Archives, French and French languages

archives

Archives monitoring in DRAC

The archival heritage is an essential element of France’s memory. And the preservation of archives is ensured both for the historical documentation of research and for the needs of natural and legal persons, public and private. The Interdepartmental Service of the Archives of France (Directorate General of Heritage) of the Ministry of Culture carries out its missions through three mechanisms:

• the system of control of the archives, supported by the central services, the general inspection of the archives, the missions of the National Archives and the presence in each department of agents of the State responsible for this control;
• the three centres of the National Archives;
• financial and/or technical assistance to local and regional authorities and to other bodies responsible for scientific, cultural and educational activities.

The mission in DRAC 

The DRAC is the regional supervisor of the third of the above devices. It shall support actions aimed at safeguarding or wider dissemination of the archival heritage, whether they are conducted by local authorities through their archives or by legal persons under private law whose objectives concern archives.

This assistance may include:

- under cultural land use planning:

• on the development of the municipal and intercommunal network of archives (recruitment of qualified professionals),

- for the conservation and dissemination of heritage:

• on safeguarding public funds: restoration or digitisation,
• on the safeguarding of private funds classified as historical monuments (on studies, census campaigns and reproduction of private funds in general),
• on transversal actions between communities or heritage areas,
• on the actions of learned societies in the field of historical and archival research (in the field of publications, priority is given to those of an exceptional nature),
• on promotion actions: exhibitions, online presentation of content, events included in the programme of commemorations adopted by the High Committee for National Celebrations (In this context, priority is given to operations promoting the dissemination of archival and historical research.)
• on improving dissemination to researchers and a wider public, in particular through the publication of research and guidance instruments,
• on initial and continuing training, in collaboration with natural partners (CNFPT, Universities, Regional Cooperation Agency),

- In the context of public action:

• on actions directed towards schools and amateur audiences: educational services and local history workshops, etc.

French language and languages of France

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs treats the French language and the languages of France from three angles:
 
 Proficiency in the French language, which allows regional management to help:
 
 - associations involved in the organization of writing or expression workshops for children, outside school, or for adults, for cultural but also professional purposes,
 - literacy workshops which facilitate the social and cultural integration or reintegration of vulnerable groups,
 - Associations that pay tribute to the French language and its authors through their creations,
 - associations which organize writing competitions (poems, news, free texts, etc.), which actively participate in the French Language Week, which is the emblematic event celebrating the French language in the world.
 
 The languages of France
 
 The languages of France are the regional or minority languages spoken by French citizens on the territory of the Republic for a long enough time to be part of the national cultural heritage, and are not the official language of any State.
 
 - The DRAC is mainly concerned with the publication of reference works, dictionary reissues, colloquium proceedings of learned societies, enrichment of funds, reprints of authors' works, etc.
 - In the field of education, the Regional Director sits on the Academic Council of French Languages at the two Rectors of Academy: Aix/Marseille and Nice. The DRAC follows the guidelines recommended by the rectors: to help the production of tools promoting a cultural environment towards school audiences (middle and high schools) who have for second or third living language a regional language.
 
 Multilingualism that helps:
 
 - associations working to maintain the French language in French-speaking countries (bilingual works addressed to libraries in French-speaking countries),
 - associations representing European countries (Germany, Spain, Portugal, etc.) in France, whose actions favour reciprocal language learning,
 - middle and secondary schools which exchange students (foreign pupils and French pupils abroad) in a school setting.