From April 9 to November 22, 2026, the city of Nîmes presents an ambitious cultural season focused on water. Combining a scientific approach with an artistic perspective, the museums in Nîmes invite the public to explore the various facets of this essential resource, at the heart of historical and contemporary issues.
With “Water, a source of inspiration,” the city showcases an ambitious season across several cultural venues. The goal is to bring together different perspectives and reflect on our relationship with this essential resource, encompassing scientific knowledge, collective imagination, and environmental concerns.
Muséum
At the Natural History Museum on Boulevard Amiral Courbet, the exhibition “Water, the expo” offers an educational journey structured in three parts, from the origins of life to current societal issues. The exhibit highlights the fundamental role of water in the emergence of life, its use by human societies, and the challenges related to its preservation.
Image Credit: @Yannick Pons
It continues at the Courbet Gallery with the Aquamuséum, where visitors can explore a significant collection of naturalized fish, including a recently restored basking shark. The experience is enhanced by a virtual reality immersion, offering a dive into marine environments and Mediterranean biodiversity.
Beaux-Arts
At the Fine Arts Museum, the exhibition “Lights and Shadows: the fascination of water” delves into the symbolic and aesthetic dimension of this element. Presented during an opening marked by strong involvement from the teams and partners, the exhibition relies on the museum’s collections and contributions from various regional forests and museums in Montpellier, Rodez, Cahors, and more.
It is organized into three thematic spaces: “Monsters and storms” explores fears and imaginations related to the deep sea, “Source or resource: the healing water” showcases works from various genres to demonstrate water’s inseparable link to life and symbolic representations, and “Effects and reflections” offers a more contemplative approach focusing on the visual qualities of water and how artists interpret them.
A performance at Fountain Pradier
As part of the exhibition, a performance titled “Grace” will be presented on Saturday, April 18 at 11:30 am at Fountain Pradier, on the Charles-de-Gaulle esplanade. Centered around the relationship between water and the sacred, this piece features a drum solo performed in a fountain by Roman drummer Valentina D’Angelo, echoing the salt pieces on display in the exhibition.
The exhibition also stands out for a sound journey created in partnership with the Nîmes Conservatory and its connections with other cultural institutions in the area, from the Museum of Romanity to the Art Center.
The exhibition aims to raise awareness among a wide audience about water-related issues in a context marked by climate change and resource scarcity. As a city built around the source of the Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes finds a particular resonance with its historical heritage in this thematic approach.
You can check the official program here (Culture / Museums section).
