In partnership with the DAAC - Academic Directorate of Cultural & Artistic Education of the city of Lyon (France) and the Lugdunum Museum and Gallo-Roman Theaters, more than 60 professionals from formal and non-formal education gathered on October 16th to support education in the preservation of cultural heritage!
On October 16, 2024, a day of awareness and sharing of the results of the PITCHER project was held in Lyon, bringing together teachers, researchers, museum mediators, and cultural heritage enthusiasts. Organized by the ENSP Research Laboratory, the DAAC of Lyon, and the Lugdunum Museum and Gallo-Roman Theaters, this event brought together a committed community focused on the protection and promotion of cultural heritage, especially in the face of challenges like archaeological looting and the illicit trafficking of cultural goods.
The event began with a presentation by Laura FOULQUIER (Heritage and Architecture Mission Officer, DAAC of Lyon) on the concept of cultural heritage, highlighting that heritage is not only a material legacy but also a reflection of our collective identity. Corinne CHARTRELLE (expert in combating the trafficking of cultural goods, LRENSP) then spoke about the missions of the Central Office for the Fight against Trafficking in Cultural Property. A major actor in the protection of heritage in France, this judicial police office uses modern tools such as the TREIMA and ARTEFACT databases to monitor cultural objects and detect trafficking. The importance of these tools is further enhanced today by the use of artificial intelligence, which accelerates the traceability of the objects in question. Despite the support of new technologies, police services alone cannot stop trafficking, hence the need for a holistic approach to protect our shared heritage. As explained by the speakers, the PITCHER project aims to raise awareness among younger generations about the preservation of heritage through Open Educational Resources (OER) specifically designed for teachers and cultural mediators. The conferences held during the day allowed participants to discover innovative educational tools, including approaches integrating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics).
Nicolas ANGLES and Laurent SALVADOR (history and geography teachers, Hubert Reeves College in Epinac - Gustave Courbet High School in Belfort) presented how to integrate these resources into school programs starting from Cycle 3, to introduce students to the heritage value of cultural goods and the consequences of archaeological looting. This presentation was complemented by Oriane ROUSSELET (archaeologist and head of cultural mediations at the Bibracte site), advocating for multidisciplinary projects between formal and non-formal education venues to raise awareness of heritage protection.
Beyond the presentations, the day also included practical workshops. Participants had the opportunity to ask experts questions about the implementation of the presented resources while discovering ten of the seventeen educational resources developed as part of the PITCHER project. These OERs, designed in line with the curricula of various partner countries in the Erasmus+ program, are tailored to language, history-geography, moral and civic education, political science, and geopolitics courses. They are available for free online at https://www.pitcher-project.eu/educationalmaterials?lang=en in multiple languages and allow teachers to start a pedagogical sequence on cultural heritage preservation, conflict regions, ancient and modern history, art, and artistic movements.
These exchanges were enriched by a guided tour of the Lugdunum Museum and Gallo-Roman Theaters, offering participants a concrete immersion into local history. This practical approach reinforces the idea that awareness of cultural heritage should not be limited to academic discourse but should also be embodied in lived experiences. The aesthetic shock caused by the discovery of ancient objects can be a powerful lever to spark interest and respect for heritage.
The Lyon event was much more than a simple presentation of the PITCHER project results. It was a call to action for all education and culture stakeholders. Protecting cultural heritage is a collective challenge that requires everyone's involvement, whether they are teachers, students, or professionals in the field. Raising awareness about the dangers threatening our cultural legacy and promoting best practices are essential steps to ensuring that the treasures of our past continue to inspire future generations.
We hope that this initiative in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region will be the starting point of a broader movement, mobilizing more people around the protection and promotion of our cultural heritage. We invite everyone who wishes to learn more to make use of the OERs and join us in this extensive awareness campaign.
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