For seven years, Angoulême has fostered a dynamic of international cooperation and creation, strengthened by its status as a UNESCO Creative City in the field of literature. The mid-term review of the 2024-2027 action plan showcases concrete achievements and partnerships established with stakeholders in the literary, comic, and image sectors.
During the 2024-2025 period, Angoulême executed 126 projects, averaging over 60 actions annually, involving partners from 27 countries and 46 international cities. These initiatives are structured around five main axes: heritage and creation (skill exchanges, artistic residencies), territories and audiences (public reading, comics in public spaces), education and research (artistic and cultural education, UNESCO schools), strengthening the sector (author support, Francophone projects), and innovations (digital comics, artificial intelligence).
Membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities network facilitates cooperation. A notable example is the joint residency program between Angoulême and Ljubljana, focusing on comics and animation, allowing artists from both cities to undertake month-long residencies and participate in local emblematic festivals. Nearly a third of the plan's projects involve Angoulême in collaboration with other UNESCO Creative Cities.
Prospects for 2026 and 2027 include several significant projects, such as the future of the comic event, transformations related to artificial intelligence, the Francophonie, poetry, paper heritage, and the role of comics in public spaces. These directions aim to continue international cooperation, support creation, and promote local expertise.
