Marie-Luce Schaller, Charlotte Bresler, Eloïse Rey, Tom Vaillant, Guy Pradel, Fabien Texier
Comité CV PRO: Violaine Leroy, Robin Poma, Coline Weinzapflen, Tanguy Chêne, Julie Chevassu Hélène Bléhaut, Amandine Laprun…
Hall of Fame:
1st President: Simon Liberman
1st Stage manager: Olivier Bron
1st Secretary: Violaine Leroy
1st Website: Raphael Urwiller (ex-Artistic Director)
1st Administrator/Manager: Etienne Hunsinger
1st silk-screen printer: Bastien Massot
1st pink short: Benoît de Coco/Eugène Riousse (ex-Artistic Director)
1st gunnery sergeant: Delphine Harrer
1st Head Chef: Juliette Léveillé
1st assistant: Laura Schneider
1st bouncer & relationships with HEAR students: Amélie Patin
1st administration officer & roller derby player from Hell : Marlo Canova