Endowed with an amount of €50,000, this prize rewards the accessibility of the built environment, innovative achievements linked to an approach of access and use for all, mediation tools that promote people’s autonomy and take into account the diversity of audiences in the cultural offering.
The jury, chaired by Marie-Christine Labourdette, Director responsible for the Museums and composed of representatives of the administration and members of associations representing persons with disabilities, awarded the prize on 6 September. “Heritage for All, Heritage for Everyone” at five institutions.
In the category of institutions belonging to local authorities, the following are awarded:
The Musée de la Lutherie et de l'Archeterie de Mirecourt and the Pont-Transbordeur de Rochefort – Echillais, each of which receives an endowment of €20,000.
A special mention, with an endowment of €10,000, is awarded to the departmental Prehistory Museum of Solutré.
In the category of national establishments:
The Tau Palace in Reims, managed by the National Monuments Centre,
The Musée du Quai Branly, in Paris, for the quality of the work of its mediation teams.
The jury wishes to congratulate all the 18 candidates for the quality of the files and, in particular, the departmental museum of Flanders in Cassel whose project in terms of accessibility for all has been able to overcome the constraints related to its status as a Historic Monument, even if securing its access ramp is still to be improved.
The Winners:
Musée de la Lutherie et de l'Archeterie Française in Mirecourt (Lorraine)
Museography has been redesigned to make as many people as possible accessible to all aspects of the stringed musical instrument (aesthetics, sound, technique). This work led in the spring of 2011 to the inauguration of a new scenography that takes into account the needs for the four deficiencies and the award of the four labels «Tourisme&Handicap». This institution also offers cultural and musical activities adapted for all supervised by staff trained in the field of medico-social and musicology.
Pont Transbordeur Rochefort-Echillais in Rochefort (Poitou-Charentes)
This historic monument is an emblematic site of the Charente estuary with more than 150,000 annual visits to the entire site. For more than five years, the teams of the Agglomeration Community have been working in consultation with the representatives of persons with disabilities and the technicians of the Departmental Committee of Tourism to make this monument widely accessible.
This initiative is among the very first undertaken in the «Poitou-Charentes» region under the title of Historical Monuments. The principle of respecting the chain of movement between the four structures that make up this monument has been respected. Many mediation tools adapted to the four deficiencies are proposed in summer to discover the operation and history of this monument (models, booklets but also the possibility to touch parts of the bridge, digital application), complemented by a panel of guided tours also adapted. A specific rolling equipment, the All Way Module (MTC), is made available free of charge for people with reduced mobility to take full advantage of the hiking trails along the Charente. This presentation of a historic monument accessible to all is characterized by its innovative and exemplary character.
Departmental Museum of Prehistory of Solutré (Burgundy)
Located at the foot of the Roche de Solutré, this Museum of France was inaugurated in 1987. The management of this establishment has decided to fully engage in an accessibility approach for the four families of the disability. A development of the built environment and many mediation tools for each disability have been gradually achieved in partnership with members of associations representing persons with disabilities, with a desire to strengthen their visiting autonomy. Since 2009, the General Council has decided to grant free access to these audiences for access to collections but also for all cultural performances. At the beginning of the year, this approach to general accessibility was rewarded with the «Tourism & Disability» label for the four disabilities.
Palais du Tau in Reims - CMN (Champagne-Ardenne)
The Centre for National Monuments has put in place a very comprehensive programme to make this monument accessible, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses one of the most important historical treasures of France - that of the cathedral of Reims - and constitutes a rich and very diverse museum. The construction site was a real challenge since the rooms proposed for the visit are divided into two main wings of the palace, on three levels with a dozen unevenness.
In compliance with the standards of protection of historic monuments, these various levels are now accessible to all audiences. Particularly innovative mediation tools have also been put in place. A connection by a route adapted for people with reduced mobility between the cathedral and the palace was made. At the beginning of the year, the general accessibility of this historic monument allowed the CMN to receive the Trophy of Accessibility.
Musée du Quai Branly in Paris (Ile-de-France)
Since its opening, the management of this national museum has endeavoured to involve the members of most of the major associations representing persons with disabilities in the development of innovative and disability-specific tools to assist visitors, and in the design of regular programming of quality cultural offerings taking into account the diversity of audiences. From November 30 to December 7, the MQB will organize its second edition of “accessibility week” to make the public discover these many cultural activities as well as the accompanying devices offered throughout the year to visitors with disabilities.