In Bidart, the association "Tirtistes" has been working since 2019 in a discreet but absolutely essential role of the local cultural ecosystem: that of associative artistic agency. His mission is to support artists, promote, broadcast and produce live performances, imagining new concepts to highlight the collective's artists.
A strange position: between artists and places
In concrete terms, it does what very few actors really do in the Basque Country: it plays professional intermediaries between local artists (singers, DJs, humorists, magicians, hypnotists, gospel artists, make-up artists, cabaret artists...) and places that seek to animate their evenings — hotels, campsites, restaurants, casinos, bars, inns, reception rooms.
The idea is twofold:
For artists: find more dates, be accompanied in the start, have a real professional relay rather than managing everything alone.
For the places: the guarantee of artists who have "passed the casting", of quality shows, and above all the full support of the programming — "Everyone his profession, stay focused on yours!", the association sums up.
A program that travels the southwest
Since 2020, there have been a wide variety of artists: Zokoa Kanttu in Ciboure, Maison Amaé in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Auberge Chortaya in Arbouet-Sussaute, Camping Berrua in Bidart, Casino Joa in Saint-Paul-lès-Dax, Bistrot Larrendart in Ondres, Aquatic Landes in Labenne, Belambra Les Tuquets in Seignosse... A mesh that extends throughout the Basque Country and the Landes.
A volunteer association, a project that runs the road
Originally founded in Dax in September 2019, the association transferred its headquarters to Bidart at the end of 2020 and has continued to expand its business since then. It operates on an associative and voluntary model — no employees, but a real commitment, a solid organization, and a substantive work on the quality of the artists proposed.
A discreet but valuable role
It's the kind of association that you don't necessarily know when you're a simple spectator — but it plays a central role in the fact that there's something to see on a weekend, in a Basque Coast bar or in a camping in the Basque Country. Therertists, it is a little the invisible backstage that makes the scene exist. And as such, she deserves a spotlight.
Are you an artist or are you looking to program one?
The pro space on the artists.fr allows the places to discover the artists of the collective and to make a direct request. As for artists, the association remains open to new meetings and the expansion of its catalogue.
