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International Garden Festival

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A project rooted in its territory and in the living world

In 2010, a bold idea took root at the Maison de la Culture in Amiens: to transform the Hortillonnages—a unique ecosystem in the heart of the city—into a stage for contemporary expression. The International Garden Festival | Hortillonnages Amiens was born, with the ambition of revealing this remarkable landscape through the eyes of a new generation of landscape designers, architects, and visual artists. Season after season, this collaborative project—supported by a network of committed partners—has become a true springboard for emerging creativity. It offers a natural laboratory where culture, ecology and place come together.

A poetic journey along the water

Just a stone’s throw from Amiens city centre, the Île aux Fagots, a lush green oasis to be explored on foot, welcomes you into an intimate and inspiring atmosphere—perfect for a quiet escape from the bustle of city life. Just a few kilometres away, an enchanted interlude awaits you at the Étang de Clermont: let yourself be guided across some twenty islets where art and nature engage in dialogue. Whether you sail alone in an electric boat or with a guide, each route offers a sensory journey, where the sound of rippling water and birdsong accompany a timeless experience.

In total, around fifty works of art—10 to 15 of them new each year—encourage reflection on ecology and the evolution of landscapes, or simply invite contemplation and wonder. The International Garden Festival | Hortillonnages Amiens becomes an open-air museum: sensitive, accessible, and alive.

A committed festival, at the crossroads of worlds

Beyond its aesthetic dimension, the Festival affirms its role as a committed actor. Each project is developed with deep awareness of environmental challenges: protection of wetlands, resource management, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity.
The gardens themselves become productive spaces, with harvests redistributed to local social and solidarity-based organisations. This philosophy is also rooted in human commitment: from the very beginning, in 2010, the Festival was one of the first to host civic service volunteers for public reception duties. It also opens its doors to professional reintegration, with a dedicated work integration programme for people distanced from employment.

Between poetry, transmission and responsibility, the International Garden Festival | Hortillonnages Amiens is much more than a cultural event. It is a place of learning, encounter and reflection. A space where nature and creativity together shape the contours of a more fertile future.

Awards received

European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN)
🏆 First Prize 2024 — Best Design or Concept for a Contemporary Park or Garden
🏆 First Prize 2022 — Special Jury Award from the International Panel

✉️ Dear Visitor,

Through the International Garden Festival | Hortillonnages Amiens, the association Art & Gardens | Hauts-de-France has, for over 15 years, worked to:

– preserve the Hortillonnages of Amiens,
– support the emergence of young artistic creation,
– foster encounters with the wider public,
– and support the reintegration of individuals in transition or facing professional difficulties.

This year is a crucial one for our association, and we are appealing to your generosity to:

– Ensure the continuity of the Festival and its ambitious artistic and social project
The Festival brings together young artists from across the globe, supported in their work by a team of 15 people through a dedicated integration programme.
– Help preserve the Hortillonnages of Amiens
This exceptional ecological heritage is also highly vulnerable. Its upkeep requires time, skilled professionals, and considerable financial resources.
– Support the influence of Amiens Métropole
The Hortillonnages are among the most visited tourist sites in the metropolitan area. Thanks to the presence of artists, media and visitors from all over Europe (more than 60,000 each year), the Festival enjoys international recognition.
– Contribute to a social reintegration project through employment
Gardeners in the integration programme undertake assignments lasting from 4 months to 2 years. In 2024, 73% of participants successfully transitioned to employment or training—an exceptional success rate.

🤝 Your donation can make a real difference!

Would you like to support a meaningful cause and benefit from tax relief at the same time?
Donating to a recognised public-interest organisation may entitle you to a tax deduction.

✅ Who is eligible?

Private individuals and businesses donating to an eligible charitable organisation.

✅ Tax relief amounts

Individuals: 66% of the amount donated, up to 20% of your taxable income.
Businesses: 60%, subject to specific conditions.

✅ How to declare

You must declare the donation in your annual tax return. The beneficiary association will provide a tax receipt to justify your claim to the tax authorities.