The Leonardo Space and the Arts Workshop started under the name The "Rencontres du 13 avril". It was a series of workshops co-organized by Leonardo/Olats, the OURS Foundation and the International Academy of Astronautics. Every year, between 1997 and 2002, it gathered leading scientists and artists on a specific theme for a one day workshop in Boulogne-Billancourt, in the near suburb of paris. In 2004, the workshop took another dimension: it became "nomadic" and is now organized in collaboration with other organisations and institutions.

From 1997 to 2002, the organizing committee of the workshops was composed by : Roger Malina (Leonardo), Annick Bureaud (Leonardo/Olats) and Arthur Woods (the OURS Foundation).

The chairs of the workshops have been : Nathalie Lafforgue (1997), Richard Clar (2001, 2002) and Annick Bureaud for the other editions.

Archives of the previous workshops since 1997 "Les artistes comme explorateurs de l'espace / The artists as space explorers" - Rencontres du 13 avril 1997 "Space art / Earth art" - Rencontres du 13 avril 1998 "Cultural perspectives on space" - Rencontres du 13 avril 1999 "Life in Space" - Rencontres du 13 avril 2000 "Outer Space - Cyber Space" - Rencontres du 13 avril 2001 "The Collaborative Process in Space Art" - Rencontres du 13 avril 2002 Space: Science, Technology and the Arts, May 18-21, 2004