The Museum of the Battle of Fromelles gets the name «Museums of France». It integrates a network of 1220 museums, and becomes the 86th Museum of France of the region and the 7th of the Lille Metropolis.

Following the favourable decision of the High Council of Museums of France and by decree of 16 February 2023, the Metropolitan Museum of the Battle of Fromelles was given the designation «Museums of France».

To celebrate the obtaining of the designation, a ceremony of laying the plaque «Musées de France» was organized Thursday, April 20, 2023 in the presence of Hilaire Multon, Regional Director of Cultural Affairs of Hauts-de-France, Michel Delepaul, Vice-President for Culture and Tourism of the European Metropolis of Lille, Jean-Gabriel Masson, Mayor of Fromelles, Hélène Blanc, director of the museum.

« The Museum of the Battle of Fromelles weaves a link between local memory and an ambition turned towards the world. A museum is this: rooted in its territory, but open to the universal ” said Hilaire Multon, Regional Director of Cultural Affairs of Hauts-de-France, welcoming the work done to obtain the designation.

What does the name "Musées de France" bring?

Governed by Book IV of the Heritage Code (museum law 4 January 2002), the Museums of France preserve permanent collections of public interest that they are in charge of preserving, enriching, studying, enhancing and making available to the public.

A protection of collections

By becoming «Musée de France», the status of the collections of the Museum of the Battle of Fromelles is changed : as soon as they are inventoried, the works and objects are inalienable, imprescriptible, unseizable: except for exceptions, they can neither be sold nor assigned and this, without any limitation of duration. In case of theft, the objects and works inventoried are protected and can be claimed by the museum, anywhere in the world and without time limit.

A recognition

In recent years, the Museum of the Battle of Fromelles has conceived a Scientific and Cultural Project, developed a policy of the public turned towards schools but also towards the tourist public, and in particular Australian. It has identified its development potential, at the crossroads of scientific research, the best knowledge of its collections and heritage, at the service of the greatest number with the project of the future renewal of its permanent exhibition.

It is in view of these elements in particular that the High Council decided to allow the Museum of the Battle of Fromelles to join the network of "Museums of France". This decision confirms how this museum has transformed from an associative museum, the first museum of its kind in the 1990s, to an interpretation centre.

Possibilities

The name «Musées de France» opens the possibility of benefiting for acquisitions from the pre-emptive right of the State and that of benefiting from tax provisions in favor of corporate sponsorship for acquisitions.

It also allows to apply for grants from the State, in investment, conservation, restoration, exhibitions and cultural and educational activities, editions...

Responsibilities

The Museums of France are called to maintain the quality of their scientific and cultural project, to professionalize their staff, to disseminate their collections and knowledge to the public, to implement a policy of preventive conservation and restoration, but also to apply the legislation on inventory and recollection.