2021, The Polar Summer: A Cultural Season Throughout France
Do the North and South Poles seem like distant territories far removed from your concerns? To raise awareness and celebrate these fragile ecosystems, a number of events are being held until October 10, 2021 in France and overseas. The first cultural and educational season to be devoted to the worlds of Antarctica and the Arctic, 2021, Polar Summer will transport you to the North and South Poles without leaving your city!
A great first in France
For the first time in 2021, a national cultural and educational season is dedicated to the two clusters.
For four months, a rich program of about 100 events is planned to raise awareness among the general public about the preservation of these endangered ecosystems.
This unique cultural season, called 2021, the polar summer offers you the opportunity to discover the magic, the richness and the challenges of the polar worlds.
It should also be noted that this is the first time a mobilization of this scale has been organized in France... and even in Europe!
This unprecedented mobilization was initiated by the Paul-Emile-Victor endowment fund, in collaboration with four ministries, 26 French 'polar cities' and numerous partners.
Exceptional photos exhibited in 26 cities
One of the highlights of 2021, the polar summer is the exhibition of large format photos in 26 cities in France and overseas.
This exhibition, entitled La banquise sens dessus dessous, is held simultaneously in the host cities from June 23 to October 10, 2021.
The participating cities are Paris, Lyon and Nice, but also Besançon, Bordeaux, Brest, Cannes, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Dijon, Grenoble, La Rochelle, Lille, Lorient, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Nancy, Orleans, Reims, Rouen, Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, Sète, Strasbourg, Toulouse and Versailles.
Each city is exhibiting two 4 x 3 metre photos signed by two great French nature photographers: the underwater photographer Laurent Ballesta and the Wildlife photographer Vincent Munier!
Polar evenings and a Polar Night
Other highlights of this cultural season are Polar Summer Evenings, screenings that feature special programming that puts the North and South Poles in the spotlight.
These evenings are more specifically aimed at raising awareness among a wide audience through the screening of documentaries and films, some of which have never been shown before, on the polar environment, its flora and fauna, and on the challenges of preserving these ecosystems.
As the high point of Polar Summer 2021, a closing event for the season will be organized on October 9 and 10 under the name Polar Night 2021.
This event will be marked in particular by the presentation of the first Victor Polar Engagement Trophies.
These trophies will reward researchers, explorers, journalists, documentary filmmakers, artists and students who are committed to advancing our knowledge and understanding of the poles.
Educational resources for teachers
In parallel with this cultural program, educational resources have been designed specifically for primary and secondary school teachers, in partnership with the association Passagers des sciences.
The educational kit made available to teachers offers:
- a booklet to discover the polar worlds
- activities linked to the photographic exhibition The ice pack upside down
- digital events that will be offered to classes in September
- a creative competition on the theme of the poles, for classes from kindergarten to high school.
