The 21st annual Prix des lecteurs du Var is bringing literature directly to local communities through a series of creative workshops and theatrical performances running across the region through November 22. Organized by the Var Department, the initiative features 40 workshops led by four local artists since June to engage readers with the official selection of competing works.
Creative Workshops Bring Book Characters to Life
Inside the Albert-Camus media library, children and their families craft articulated paper characters based on books nominated for the youth category of the literary prize. Plastic artist and workshop animator Sandrine Guthmuller designed a communal set inspired by the three shortlisted youth titles: La chasse aux rainettes by Antonin Faure, Le jeu du plus qu’un jour by Audrey Poussier, and Le grand large by Mathilde Bédouet. According to Guthmuller, the goal is to give life to both main and secondary elements from the books while teaching colored pencil and paper-pattern techniques.
Participants create unique pieces while exploring new artistic methods, an approach appreciated by regular attendees like Dorothée, who attends the media library’s creative sessions with her daughter Théa. Isabelle Louis, territorial referee at the Var departmental media library, explains that the project titled “Var, lire en territoire” aims to highlight the reading prize and inspire residents to read the nominated works.
Expanded Programming and Final Awards in Toulon
Beyond the youth workshops, the Department has organized author meetings and theatrical shows covering the other two categories of the prize: graphic novels and adult novels. The graphic novel nominees include Nepka by Séverine Vidal and Nina Ramsey, L’envers de nos décors by Thomas Scotto and Carole Chaix, and Le temps des pivoines by Aucha and Maxime Belloche. The adult novel category features On l’appelait Bennie Diamond by Michaël Dichter, Les courants d’arrachement by Élise Lépine, and Le ciel l’a mauvaise by Éléa Marini.
Isabelle Louis notes that this year’s lineup pairs the six nominated books with six local theater companies commissioned to create original stage performances. Author meetings take place across multiple towns, including sessions with Élise Lépine on October 9 in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and October 10 in La Farlède, followed by meetings with Éléa Marini on October 16 in Callian and October 17 in Cuers. Public voting remains open until November 7, with final winners announced on November 22 during the Fête du livre at the Palais Neptune in Toulon.