VIDEOGALLERY
Cross-border cooperation project No. 046, “Les Racines du Goût” (Alcotra 2007–2013), set as its main objectives the diversification of cultural offerings by promoting the preservation, transmission, and adaptation of customs and knowledge related to the use of plants in mountain regions, and to encourage cultural exchange by involving partners with expertise in the scientific, agricultural, and cultural fields in a multidisciplinary approach to the issue of taste as it relates to local products.
The Fondation Grand Paradis’s activities within the project focused on the development and promotion of the Maison Bruil ethnographic museum in Introd, which houses the permanent exhibition “Conserver le souvenir… se souvenir pour conserver,” which focuses on food preservation techniques. Maison Bruil also houses the Atelier du Goût, a space inaugurated in 2007 that serves as a network of producers from the Espace Grand Paradis and, at the same time, acts as a showcase for the region’s traditional food and wine products.
As part of the project, the Fondation Grand Paradis has carried out numerous outreach and awareness-raising initiatives. Among the public awareness activities, the thematic educational workshops for preschool and elementary school children are of great importance, as is “Gran Paradiso in Scena,” an interactive traveling exhibition exploring the unique characteristics of Gran Paradiso through a blend of legend, reality, and humor, which concludes at the Atelier du Goût with a guided tasting of local products. To share stories about the production of local products and the traditional craftsmanship that is part of the local heritage, the Grand Paradis Foundation also produced the video “Les Racines du Goût: Discovering the Flavors of Gran Paradiso,” directed by Joseph Péaquin of the Aosta Valley for DocFilm.
To highlight the connection between the ecomuseum’s theme and the region, “Géoguide Grand Paradis—Esprit des lieux et nouvelles technologies: le Grand Paradis dans votre portable” was also developed—a pilot project that allows visitors to explore the territory and cultural heritage of Gran Paradiso through customizable, georeferenced itineraries and the use of innovative augmented reality technology.
To complement the work carried out as part of the “Géoguide Grand Paradis” initiative, an audio guide was produced that explains the contents of the Maison Bruil ecomuseum.
A series of improvements were also made to the ecomuseum’s interior layout, with a particular focus on the areas dedicated to the reception desk, the gift shop, and the room used as an educational workshop. In the fall of 2010, road signs pointing to Maison Bruil were added to make it easier for visitors to find the site. As for the educational program offered to schools, two board games based on the ecomuseum’s theme were developed and will be given to classes as part of the educational workshops.
To conclude the project, the “Eductour Racines du Goût” was organized—a three-day trip aimed at promoting and publicizing all the initiatives and actions carried out by the various partners as part of the project. Although the project concluded at the end of November, the initiatives undertaken over the course of the three-year project will continue to be offered and will make a significant contribution to the programs provided by the Maison Bruil Ethnographic Museum.
PROGRAM: ALCOTRA 2007–2013
DURATION: 2008–2010
AMOUNT: €1,799,960
AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO FONDATION GRAND PARADIS: €219,960
REGIONAL AUTHORITY IN CHARGE: Department of Education and Culture – Directorate for the Promotion of Cultural Heritage and Activities – Regional Bureau of Ethnology and Linguistics
IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Fondation Grand Paradis
PARTNERS: Fondation Grand Paradis; Municipality of Jovençan; Paysalp Museum in Meussy