Book and Jazz Festival - An illustrated opening ceremony with a view of the ocean

At the heart of the long list of events and activities organized throughout the year by the Saint-B’Art association, the Book and Jazz Festival plays a vital role. Not only does it offer a cultural program unmatched on the island and for its residents, but it has also established itself as a long-standing tradition. Indeed, the Festival has become a must-attend event for lovers of writing, reading, illustration, and music. Furthermore, through this three-week event (March 23 to April 11), the association provides a space for creative expression for children and adults through three contests (Young Writers, Short Stories, and Art Postal). The opening of the 2026 edition will be led by three illustrators, a photographer, a singer-songwriter, and a marine biologist.

Inouï, a fresh perspective on the ocean

Alexandra Hernandez

Between Monday, March 23, and Tuesday, March 31, everyone will meet with elementary and middle school students and spectators on the island. Through workshops in schools, as well as performances—specifically, a musical conference. Titled “Inouï océan,” it will be presented three times by its creators: singer-songwriter Alexandra Hernandez, a native of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, and marine biologist (and CNRS research director) Laurent Chauvaud. On Monday, March 23, Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27, they will invite the public to “take a fresh look at the ocean surrounding the islands of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon by highlighting marine biodiversity.” Since returning to her native island in 2015, Alexandra Hernandez has been actively involved in local cultural development, creating the Transboréales festival in 2018 to promote the region and reflect on its identity. She has also produced documentaries for Radio France and France Télévision. As for Laurent Chauvaud, whose research has focused for twenty years on the functioning of coastal ecosystems, he has participated in several projects that bring together art and science. His collaboration with the artist from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is a prime example of this.

Laurent Chauvaud

Meeting with elementary and middle school students
Illustration, specifically, will be the focus of the workshops and meetings between the island’s students and four artists. Thanks to the presence of illustrators Thibault Prugne, Bruno Pilorget, and Véronique Chéneau, as well as photographer Véronique Larrue.

Thibault Prugne is the author of the “Renard” series as well as “Souffleur de rêves.” Although he hasn’t led workshops in schools for ten years, he agreed to make an exception for the Festival. He will also welcome schoolchildren in the courtyard of the Brigantin.

Illustrator and sketchbook artist Bruno Pilorget has published several picture books and short novels, such as “Sœur blanche, sœur noire,” which tells the story of a young boy who delves into the roots of slavery and discovers its horrors.

Another illustrator, Véronique Chéneau, will visit preschool classes to read her stories and introduce children to drawing and painting.
Finally, photographer Véronique Larrue, who was already part of the program in 2025, will offer “light painting” workshops for children. A blend of art and technology to capture images where light becomes the photographer’s brush.

The full program is available on the festival website: www.saintbartlivrejazzfestival.com

Jeunes Plumes Contest Awards Ceremony

102 elementary, middle, and high school students from Saint Barthélemy participated in the 2026 Jeunes Plumes contest.

No fewer than 102 elementary, middle, and high school students participated in the 2026 edition of the Jeunes plumes contest organized by the Saint-B’Art association. A record! All of them worked diligently on the assigned theme, “An Island, Here and Elsewhere,” producing a diverse range of works, from poetry to songs to prose narratives. On Friday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m., all the young writers will gather at the Gouverneur Educational Farm for the awards ceremony. This highly anticipated event will precede a performance of the musical conference Inouï at 7:30 p.m.

The Short Story Contest
Now in its 21st edition, the Saint-B’Art Association’s short story contest has established itself as an unmissable literary event for the island’s writing enthusiasts. A literary challenge for adults passionate about writing who wish to explore their creativity and share their world, this year’s contest is organized around the theme: “An island, from here or elsewhere.” ” It is open to residents of Saint-Barthélemy aged 18 and older.
Submission deadline: April 10, 2026
Details on how to participate and key dates are available on page 13, on the website https://www.saintbartlivrejazzfestival.com, and on the Association Saint-B’Art’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Through this contest, the Saint-B’Art Association continues its commitment to supporting local literary creation and promoting reading in the region.

The Art Postal Contest
The Postal Art Contest is an invitation to creativity open to all enthusiasts of artistic expression and correspondence. Organized as part of the Saint-B’Art Association’s cultural initiatives, this contest invites participants to create an original work on postal media, giving free rein to their imagination while adhering to the association’s annual theme, which in 2026 is: “An island from here or elsewhere.”
The contest rules are available online (https://www.saintbartlivrejazzfestival.com). Mail art involves transforming envelopes, cards, or similar media into true works of art to be mailed to the following address: Association Saint-B’Art – Mail Art Contest, P.O. Box 477 – 97133, Saint-Barthélemy. The submission deadline is April 15. The entries will then be reviewed by a jury and presented to the public during Saint-B’Art’s cultural events. “Through this contest, the Association Saint-B’Art reaffirms its commitment to artistic creation, civic participation, and the cultural influence of Saint-Barthélemy,” the association writes.