ESMA & Cœur de Ville en Lumière: a magical evening of creativity and innovation

Cœur de Ville en Lumière: an emblematic event in Montpellier

Every year, the Cœur de Ville en Lumière event attracts thousands of visitors, Montpellier residents and tourists alike, who come to admire the works of light projected onto historic buildings. For three evenings, the city is transformed into a nocturnal art trail, where every façade and monument becomes a canvas on which artists and students from the creative industries deploy their imagination.

ESMA’s participation in this event underlines the school’s commitment to Montpellier’s cultural life. It gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their technical and artistic skills, while at the same time gaining valuable professional experience. For the school, this participation is a natural step in offering its students a prestigious showcase and recognition within the local artistic scene.

Video Mapping at the Agora: dance meets graphic design

One of ESMA’s flagship projects this year is a video mapping created by the Graphic Design students on the theme ‘Between tradition and contemporary creation’.

Projected in the courtyard of the Agora, this video mapping will explore dance as the art of movement, through ballets from the classical repertoire and contemporary choreographies. To bring this work to life, the students have collaborated with the dance school Epsedanse, integrating real dancers into their animations. Thanks to this collaboration, the movements of the dancers, captured on green screen in the school’s film studio, will take on a new dimension when projected onto the façade of the Agora.

ESMA students have opted for a creative and immersive approach, combining choreography, graphic design and video mapping techniques. This project also symbolises the complementary nature of the visual and performing arts, combining the skills of ESMA and Epsedanse to offer a unique and captivating visual experience.

The Gaming Zone: an immersive video gaming experience

As well as video mapping, ESMA students studying Video Games will also be taking centre stage this year in the Gaming Zone at Cœur de Ville en Lumière, set up in the Agora theatre. This interactive space allows the public to discover games created by students from schools specialising in creative and cultural industries. For the 2024 edition, ESMA is offering a unique approach with ‘Sponge’, a cooperative game devised by students at ESMA Montpellier.

In ‘Sponge’, players take on the challenge of cleaning the façade of the theatre by collecting water in bathtubs (which will be the windows), while avoiding obstacles and using elements of the façade to progress. The façade of the amphitheatre is transformed into a giant screen, projecting the game’s interface in spectacular fashion. Seated on the bleachers, young and old alike will be able to try out the game while enjoying the lighting and sound effects, creating an immersive atmosphere in which the façade becomes the playing field. This project allows ESMA students to demonstrate their expertise in game design and visual conception, while immersing spectators in a unique collective experience.

An opportunity for young and old to meet and exchange ideas

By taking part in Cœur de Ville en Lumière, ESMA is joining forces with one of Montpellier’s most magical events, offering the public an opportunity to discover the talents of tomorrow in an accessible and captivating setting. This immersive experience, accessible to all, is an opportunity for ESMA students to come face to face with the public eye and share their passion for art and digital creation.

Visitors to the Agora will be able to experience an evening of emotions and discoveries, paying tribute to the creativity and dynamism of young local talent. From luminous dance projections to interactive video games, this edition of Cœur de Ville en Lumière offers a range of artistic experiences that will captivate children and adults alike.

An event not to be missed

ESMA warmly invites you to come and discover the works and projects of its students at this 9th edition of Cœur de Ville en Lumière. With family, friends or even on your own, plunge into a luminous universe where tradition and innovation meet. These evenings will be an opportunity to celebrate creativity, discover student talent and take part in a unique experience in the Agora.

Don’t miss this magical event! Whether you want to admire the beauty of the artistic projections or try out the games created by passionate students, Cœur de Ville en Lumière is a real invitation to discover.