Founded by Marie-Thérèse Perrin in 1991 in Cahors, Le Printemps is dedicated to international plastic photography, which was then less well known in the field of art. Since its first editions, the festival has made a difference by exhibiting in places that are not intended to present contemporary art exhibitions, by taking over public space and by creating the concept of "Nuits blanches" (White Nights). Singular and sometimes spectacular lighting projects are in fact developed during nocturnes during which innovative live creations are also proposed.
When the festival moved to Toulouse in 2001, it continued its transformation by opening up to all fields of art and reinforcing its programme of live performances, notably with Les Soirées Nomades of the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art. It is also developing the content and number of its mediation actions which, in addition to being free of charge, make it an event accessible to all audiences.
In 2015, the festival changes its tempo and becomes biennial; an opportunity for it to strengthen its presence in the area by inaugurating L'Adresse du Printemps de septembre, the convivial, accessible and visible place for the team at work and also the space for exhibitions and meetings that prefigure the upcoming edition.
A free festival dedicated to contemporary creation, the Printemps de septembre is held every two years in numerous partner venues in Toulouse and Occitania. Open to all current plastic practices (painting, sculpture, video, installation, performance, music, radio, etc.), the festival presents a large number of new works by both emerging and major artists on the international scene.
At its last edition in 2018, the festival welcomed more than 200,000 visitors.
The next edition of the festival will be held from September 17 to October 17, 2021, a year that will mark the festival's 30th anniversary. It will be an opportunity to get together to celebrate Le Printemps de septembre : 30 years of creation, collaborations, encounters and discoveries.
