Culture, a driving force for social cohesion, is coming to the heart of the Tarn. In Blan, a conference is bringing together researchers, elected officials and artists this Saturday, June 20, to rethink its role in the face of territorial divides.
This Saturday, June 20, ArtCoBlan and the La Trame association are organizing a conference in Blan entitled “Culture, a tool for territorial cohesion”.
While the municipality of Castres recently chose to withdraw from its programming the play “Passport” by Alexis Michalik, the debate on the place of culture in society is coming back to the fore. ArtCoBlan and La Trame bring together researchers, elected officials, economic actors, teachers, artists and cultural leaders around of a conviction: culture remains a powerful factor of social cohesion.
For three years, the two structures have been developing together an ambitious cultural offer in rural areas. Their objective is clear: to make culture a space for dialogue and sharing. “Culture is political in the noble sense of the term,” remind the organizers. “It participates in the construction of living together without ever being put at the service of an ideology.”
The day will be opened by Dominique Faure, former minister
The conference, which will take place from 4:30 p.m., will be structured around three main themes. The first, dedicated to culture and social cohesion, will give the floor to Sophie Sellerian, director of the Ynov higher education group, and to sociologist and lecturer Fanny Parent. They will notably address the question of access to culture, critical thinking and the role of education in the training of citizens.
The second sequence will focus on the links between culture and territorial development. Business leaders and public officials will discuss the impact of cultural investments in terms of attractiveness and economic development.
Finally, the third part will give a voice to artists, institutions and actors in the field. Among them: Titouan Lamazou, internationally renowned writer and photographer, named artist of peace by UNESCO. His unique journey, from the first Vendée Globe won in 1990 to his commitment to world cultures, perfectly illustrates the idea of a creation that carries dialogue and social bonds.
The day will be opened by Dominique Faure, former Minister Delegate in charge of Territorial Communities and Rurality.
“Culture is neither a luxury nor a supplement to the soul”
At the end of the conference, at 6:30 p.m., the public will be invited to the opening of Titouan Lamazou’s exhibition, presented at ArtCoBlan until September 6.
Created in 2023 by Hélène and Didier Lortal, ArtCoBlan has become an atypical cultural place. Gallery, bookstore, artists’ studios, performance hall and creative space coexist there to make culture accessible to as many people as possible.
Through this conference, the organizers hope to demonstrate that “culture is neither a luxury nor a supplement to the soul, but a real tool of development, emancipation and cohesion for the territories”. “If communities often invest in cultural facilities, they sometimes lack the methodology and networks to build a real cultural policy. The conference is therefore intended to be a space for the exchange of good practices,” explains Didier Lortal.
