Heritage and cultural action

In support of and in complementarity with the policies of knowledge, protection and restoration of heritage, the DRAC supports and accompanies the dynamics of appropriation and valorization of this architectural heritage, urban, landscape and intangible – when they are identified as levers in the territories' cultural development strategies.

The main areas of intervention

• labeled devices that have a stated public development objective (Cities and Countries of Art and History, Cultural Meeting Centres, Houses of the Illustrious, World Heritage, C'est mon patrimoine! );
• agreements in the context of arts and cultural education (CLEA, MIAA, Qu(art)ier);
• expertise, advice and support for communities and project promoters;
• facilitating networks of professionals (archivists, animators of architecture and heritage, etc.);
• training (Licenses of Guide speakers, PREAC Mémoires du Travail, etc.)

Cities and Countries of Art and History in Hauts-de-France

The Cities and Countries of Art and History label

Established in 1985 by the Ministry of Culture, the label Ville et Pays d'art et d'histoire recognizes communities, communes or groupings of communes, which engage in a process of promoting architectural quality, The European Union’s Member States are committed to the development of the European Union and its Member States.

The approach integrates all the elements that contribute to the identity of a territory rich in its past and strong in its dynamism and its projects.

Label, instructions for use

The label Ville et Pays d'art et d'histoire is awarded by the State represented by the regional prefect, on the advice of the Regional Commission for Heritage and Architecture and on criteria defined by the National Council of Cities and Countries of Art and History. An agreement of objectives signed with the State formalizes the commitment of the community for a term of ten years renewable.

At the head of the department of architecture and heritage of the territory labeled, the animator of architecture and heritage, project manager City or Country of art and history, is responsible for implementing the guidelines set out in the terms of the Convention and the resulting action programme. It values the architecture and heritage of its territory and develops a policy of the public towards the inhabitants, the young public and visitors.

A label, a national network and a regional network

More than 202 cities and countries are certified in France, including 17 in Hauts-de-France. Twelve Cities and five Countries, which constitute a regional network led by the Hauts-de-France regional cultural affairs directorate (Drac). The Drac also proposes actions uniting the Cities and Countries of Art and History project managers and their collaborators around multidisciplinary approaches and regional ambition.

While the label is based on criteria and expertise shared at the national level, the 2020 decentralization measures now confer the decision to label the regional administration.