The award of the label «Cities and Countries of Art and History» is part of the action of the Ministry of Culture in favor of the cultural democratization and the awareness of the citizen to its living environment. Enhancing the landscape and architecture of the XXe The European Union is committed to a comprehensive approach to promoting its territory and sustainable development.
The Country of Art and History label is awarded to:
Montpellier Mediterranean Metropolis. “New city” of the Middle Ages, Montpellier, as well as the 30 municipalities constituting the agglomeration, will endeavour to reveal a plural heritage identity: medieval, ancient, natural heritages – from the Cévennes to the sea, while confirming its inscription in the contemporaneity (contemporary art and architectural creation).
The agglomeration community of Quimperlé (16 municipalities). This community of agglomeration built its candidacy in close consultation with the inhabitants according to three unifying axes: water and landscape, artistic creation, Breton culture and language. The label will thus reinforce an already highly structured cultural development policy, particularly in the field of public reading.
Dax is the first community of the department of Landes to be awarded the label City of art and history. Spa town, characterized by intangible heritage and architecture of the XXe In a very present century, the city conceives the implementation of its label in a dialogue with the inhabitants. This first perimeter will be designed to expand in a short time, so that all the inhabitants of the agglomeration community of Grand Dax can also benefit from this cultural offer.
The label extension is attributed to:
The city of Moulins for which a first City of Art and History agreement was signed in 1997 and renewed in 2013. The extension of the labeled territory to the agglomeration community Moulins communauté – henceforth Pays d'art et d'histoire will make it possible to promote the label in a territory of 44 municipalities and open the cultural offer to a greater diversity of heritage, and the landscape dimension.
The extension of the Billom Saint Dier Country of Art and History, which includes 8 additional municipalities to now include 25, is particularly relevant to urban mastery and economic and social development. The expansion of the cultural offer will be based on new technologies and the establishment of a Centre d'interprétation de l'architecture et du patrimoine (CIAP).
The Pays d'art et d'histoire de Saint-Flour is extended to 17 new municipalities, which brings to 31 municipalities the territory covered by the label within the community of municipalities of Saint-Flour Communauté. Particular attention will be paid to the human resources needed to implement the cultural project, the high quality of which and the integration into the overall policy of the territory are a guarantee of success.
The National Council also announced the renewal of the conventions of the Cities of Art and History of Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), Beaucaire (Occitanie), Besançon (Burgundy-Franche-Comté), Vienna (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) and Pays d'art et d'histoire dit «Between Cluny and Tournus».
"The "Cities and Countries of Art and History" conventions signed between the State and the communities make a significant place for actions aimed at young people and thus represent a formidable lever for the development of arts and cultural education. This network, engaged in all the national operations carried out by my ministry in the field of architecture and heritage, and often well beyond, is one of the most dynamic for the transmission of heritage and the awareness of all audiences of their living environment.” Franck Riester, Minister of Culture.
The network of Cities and Countries of Art and History now has 199 territories: 123 Cities of Art and History and 76 Countries of Art and History.