EcriLire30, an association to promote reading and writing

PRESENTATION

The association was founded by Nadine Gougnaud-Lucas, who runs the creative writing workshops in Blauzac and Sanilhac-Sagriès, which are in a way the starting point for both the educational and pedagogical organisation, as well as the book club.

She is assisted in her work by her husband, Ecrilire's treasurer, and her sister, the association's secretary. It's a deliberately family-run structure, which only adds to the caring nature of the organisation, which now has 12 members.

The origins of Ecrilire...

Retired since 2022, Nadine previously had a rich professional career in the field of human resources with major consultancies (skills assessments, training, management, coaching and career transition support), while at the same time managing a guidance and educational motivation consultancy (EMO, Espace Motivation Orientation).

'I was an expatriate in Mayotte and Réunion from 2014 to 2019, where I worked as a French teacher in secondary schools and as a lecturer at the University of Réunion. I have a Master's degree in coaching, a Master Practitioner diploma in neuro-linguistic programming, a degree in psychology and a university diploma in dealing with difficult adolescents, obtained from child psychiatrist Marcel Rufo, university professor and hospital practitioner.

In 2016, I also decided to train in creative bibliotherapy with physiotherapist Régine Detambel, a fascinating field, as cultural and relational activities use a variety of tools (reading aloud, writing, drawing, notebooks, object mediation, etc.)... This training will soon be followed by a six-month writer's course with L'Esprit Livre'.

The main activities

'Ecrire, Lire, promotes writing and reading aloud, a proactive initiative in rural areas to bring people together around ‘projects that create social links’. For Nadine Gougnaud-Lucas, the aim is ‘to reach out to other audiences and other places’.

EcriLire is a synergy designed to boost social links through reading, writing and poetry, all of which are real factors in integration.

Those involved in the life of the Gard are strongly encouraged to take part in the association through events in historic local heritage sites or associations (media libraries, etc.), as is the case in January with the 'Nuits de la lecture (night reading), a candlelit reading at the temple in Blauzac, in partnership with the Uzège reading clubs‘, the Printemps de la poésie in March (Poetic Spring), a travelling exhibition in the Uzège region at the Château de Blauzac in June for ’an evening of reading aloud texts and poetry', and also at the Domaine de Malaïgue...

'What's great about our organisation is that the events are always planned in consultation with our members. Our respective personal networks also help us to make contact with partners and speakers of choice,‘ explains Nadine, ’always bearing in mind our precept: Sharing, creating links, bringing people together and, of course, having fun!'

Big names on the literary scene as well as local authors and ‘young secondary school pupils’ contribute passionately and enthusiastically to enliven the association's busy agenda, both for reading and for the public.

'For the P'tit Festival Poétique et Sonore, the aim is to highlight the work of author and poet Marthe Omé in running writing workshops, as well as that of the company Au fur & en mesures with Alessandra Lupidi, who draws on her two countries of origin, Italy and Spain, as well as her incredible multiple vocal facets.

Throughout this journey, her voice (it's worth mentioning here that Alessandra Lupidi is also a choral conductor) and Anja Schimanski's double bass blend with improvisation, jazz, flamenco and opera, in songs of work, struggle, departure, lullabies and even cooking recipes in original compositions," explains Nadine, who adds: "Alessandra Lupidi plays with her voice, strings, skins and blades (ukulele, electric guitar, snare drum and sansula). As for Anja Schimanski, she plays with strings, like the double bass and the powerful electric bass.

The Festival organised at Château de Blauzac is an event that takes great pleasure in highlighting authors and artists from the Gard region'.

Tell us about the participation of secondary school students

'The organisers and presenters particularly appreciate the fact that this festival aims to involve young secondary school pupils, an audience that tends to disappear from the public arena. By offering a time for reading aloud texts from a selection of books linked to their school curriculum, they capture their attention and encourage... their participation!' points out Nadine.

'What's more, as part of the festival, we were lucky enough that Alain Renassia, who runs La Compagnie de l'Ours and adult read-aloud workshops in Montaren-et-Saint-Médiers, volunteered to “initiate” the students in the art of reading aloud, the art of speaking and the art of expression, and enable them to use these techniques in the future.

However, despite the support of French and documentalist teachers in November 2024, it was not possible to mobilise the students in time and the project had to be postponed until September 2025 and the second edition of the festival, which will take place in 2026. Two students have already signed up and I'm working with them personally, twice a month, to give them the best possible understanding of reading aloud, so that they're ready for June'.

The projects

The association has a wide range of projects. Among the most important are publishing her texts in a collection, preparing for the next edition of the 2026 festival, and undoubtedly continuing the monthly reading club and creative writing workshop.

'This is in addition to our participation in the Nuits de la lecture, again in 2026, and many other cultural initiatives, always in close collaboration with our members and the search for new supporters and members. More on this in the next chapter' says Nadine.

Many thanks to Nadine Gougnaud-Lucas for her contribution to this article.

The right address: Ecrilire30, 25 rue des Mazes, 30700 Blauzac. Contact: Tel: 06 33 40 64 31, ecrilire30@gmail.com.