Traditions vivantes en images

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The project collaborates (conference, active participation in juries) with other institutions involved in the enhancement of intangible heritage. (Festival Belluard 2016, PNR). Five museum of the canton choosed to speak about some traditions during the period of the project. 

• Which domains of intangible cultural heritage are represented in your museum? All kind of traditions: craft traditions, social traditions, religions traditions, sports traditions, cultural traditions... (we work of the offical list)
• How are ICH-practitioners involved in your museum? Promoting traditions through photography
• Which domains of intangible cultural heritage are represented in your museum? The most important traditions of the canton are photographed.
• How does your museum contribute to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage? We have created an archived photographic collection at Musée Gruérien. A part of the amateur images will be archived on the platform notrehistoire.ch
• What kind of activities do you organize on intangible cultural heritage? Mainly photographic exhibitions (but also video and performance)

Traditions Vivantes en Images / #tradifri

Description of the project / practice / program

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"Traditions vivantes en images" is a project within the framework of the initiative "Cultural diversity in the regions" of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. This project launched by the Department of Culture of the Canton of Fribourg is coordinated by the Gruyére Museum. The initiative "Cultural diversity in the regions" (Pro Helvetia) addresses issues related to Switzerland's cultural diversity. This initiative supports projects outside major urban centres. The aim is to strengthen measures to help improve the conditions necessary for regional cultural production. For these reasons, the Pro Helvetia Foundation supports #tradifri.

In collaboration with museums of the canton, the Belluard Bollwerk International Festival and the cantonal and university library of Fribourg, the platform notrehistoire.ch and other partners, this innovative project allows everyone to contribute to the renewal and photographic archiving of living traditions in the canton of Fribourg. 

The project is divided into two main parts. The photographic mandates of professional photographers and the collect of pictures on social networks (Instagram). 

The various exhibitions have various spaces that touch an eclectic public. Our partnership with the Belluard Bollwerk International Festival as well as our collaboration with the Wall Riss Gallery (Fribourg) is clearly an approach to traditions through the contemporary art milieu. 

The illuminated exhibition in the streets of Fribourg reached a large audience. The exhibitions in five museums of the canton made it possible to make the traditions of the various districts known to the whole canton. The subject of traditions approached in an artistic and modern way as well as the participative action on the social networks brings the young generation in the museums.

The project will end with an original work (inspired by the photographic collection of #tradifri) by the students of the professional school of applied arts of Fribourg (EIKON).

How were practitioners of intangible cultural heritage involved?

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"Traditions vivantes en images" is a project within the framework of the initiative "Cultural diversity in the regions" of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. This project launched by the Department of Culture of the Canton of Fribourg is coordinated by the Gruyére Museum. The initiative "Cultural diversity in the regions" (Pro Helvetia) addresses issues related to Switzerland's cultural diversity. This initiative supports projects outside major urban centres. The aim is to strengthen measures to help improve the conditions necessary for regional cultural production. For these reasons, the Pro Helvetia Foundation supports #tradifri.

In collaboration with museums of the canton, the Belluard Bollwerk International Festival and the cantonal and university library of Fribourg, the platform notrehistoire.ch and other partners, this innovative project allows everyone to contribute to the renewal and photographic archiving of living traditions in the canton of Fribourg. 

The project is divided into two main parts. The photographic mandates of professional photographers and the collect of pictures on social networks (Instagram). 

The various exhibitions have various spaces that touch an eclectic public. Our partnership with the Belluard Bollwerk International Festival as well as our collaboration with the Wall Riss Gallery (Fribourg) is clearly an approach to traditions through the contemporary art milieu. 

The illuminated exhibition in the streets of Fribourg reached a large audience. The exhibitions in five museums of the canton made it possible to make the traditions of the various districts known to the whole canton. The subject of traditions approached in an artistic and modern way as well as the participative action on the social networks brings the young generation in the museums.

The project will end with an original work (inspired by the photographic collection of #tradifri) by the students of the professional school of applied arts of Fribourg (EIKON).

Cover photo: Aldo Ellena

CV of the author

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Mélanie Rouiller (CH) is photographer and journalist. Her photographic reportages – often described as having an ethnographic approach – are notably inspired by alpine traditions. For Rouiller, photography is a perfect excuse to open doors and better understand the society. Since 2001, she has collaborated as a photograph or editor with the local press, scientific and medical Swiss institutions, wood industry, tourist communication and the Fribourg cultural network. In 2016, the Musée gruérien commissioned Rouiller with the management of the #tradifri project. Rouiller is passionate about this federative project that affects both professionals and amateurs of photography, the patrimony and all social strata of society.