The Micro-Folie is an innovative concept offering a digital museum accessible to all. Launched by La Villette in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and 12 national institutions, it brings together more than 3200 high-definition digitized works from prestigious museums such as the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, and the Centre Pompidou. This project aims to democratize access to culture through a modular and engaging space where visitors can freely explore masterpieces using interactive tablets or organize group tours with a guided lecture. The Micro-Folie is not limited to digital exhibitions; it also offers a FabLab, a performance space, and virtual reality stations, making it a comprehensive tool for arts and cultural education. A true hub for living and exchange, it also hosts events such as concerts and screenings, thus strengthening its role as a link between the public and cultural institutions. Available in fixed or mobile versions, the Micro-Folie sets up in various locations, such as media libraries or cultural centers, to get ever closer to the public.
Exclusive interview with Laura Picques: at the heart of the Micro-Folie
I would like to thank Laura Picques, the coordinator of the Micro-Folie and head of the cultural project at the Villé Valley Community of Municipalities, for taking the time to carefully answer my questions. Her commitment and passion for culture shine through in each of her responses. You can find this exchange in question-and-answer format below.
- Can you remind us what a Micro-Folie is and what its main objectives are? The Micro-Folie is a "digital museum" concept developed by La Villette in Paris, at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture. Its main objective is to make works of art from museums and cultural institutions accessible to everyone in very high definition, accompanied by explanations. The artworks are presented in the form of a "film," and users can explore the content via tablets: zooming in on the works, listening to videos, completing puzzles, etc.
- How are the works presented in the Micro-Folie collections chosen? The works are organized into "collections": these are films of approximately 20 minutes that display between 60 and 120 works on a loop on the screen. Once a work is selected on the tablet, the user can access additional works. Thus, each collection contains between 300 and 800 available works. The collections are thematic. Partner institutions submit works to La Villette, which then selects them to create the film. For example, various cultural institutions in the Grand Est region submitted works for the Grand Est collection, the 16th and most recent release. La Villette selects the works according to specific criteria, such as image quality and relevance to the theme. The Grand Est collection contains 750 works from 70 different partners (museums, libraries, archives, media libraries, etc.).
- What specific projects have you already implemented with the Micro-Folie in the Villé Valley?The Communauté de Communes (local council) purchased the Micro-Folie last year. It was used for a while in the youth center at the MJC (youth and community center). However, in recent months, there has been a real desire to use it more extensively and develop projects with local partners. The school and after-school program in Maisonsgoutte were the first to respond to this objective by requesting the Micro-Folie for their facilities. It is possible to draw from the various works in the collections to create a specific theme and offer a short presentation to an audience. For the students at Honcourt, a session was organized on the theme of the "circus," in connection with the school's educational project for the year. After the All Saints' Day break, the four other classes, including the kindergarteners, will also discover this resource.
- Why did you choose themes such as sport, Paris and European royal residences for the first collections presented in the Vallée de Villé? Because I wanted to avoid nudity… I don't have the option of choosing the artworks that appear in the different collections. These are designed by La Villette and, once created, cannot be modified. Some works may contain visuals that are a bit shocking for primary school children. As this was a demonstration of the tool in "free" mode and not a presentation I was leading with artworks I had selected, I preferred to show collections that seemed age-appropriate and engaging. For example, the sports collection contains many videos, which is more suitable for children who aren't yet able to read well, for instance…
- What are the upcoming projects for the Micro-Folie in the Villé Valley, particularly for the Christmas program? The Micro-Folie in the Villé Valley isn't just for children, and certainly not for schools! For Christmas, the program will focus on families. From December 7th to 14th, it will be located at the Breitenbach community center, with four activities planned for families. On December 7th and 11th, activities will be organized around the theme of Christmas, with a presentation of artworks followed by a discussion, and then a creative workshop where participants can take home a souvenir or a small decoration. On December 13th, a special evening will be offered for adults, with a screening of the opera Cinderella, a recording of Jules Massenet's work, from 18:30 pm to 22 pm, with an intermission and refreshments. And the following day, December 14th, the Micro-Folie will be open for self-guided visits, offering the opportunity to explore the educational kits and interact with the artworks.
- How do you envision the evolution of the Micro-Folie in the Villé Valley in the medium and long term? Are there any additional modules or collaborations planned? In the long term, we would like the Micro-Folie to have a more permanent location where it would remain open to the public when it's not being deployed in different towns. Currently, when it's not in use, it's folded up and stored away. In the medium term, we want to make it travel around and present it to everyone, from schools to community groups. For example, I've already spoken with Michel Jourdain, president of the association Les Cavaliers du rêve and organizer of the Nuits de Saint-Gilles festival, who is considering setting it up at his event to keep festival-goers entertained during the day. We want the community to take ownership of the Micro-Folie and be able to request it.
- Which audience do you primarily want to reach with the Micro-Folie in the Villé Valley? Ideally, everyone. I don't have a priority, but rather "desires" regarding the audiences I'd like to reach. For example, I'd like to work with the residents of the Villé retirement home to introduce the Micro-Folie, particularly during an intergenerational day. A child and a resident could try out the tool together. The child would bring their knowledge of how to use the tablet, while the resident would share their knowledge, anecdotes, or memories about the artworks.
- What feedback have you received? The feedback comes mainly from the children and is very positive. I've also received similar feedback from parents, including at the end of the session. It's a really fun tool that allows us to introduce a bit of history and art into their curriculum.
- What personally motivated you to get involved in the Micro-Folie project in the Villé Valley? I was already familiar with the tool, having completed a civic service within a Micro-Folie in 2019. I was curious to see how the tool had evolved in five years, and I also wanted to discover the Villé Valley which I did not know.
- Is there a work or collection that you would particularly like to introduce to the residents through the Micro-Folie? Lunch on the Grass de ManetDiscussing this work allows us to address the break between traditional painting and the emergence of new movements, such as Impressionism. We mention the "Salon des Refusés" and the "counter-Salons," etc. It's a subject that blends scandal, 19th-century sociology, and renewal.
- If you were to dream up an ideal project for the Micro-Folie in the Valley, what would it look like and how would you involve the local community? I don't yet have an "ideal" project for the Valley, just a lot of ideas. For example, I envision a rather unique form of mediation in which the public is deprived of sight. The idea would be to reconstruct the sound and sensory world of a painting by working with local musicians, market gardeners, or even perfumers. This would allow people to hear, smell, touch, and then try to imagine the artwork in question.
- Are there works by artists from the Vallée de Villé in the Micro-Folie's programming, or do you plan to include them in the future? Unfortunately, no. In 2021, La Villette began work on the Grand Est collection, and cultural institutions in the region were able to submit works. In the final version, which was recently released, no works come from the Valley. Either none were selected, or none were submitted. It's not possible to add works after the fact. To see them in the future, La Villette would need to develop either the Grand Est 2 collection or a thematic collection on castles, for example, and we would need to submit images of castles in our region, hoping they would be selected. But nothing is impossible! Who knows, perhaps we'll see images of René Kuder one day!
14. In a few words, what message would you like to convey to the inhabitants of the Villé Valley regarding the Micro-Folie and its role in their daily lives?
To dare to come.
To dare to push open the door.
To come and discover the tool, its richness.
To listen to one's curiosity.
