The members of the heritage preservation association of the commune of Saint-Jean-de-Thouars are keen to bring their jewel to life: the Clos de l'Abbaye. For the second year in a row, in 2024, they organized a photography exhibition on the site throughout the summer, 24 hours a day. For this new edition, the event has stepped up with a greater number of works.
A novelty was the educational dimension carried out in the form of a partnership with the Marie-de-la-Tour-d'Auvergne college where Virginie Egretaud, deputy mayor of Saint-Jean, teaches. The skills of Yasmina Champalou, the establishment's plastic arts teacher, were used to lead the operation. Christian Thibaud, artist who inaugurated the event in 2023 with his exhibition entitled Trees of Lightcame to introduce class 3 studentse to photographic art.
The young people took full advantage of his advice, as shown in the photographs exhibited this summer. Following the public vote which received 163 votes, a young artist stood out from the crowd: Églantine Godrie. On Saturday November 16, 2024, under a foggy sky which might have inspired Christian Thibaud, middle school students, their parents and their teachers came at the invitation of Joël Mignet, co-president of the heritage preservation association, to attend the presentation of this prize accompanied by a €100 voucher at Studio Dupitier. All participants are also given the photo they had taken.
The operation will be renewed in 2025 with, this time, the participation of students from the Saint-Charles de Thouars institution.
