Learning from the “Mediations and Cultural Democracy” experiments

On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation dedicated a day to sharing the artistic and civic experiments carried out since 2020 in the Hauts-de-France, through the first two editions of the “Mediations and Cultural Democracy” program. It was an opportunity for the speakers and participants to question with sincerity the synergies of partnerships, the processes at work and their collateral effects; and for the Foundation’s Citizen Art axis, to launch the 2024 call for projects, focused on rural areas and extended to the national territory.

From specific experiences, draw common lessons

On that day, at the École Supérieure d’Art | Dunkerque-Tourcoing, co-organizer of the day, cultural operators, artists, elected officials, social actors from Hauts-de-France and elsewhere, joined by video by 140 people, were able to hear the stories of six beneficiaries of the scheme. These project leaders, supported in 2020, testified to the plurality of experiences through the stories of their developments, the problems encountered and their experiences. In the heart of the city or in rural areas, if the forms, organizations and territories distinguish each experience, the lessons are common: thinking in terms of offer or result is no longer adjusted to the notion of cultural democracy that we support; Today, it is a question of thinking about the involvement of the people concerned, of inscribing the process over a long period of time, grappling with the fluctuations that characterize any living phenomenon.

“The discussions on cultural democracy highlighted the need to include all voices, especially those of marginalized groups, which encourages us to rethink our practices for more inclusivity and accessibility. The testimonials on successful projects have demonstrated the lasting impact that well-conducted cultural mediation can have, inspiring us to aim for long-term effects in our initiatives.” Testimony received at the end of the day

Turning our attention to robustness

Those present were also able to hear the words of Réjane Sourisseau — Chargé d’études et de recherches-actions, associate lecturer at the University of Lille, coordinator of participatory evaluation; and Nathalie Poisson-Cogez — Doctor in contemporary art history and research coordinator at ESÄ, member of the group of experts solicited for this evaluation. A sensitive study focused on the conditions, interactions, and effects that accompanied each project, the summary of which will be published in January 2025 by the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation. A qualitative vision that we are committed to supporting and which meets the inspiring thought of biology and biophysics researcher Olivier Hamant who, invited to close this day, testified to the necessary paradigm shift in the conception and perception of our actions through the concept of robustness: “Robustness is an operational response to a fluctuating world, It’s a pragmatic response, it’s not only a principle, it’s also a method, it’s well-being, which we build for others, human and non-human, but also for ourselves.”

A 2024 call for projects on a national scale and focused on rural areas

This day was an opportunity to build community and make an appointment: the 2024 call for projects “Mediation and cultural democracy” launched that day and closed on September 10, collected 206 applications. In January 2025, the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation will announce six to eight winning projects, the leaders of which will be hosted in a seminar the following month. Rich in the lessons learned, this revisited experiment is now open to the entire territory and is anchored in rural areas, territories far from institutional cultural dynamics and rich in possible transversal synergies between artists, actors of cultural, economic, social life, and citizens.

Photo credit:

© Colonel’s House

Illustrations:

© Philine Bellenoue