A real popular success since 2005, the European Night of Museums returns on Saturday 14 May for its 18th edition. Many museums in Hauts-de-France are opening their doors free of charge as part of this emblematic event organized by the Ministry of Culture.

As every year, the public will benefit from an exceptionally rich programme: guided tours, fun tours, art workshops, screenings and live performances. These animations offered in various museums of the region will give him to live a diversity of experiences both contemplative, unusual and convivial.

In the Aisne, the Franco-American Museum of the Castle of Blérancourt revisits the little-known history of children’s libraries by tracing the adventure of US Committee on Devastated Regions ». The Thiérache Museum to Vervins who dedicates an exhibition to the cinema of the town unveils posters, photos, plans, and old postcards evoking the diversity of the functions he fulfilled in the life of the inhabitants. During the exhibition « Confrontation-Inspirations » proposed by the Museum Jeanne d'Aboville à la Fère, the public is invited to get acquainted with the works of the painter Gabriel Martinet inspired by prehistoric remains and the iconography of ancient objects.

In the North, after 9 months of closure for the completion of its covered route, the ancient Forum of Bavay reopens its doors during the night. Visitors will be able to observe the results of the work and enjoy the collections in a nocturnal atmosphere. In Tourcoing, the Muba organizes the exhibition Eugène Leroy, against the backdrop » which deals with the links between this great artist and the cultural milieu of northern France, bubbling in the post-war period. The Lewarde Mining Historical Centre and the Museum of Flanders in Cassel organize respectively musical nocturnal tours and a theatrical and conté tour featuring the release of monstrous creatures.

At the Bruno Danvin Museum of Art and History in Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise in Pas-de-Calais, the dancers of the association Academy Ballet » evolve in the middle of the works during a magical evening. In Boulogne-sur-Mer, the public accesses the must-sees of the Comtal Castle through guided tours The keys to the castle He is also called upon to participate in the resolution of “ The riddle of the elaborate trunk » which should keep him on the lookout for part of the night. The Centre culturel Saint-Vaast in Arras offers the public to equip themselves with flashlights and magnifiers to discover the works in a new light.

In the Oise, the national museum of the Château de Compiègne invites visitors to rediscover its collections, equipped with flashlights and candles, so that they can reveal themselves in a new way in games of shade and light. In Beauvais, the Mudo set up unusual visits to the episcopal palace while artistic performances will take place around the works. In Senlis, students of the municipal conservatory unveil their talents in music and painting at the Musée de la Vénerie and the Museum of Art and Archaeology.

Recently inaugurated after works, the museum of Picardie in Amiens in the Somme hosts the exhibition Model statuses » which looks back on the history of arts education without the city since the end of the XVIIIe century until today. Still in Amiens, the FRAC Picardie invites to meet the artist of the exhibition Hyperdrawing which revisits protocol drawing and artistic performance by placing the artist’s gesture at the heart of the exhibition space. Finally in Fouilloy the Sir John Monash Centre opens its doors exceptionally for a concert of bagpipes of the Pipe Band of Val de Somme.

The operation « The class, the work! » conducted in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports to bring the school public closer to museums, allows students to become one-night mediators. Thus, several classes from kindergarten to college present at the Sandelin Museum in Saint-Omer in the Pas-de-Calais or at the Muba in Tourcoing the work carried out during the year.

Find more information on the event website: https://nuitdesmusees.culture.gouv.fr/