Today, we’re at the Rethel agricultural high school in the Ardennes, for a speech contest among young 10th-graders which finalizes “The Biggest Museum in France” program that we’ve been leading in partnership with TotalEnergies Foundation and the Foundation for La Sauvegarde de l’Art Français.
It’s in very poor condition, but I could restore it.
“The Biggest Museum in France” is a program we’ve been running with the students since December, to help them discover local heritage.
They discovered several works of art and objects that are part of public heritage and accessible to everyone in the region.
You can’t take my carriage, it’s part of my memory, my history.
There’s a horse-drawn carriage, which belongs to an association not far from here, the Rethel war memorial. Then there are three archive documents from the Departmental Archives.
Hands repair what the past has worn out. Fading colors become bright again. Ancient works reclaim their rightful place.
The students worked on these heritage items throughout the year and they’re going to vote for the one that will receive a €10,000 donation.
Voted!
The carriage...
The carriage.
We’re really happy because we worked hard for this project. So, it’s great to win.
I’m in the horse-riding world, so working on a project related to horse-riding meant a lot to me. We really need to preserve the carriage.
We were under a bit of pressure, but it all turned out well in the end.
We’re all very happy with what we did. It was really intensive, but we got a lot out of it. It was enriching for the team and for the students, who were able to get closer to heritage, closer to local heritage. It was much more tangible for the students and that was wonderful.
I discovered that heritage is all around us, in the city, in monuments, and in museums.
I found out that wherever you go, you can see heritage somewhere.
I was very impressed with your presentations. Well done for having brought these three wonderful Ardennes heritage projects to life with so much enthusiasm. We’ll keep an eye on the renovation process!
We’re totally in tune with one of the missions of TotalEnergies Foundation, i.e. supporting heritage and access to heritage for young people, as is the case today at Rethel agricultural high school.
The support from TotalEnergies Foundation is very important to us because, over three years, it enables us to develop this program with 14 classes.
I am seen as an allegory of the nation mourning its children.
And, thanks to the Foundation, we have also created a new, customized program in which the classes this year were able to try an art restoration induction workshop led by a professional. That was a much more ‘hands-on’ perspective we were able to give them thanks to the support from the Foundation.
In the presentations, I noticed that you had considered the issues for the three different projects. I really enjoyed your presentation and your creativity. Congratulations on the work you’ve done, it’s very good. I think you’ve grown as young adults.
Many thanks to all the students who participated to the project.
Philomène VUILLARD
Program Manager at the Foundation for La Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
Lalie
10th grade student
Clara
10th grade student
Loreena
10th grade student
Joane LINDEN
History & Geography teacher
Noah
10th grade student
Gilles POURET
Grand-Est Regional Director, TotalEnergies
Régis RATAUX
Les Sabots du Relais Association
