FOREWORD

Long simmering over discussions with our partners Rencontres de l’illustration, here is a painting edition of Central Vapeur that explores a gesture ultimately quite common to the vast world of illus. We’re getting ready to close the Unesco World Book Capital year begun in April 2024.

For the Drawing Dialogue, welcome to Brecht Vandenbroucke’s acidulous and sometimes queerly Boschian musings, opposite the wood-painted spaces of Strasbourg based André Derainne.
We continue on the Quai des Bateliers, where posters by Anouck Constant, extract of her book Mousson de jasmin, prove that Arabic has long since replaced French, despite the Admiral’s displeasure*.
Still on the waterfront, but further south, Basile Bibas hangs his canvases at l’Orée 85 and HEAR students collaborate between painting, illustration and textiles in a room at Graffalgar.
Finally, the big thrill, the turpentine and the underground gothic madness are back with the new Bétonite exhibition which, after The Cave of Doom in 2023, takes us to the Puits du Dindon, at our neighbors’ Basse Cour des Miracles.

On the show side, painting competitions, a round-table discussion on the subject with artists and teachers, the art brut collective La “S” in Frémok’s luggage, as well as Pauline Barzilaï and so many others that we won’t mention them, except for Bongoût celebrating his thirtieth birthday in his hometown :’)
Guaranteed oil-free: Amina Bouajila’s exhibition (but there’s a museum), Jeanne Sterkers’ exhibition, Violaine Leroy’s scientific graphic facilitation and, via Basel’s Cartoonmuseum, Thomas Ott’s incredible scratch cards.
Five new kakemonos await you for the Parade des Micronations and a renewed version of Battlestar (still at the Star Saint-Exupéry cinema) that’s shorter, a little more expensive, but with better-paid illustrators.
On the pro side, a “C’est quoi le projeeeeeet?” evening devoted to the continuity of income for artists-auteurs-ices at the Syndicat Potentiel, the unsinkable Love Boat, and a new animation that’s sure to fire up the show crowds: the Juste Print!

* It’s the wrong grade, we’re told.

Download the program

independant book fair
Saturday March 29th > 10am – 08pm
Sunday March 30th > 10am – 07pm

Garage Coop + Cric
— 2 rue de la coopérative
tram d : Starcoop / bus 2 : Capitainerie

A weekend to meet the crème de la crème of independent publishing, attend roundtables, take part in workshops…

Independent publishing can be divided into SMEs, associations, micro or self-publishing collectives. Whether it takes a vow of rigor or devotes itself to chaos, in Alsace, France and elsewhere, it constitutes a privileged space for creative freedom. From children’s books and abstract drawings to delicate objects, screen-printed posters, comic book fanzines and publications not to be placed in just any hands, every trend in independent graphic arts publishing is represented.

We’ve chosen our guests with care: come and meet them and discover their creations at the Show! From local to international, twenty-five (micro) publishers & collectives will have a stand throughout the weekend. You’ll also find a selection from the Gutenberg bookshop and the Central Vapeur micro-bookshop.

– See the guest list

IN PRACTICE

Admission to the fair is free.
We advise you to bring your chequebook and/or cash: not all our guests have a bank terminal, so it would be a shame to deprive yourself! If you don’t want to buy anything, don’t let that stop you from browsing, reading, asking questions and taking part in the meetings and workshops.

BASKET WEIGHING

Each publisher or collective present will donate one of their editions to form a basket, the weight of which you’ll have to guess. Place your bets at the Salon reception desk and win everything in the basket! Result: Sunday March 30 at 6:30 p.m.

REFRESHMENT AND SNACKS

You’ll find plenty to eat and drink: coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, beer, knacks & side dishes, pretzels, pastries and cakes.
Opening hours: SATURDAY: 10am-10pm / SUNDAY: 10am-7pm

Vue du salon Central Vapeur 2024 – © Alicia Gardès

WEEKEND PROGRAM

MEETINGS

Round tables, a union evening,…

All the info on this page!

AWARDS

Sunday, March 30th

5:30 pm – School postcard competition awards

Prize-giving ceremony and presentation of a selection of postcards on the theme of “Painting”. Organized by the DAAC Action culturelle de l’Académie de Strasbourg and Central Vapeur, for students aged 3 to 25.

Sunday, March 30th

6pm – CENTRAL VAPEUR 2025 AWARDS

Prize-giving ceremony for the illustration competition in partnership with Meteor, this year on the theme of “Painting”.  The competition is open to adults of all nationalities. First prize of 600€ is printed on 2,500 coasters by the independent Alsatian brewery. Second prize 300€, third prize 100€.

Sunday, March 30th

6PM – BASKET WEIGHING RESULTS

Who will have the right weight? To win the basket, estimate it at the entrance!

QUIZZ / PERFORMANCE

Saturday, March 29th

6pm – Le Juste Print

Hosted by : Pastelle de Nada
Are you ready to live the artist’s life, and see your dreams shattered? Le Juste Print is the first quiz in which you’re the broke artist, an opportunity to test your knowledge and put yourself in the shoes of a professional author, while having fun! And a little bit scary too! Lots of surprises to be won!
All audiences / Free

CONCERTS + DRAWING IS WINNING

saturday march 29th from 7:30pm
Drawing is winning at 8pm
Concerts from 9pm
BASSE COUR DES MIRACLES – 10 rue du Port du Rhin
streetcar d : Starcoop / bus 2 : Capitainerie

La Basse Cour des Miracles, the Coop’s artists’ collective and first occupants, hosts the festival’s concerts (in addition to the Bétonite basement exhibition). This year, it’s La Drêche (another Strasbourg art collective, but further west) who are in charge of programming and organizing the evening, but in reality, it’s sometimes the same people. We don’t know which bands will be playing, but it’ll be great as usual. I hear there’ll be fries or steaming.
Free price

READING

Sunday, March 30

11am/12pm – Story time: a colorful awakening

Hosted by : CENTRAL VAPEUR FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS
A selection of stories from the show’s guests to get the day off to a good start!
All audiences / Free

WORKSHOPS

saturday march 29th

11H/13H – Collective garland

Animated by : TANGUY CHÊNE and ROBIN POMA
Take part in the biggest collective garland! Using stamps, drawings and normographs, everyone invents their own character.
All audiences / Free admission

Saturday, March 29th

2:30 p.m./4 p.m. – SeasGlaciersVolcanoes

Animated by : PAULINE BARZILAÏ
Based on the magnificent images in the book Mers, Glaciers, Volcans (published by Larousse, 1958), come and transform photos, superimpose landscapes, paint unexplored lands… to collectively create a series of imaginary landscapes.
All audiences / Free admission

Saturday, March 29th

16:30/18:30 – Portrait-maton

Animated by : CENTRAL VAPEUR’S VOLUNTEER ILLUSTRATORS
Come and have your portrait drawn live by four illustrators, and leave with your portrait-maton!
All audiences / Free admission

Sunday, March 30th

1:30 p.m./3:00 p.m. – The piece of furniture you’re the hero of!

Animated by : TIMOTHÉE OSTERMANN, OLIVIER BRON AND CAROLINE KLEIN
You’re in for a real treat! The authors of the book published by 2042 will help you build a miniature piece of furniture by combining different models to detach, color and assemble.
From age 7 / Free admission

Sunday, March 30th

3:30 p.m./5:30 p.m. – Draw your recipe!

Animated by : BANBAN COLLECTIVE
Create your own mini fanzine using stamps cut from vegetables! Create a seasonal character and cook up your story on paper.
All audiences / Free admission