France: Culturespaces

Created in 2009, Culturespaces Foundation promotes access to the arts and cultural heritage for marginalized children and teenagers, including those who are ill, hospitalized, disabled or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Its programs seek to open the eyes of young audiences to the riches of their cultural heritage by introducing them to historical monuments and museums.

In the footsteps of the Romans
In the footsteps of the Romans

With funding from the AREVA Corporate Foundation, 300 young people will visit in 2016 two historical monuments: the Théâtre antique d’Orange and the Arena of Nîmes.

The objective is to introduce these cultural sites, simply and understandably, to youngsters aged 4 to 11, to open their eyes to the riches of their regional heritage, and to make it fun for them to learn, observe, share and discover, in four stages:

  • a preparatory session with the children: a mediator comes to the children’s host facility with an educational kit to talk about the historical context and prepare for the trip to the monument;
  • a field trip to the cultural site: “Daily life in Nemausus” in Nîmes, which traces the daily life of a 10-year old in ancient times, and a treasure hunt in Orange;
  • participation in a historical reconstruction at the Arena of Nîmes: “The Great Roman Games”
  • a follow-up meeting in the schools, community centers and hospitals: production of exhibition panels, writing of an article and completion of a log book.
Two sites full of history
Two sites full of history
The Théâtre antique d’Orange located in the heart of Provence, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a manifestation of Roman civilization. The Arena of Nîmes is the most well-conserved Roman amphitheater in the world.