Far valer the particularities of Occitan cultures in the country

Occitan CULTURE, a particularity to be valued

The cultural problem for the territory

In this context of change, culture is the foundation on which adaptation to climate change can be anchored. The causes as well as the consequences of climate change are rooted, in a large number of areas, in the ignorance of our environment, in our loss of relationship to it, and in the freedom, in the development of territories, from their specificities. Climate change is, in part, a cultural problem, an effect of our lifestyle, activities and consumer behaviors.

It is in the cultural interstice that the inhabitants of the Park can find value chains, reform territorial sectors, fit into the natural environment in such a way as to “make territory”. The loss of Occitan culture and language means a reduction in diversity, which can lead to cultural homogenization and the loss of a unique source of inspiration in understanding current societal and environmental issues.

The knowledge that intangible cultural heritage practices provide about the environment and the territory – qualification of environments, uses of the territory, understanding of ecosystems, etc. – can contribute to understanding the causes of climate change and to encourage other practices. By losing the language, we lose the uses and understanding of our environment but also the feeling of belonging to the territory: “we are no longer attached to a territory therefore we preserve it less”. Occitan, seen as a guarantee of authenticity, is capable of making the territory habitable and desirable. It is an asset for the attractiveness of the territory.

The problem therefore lies in the avoidance of cultural homogenization which would lead to the loss of a unique source of inspiration in the apprehension of the territory. If Occitan culture and language are likely to provide concrete responses to contemporary, social, environmental, cultural and economic challenges and thus to sustainably develop the territory of the Park, we still need to seize them.

The urgency of the situation of language and its culture IS a reality

A few years ago, the territory was still an active center of Occitan culture, thanks in particular to the initiatives of actors attached to their culture. Despite this deep attachment, we see within the driving forces of Occitan culture a running out of steam. The territory also suffers from the loss of natural speakers which is accompanied by a decline in knowledge. The weak coverage of the issues of Occitan both at the local level (territorial authorities) and national level (State and National Education) is due to the lack of attractiveness of the language and the culture it conveys, which struggle to demonstrate their levers possible economic conditions, their social function (“making territory”) and the meaning they bring to the territory. Occitan culture suffers from an outdated image (it is described as “folklore”) and the added value it brings to the territory lacks appropriation.

Far que la linga e culture occitanas s’acoten aus projects de país / Make sure that the Occitan language and culture are associated with COUNTRY projects

The Park aspires to encourage the emergence of a more sustained dynamic of projects in favor of Occitan, both on the territory and within the project it carries. It supports around fifteen project leaders per year, cultural actors (associations mainly to offer year-round Occitan cultural programming) or municipal initiatives wanting to take Occitan culture into account. The Park strives to promote the socialization of Occitan in all areas of public and private life by tending to raise awareness that Occitan is a base on which the territory can anchor itself in order to develop.

Language and culture of the country in the Park projects / language and culture of the country in the Park projects

The Park can also use Occitan cultural capital to anchor its actions in the history of the country and share them.

Drubir de noveus chamins autorn de l’occitan / Opening new paths around Occitan

The Park stimulates artists' interest in Occitan cultural identity and encourages contemporary expressions of it. It invites artists/artists to question Occitan culture and its perception of the Park, with the aim of sharing, crossing and evolving residents' views, representations and knowledge of their intangible heritage through an artistic approach.

what are the actions of the park?

What did Parc read?

These actions are aimed at residents, the main target (restore pride in their culture), Communities (raising awareness that culture is a factor of development and encouraging them to take advantage of it), tourists and tourism stakeholders ( particularize the territory), the young public (raising their awareness of culture) and to a lesser extent to date towards socio-professionals (using culture to develop the economy).

• Sharing Occitan culture (understanding and cohesion of the territory, integration of residents, social well-being): Production of specific communication supports (discovery of culture) such as videos, audio, publications; programming of general public awareness meetings; cultural programming, co-productions of shows
• Support for project leaders (communities, associations, socio-professionals) : awareness raising among target audiences (such as regional education structures, PNR elected officials, socio-professionals - Marque Valeurs Parc), co-support of projects involving intellectual services and the creation of tools; support for the associative sector (publishing, equipment, programming), etc.
• Sharing the territorial project carried by the Park through its cultural action (understanding and sustainable development of the territory): thematic collections, productions, cultural services, etc.
• Economic project : ex. : “enterprise dins son país” project with the École Supérieure Internationale de Savignac (24), tutored action research projects in business to encourage the mobilization of Occitan wealth as a strategic tourism resource (2023-2024)
• Investment in the artistic field : Production of Occitan “fakes”, competition of artistic ideas, call for projects Grande loop and crafts (2024)

The Park's action benefits from the support of the Institute of Occitan Studies of Limousin (IEO Lemosin), resource center and project partner.

The action of the Park is supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and is part of the “Regional Languages ​​and Cultures of Nouvelle-Aquitaine Roadmap”