HERITAGE CLASS

Since 1995, the Centre of European culture has a branch of cultural action designated by the French education authority. This branch puts into action is experience in the field of heritage pedagogy for primary and secondary establishments who would like to allow their students to participate in a heritage or cultural class. Le teachers who draw up the program adapted to their students are supported by the Centre of European Culture in terms of the organisation of such a project.

The concept of the bi-national heritage classes is similar to the encounters only adapted to a younger target group (primary and secondary).

These classes put the students into an atmosphere particularly orientated towards the awareness of heritage. During one week the youngsters follow a coherent program elaborated alongside local cultural partners (historical sites, museums, associations) which contain practical workshops. The Centre of European Culture has a strong network of partners and is therefore capable of proposing to classes a concerted program and qualified trainers. The themes encountered are directly related to the Poitou-Charentes region: history, religion, gardens, architecture, exchanges during the Middle-Ages, the exchange route during the Middle-Age.

During the duration of the heritage class, the students work in a pluridisciplinary manner with their teachers and heritage professionals within the framework of a well defined project prepared beforehand by the classes. Workshops, visits, analysis and investigations succeed each other. Theses classes aim to incite the youngsters to understand, like and arouse in them a responsible and civil spirit and attitude regarding their cultural heritage.

This trip, for the youngsters, is a synonym of discovery, initiation, total immersion in a reality other then their daily routine.

A second part of the work of the academic cultural action concerns actions carried our with the centre of European culture direct neighbours, which have no relation with foreign countries, for example based on the Romanesque church in Aulnay-de-Saintonge in 2003/2004 or concerning Saint-Jean-d'Angelys' architectural heritage in 2005/2006 (pdf : poster 1 - poster 2 - poster 3)

Furthermore this service is always on the look out for new projects aimed at teachers and containing a European dimension. This service brings its savoir-faire, advice and support within its role as a public service. Within the framework of project developed for youngsters concerning cultural and heritage awareness, it has developed pedagogical cards and small manuals in several languages, on themes or questions concerning neighbouring sites or monuments (St-Jean-d'Angélys' Royal Abbey, the Romanesque church in Aulnay-de-Saintonge, Fenioux.)

This same service may also be brought to participate in annex activities.