“The Micro-Folies project, established in 2017 in Sevran, Denain or Les Mureaux, is now streamlined to be able to set up in different places, and installation can be done in just a few hours. These digital museums allow up to 4,000 works to be consulted. of major national cultural institutions, but also of 24 museums in Hauts-de-France and the most beautiful castles in France, according to a report by Didier Fusilier, PresidentEPPGHV (Paris), which is responsible for deploying 500 Micro-Folies, funded by up to 80% from the state, in communities benefiting from the Small Cities of Tomorrow programme. “There will be 250 Micro-Folies open by the end of the year,” he says.
eclectic groups
EPPGHV, in collaboration with elected officials, provides technical support for the implementation of Micro-Folie, but also prepares content that will be broadcast on a large screen, on tablets, or through virtual headphones. 360 degree virtual. Communities with a population of less than 20,000 inhabitants, call for projects . winnersHoly Spirit, you could get 38,000 euros for the purchase of equipment. All content is funded by the Ministry of Culture.
“The presented collections are very eclectic. Topics are scrolled on a large screen: contemporary or Japanese art, music, theater, city heritage … The visitor, sitting with a tablet in hand, can click a favorite work with a heart. Then he will be able to watch The video on this pocket computer is about twenty minutes long. The images displayed are very high definition, they are impressive. Zoom in, you can see the crackling of the paintings,” notes with humorous Cyril Chabet, Vice Mayor, responsible for culture in Saint-Jean d’Angele. He would like to see that during the course of development of Micro-Folies in different societies, regional groups can be created, such as those of Hauts-de-France.
Cinema and chapel…
The range of Micro-Folie sites is wide, whether in a media library, as in Grenay (Pas-de-Calais), or cinema in Bruay-la-Buissière (Pas-de-Calais), a cultural center in Bastia (Haute-Corse) Or at heritage sites, such as the Church of the Savior in La Souterraine (Creuse). This place of worship, which is no longer up to standard, has been restored and converted into a cultural space. “The strong point of this equipment is the heritage building. It’s an important entry point for the public to go to Micro-Madness,” stresses Jan Boyer, cultural mediator in this rural city of 5,100 people.
Communities often choose to install these digital museums downtown, as part of their dynamism, but also to attract visitors. Thus, Hirson (8,800 inhabitants, Aisne) set up a Micro-Folie on the first floor of the town hall in the central area of the castle. “Near the museum and media library, this is an additional building within the district that focuses on cultural facilities,” considers Bernard Phelan, owner of DGS.
Communities that invest in Micro-Folies are developing many initiatives in order to revitalize them and attract a large audience. Even if the goal has not yet been reached in some areas. “We must communicate more to stimulate the desire of people to move in this place when they have similar resources at home, points out Philippe Nouvel, Vice-President of the Municipal Society of Foyen Country (20 municipalities, 16,700 inhabitants., Gironde and Dordogne).
digital spearhead
In addition to the free access slots, a number of events are organized. Thus, speakers present a selection of works or local artists come to explain their work. Children and young people at the school are frequent visitors with their teachers. “There are family workshops, and sometimes interventions in connection with major national events, such as Heritage Days, or on specific topics that may be less encyclopedic,” explains Jan Boyer. Fab Labs, virtual reality spaces but also meetings and friendliness help make these places inviting.
Micro-Folies animations are entrusted to one or two young adults under a subsidized contract attached to the Media Library or Communications Department. “The key to success is political will, for elected officials to implement the project. Dedicated and appropriate buildings and trained personnel are needed. It is about working in a network with other nearby Micro-Folies. They are truly digital pioneers in areas and tools that provide access to knowledge when they are National museums are far away,” says Bernard Phelan.
“Our project was mature, and the aid allowed us to achieve it quickly”
Cyril Chabit First Deputy Mayor of Saint-Jean d’Angele (6900 inhabitants, Charente-Maritimes), responsible for culture, heritage and city center
The royal monastery has a rich and long history dating back to Pepin 1He is Aquitaine in 817. In the seventeenth centuryNS century, monks built the building we know today and which has long been a college and high school. Now it houses the municipal library and music school. We were thinking of a non-elitist and open cultural project in order to increase the number of visitors to this place. And in 2019, Didier Fusilier presented us with the Micro-Folie concept, which we found very interesting and adapted to the Royal Abbey. So we quickly reached a meeting point with the establishment at La Villette, who manage the “engineering” and design aspect of the project.
To consider hosting Micro-Folie, connecting the building with fiber was essential. As part of the recovery plan, the delivery business, that is 30,000 euros, was financed by the state at a rate of up to 80%. Saint-Jean-d’Angély benefited from the Small Towns of Tomorrow program, securing financing, digital equipment, furniture, various arrangements and scenic spaces including the sound and light side. Total expenses of €100,000 are covered at 80%. Our project was mature, but this state aid allowed us to quickly realize it. Even if it wasn’t until May 19, the date the liquidation was removed, for Micro-Folie to open to the public. “
