Networking - Op de Tast / Res-Sentir

This project benefited from the contributions of Jean-Marie Oriot, Karel Van Ransbeeck (De Spiegel), Léa Collet, Magalie Mobetie, Mylène Benoit (Contour progressif company), Irène Burkel — Mac/Val — and BAMM!, with support from the Hauts-de-France Region and the Flemish Community of Belgium, as part of the “Mise en réseau” initiative.

As part of its membership in the 50° North Network , the Institute participated in the project Op de Tast , bringing together professionals and audiences from France and Flanders. Rooted in a cross-border context, this project aimed to experiment with and develop shared sensory experiences, with the goal of continuing to envision accessibility to the visual and performing arts through the senses.

The Project

The project was implemented by a steering committee composed of five organizations nominated by publiq and five members from 50° Nord – Le Fresnoy – Studio national (Tourcoing), La Chambre d’Eau (Le Favril), Espace36 (Saint-Omer), l’H du Siège (Valenciennes), and the Institut pour la photographie.

The research conducted throughout the project brought together artists from both regions, whose artistic practices explored sensory experiences and the senses. In particular, the Institute developed a project within this framework that combined contemporary dance and the visual arts, aimed at non-native-French-speaking children at the Ariane Capon School (Lille). This project was led by Mylène Benoit, in collaboration with the LaM.

In 2023, a workshop for mediation professionals was held at Le Fresnoy. A digital resource platform was also created to ensure that the knowledge gathered there continues to circulate and inform future initiatives.

The development of this project also provided opportunities to share experiences as part of a training program for elected officials from the Hauts-de-France region and a one-day event organized by ICOM CECA at the Museum of Jewish Art and History (Paris).