 |
 |
The Chaumont-sur-Loire Estate |
The future of the Chaumont-sur-Loire Estate
In keeping with the law on decentralization, the property of the Château and of the Chaumont-sur-Loire Estate has, since February 2007, been transferred to the administration of the Région Centre.
Relying on the widespread reputation of the International Garden Festival and on the exceptional character of the estate, grouping the various activities of the International Conservatory of Parks and Gardens and of Landscaping, the Château, its outbuildings, its park and its unique location overlooking the Loire River, the Région Centre has launched an ambitious project aiming to make the Estate of Chaumont-sur-Loire one of the top cultural and tourist sites in the Loire Valley.
This project is structured around five fundamental elements: conservation of the property, stimulating fruitful
dialogue between heritage and contemporary creation, transmission and exchanges, keeping the Estate alive all
year round, and creating a unique structure of management. The Regional government must control the
conservation of building property (château, annexes) and moveable property (furniture collections, objects and
artwork).
In order to give the Chaumont-sur-Loire Estate an original cultural identity, the project proposes to continue the duties of the State (conservation, restoration, development of the collections), to reinforce and perpetuate the International Garden Festival, to stimulate contemporary creation, particularly the plastic arts, by regularly inviting an artist to take the château into his/her hands, and to bring the existing cultural institutions and equipment of the Region together in collaboration.
We may add that, at a time when public opinion is opening up to the issues of sustainable development and ecology, the Estate can only adhere wholeheartedly to this evolution. Thus the idea of creating the International Centre of Art and Nature, entirely devoted to the relation of nature and of culture, of artistic creation and landscape invention, of heritage and of the contemporary, of the individual and of the planetary garden.
Numerous forms of creation are invited to participate : landscaping, gardening, visual arts, architecture, cinema, music… As for the Château, it will reserve a large space for contemporary creation without erasing the importance of the true heritage of this historical monument.
The Chaumont-sur-Loire Estate also seeks to become a meeting place for exchange and sharing knowledge. By
transforming the Conservatory Garden Resource Centre into an international Multimedia Centre on landscaping
and gardens, the general public as well as specialists will benefit from a rich collection of information and archives. By continuing and developing its educational activities, by seeking out partnerships with specialized institutions, structures and companies, Chaumont will become a haven of reflection and exchange on education, training and creation in the field of landscaping.
One of the challenges of this project is to make it accessible year-round to the public. Constantly creating new activities and events (resident artists, exhibits, special projects…) will help to attract a wider public to the site even during the winter months.