Eight Louvre-Lens Belfries between now and 2010

The purpose of the Louvre-Lens Belfries is to present treasures not only from the Louvre but also from the museums of the Nord-Pas de Calais region, prior to the inauguration of the Musée du Louvre-Lens, in towns that are lacking in cultural facilities.
The idea for the Louvre-Lens Belfries came from the "Belfries of Culture" that were organized by the Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Council in 2004 as part of the "Lille, European Capital of Culture" program.
Every spring and fall until the opening of the Louvre-Lens, a belfry will present a harmonious exhibition of works of art from the Musée du Louvre and from regional partner museums. There will be a total of eight belfries, providing an opportunity to admire works of art from the Louvre's eight departments: Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Decorative Arts, Prints and Drawings, Sculptures, and Paintings.

A common theme: the museum, memory of humankind

Museums preserve the traces of humankind-everyday life and its context, religious and funerary practices, etc.-and the Louvre-Lens Belfries will present these essential aspects of human existence. The choice of simple themes that are familiar to all of us is intended to reach a wide public, reflecting the goal of the future Louvre-Lens.
The first belfry is in Louvroil, a town near Valenciennes, until the 30th of november 2007. While the "Pharaoh" exhibition is on view in Valenciennes, it presents an ancient Egyptian treasure related to the magic of writing.

The importance of cultural outreach

As for the Belfries of Culture in 2004, an outreach program will contribute to the unique, innovative, and exemplary character of the Belfries. Education is a priority. The project goals are to inform and prepare local people, to give them tools for reflection, to build awareness of a heritage that is not only artistic, but historical and social too, and to relate art to reality, highlighting its tolerant and forward-looking role.