About us

Created in 2009, the organisation Histoire de Savoir(s) is a structure based in Lille, which actions are based on non-formal (or popular) education, through cultural practices – artistic creation and intercultural meetings – favouring civic expression.

Histoire de Savoir(s)

In 2011, HdS welcomed its first European group for a project on the topic “Art and Memory”, as well as organising its first European project – Green Touch, about nature within cities. In March 2012, the exhibition Shalom Ukraïna represents an important step and substantiates the relevance of the idea underlining Histoire de Savoir(s), that was not formalised until then. Project after project, the associative project is reinforced.

Overall, Histoire de Savoir(s) leads actions based on exchanges and collective creations, aiming at favouring active participation from citizens, to a better mutual understanding, as well as gaining recoverable skills.

Tool: non-formal education through cultural practices – artistic creations (photography, video, graphic design…) and intercultural meetings.

In 5 years, the association launched and got involved into 12 European projects with 27 European and neighbouring countries. It affected more or less 17.300 persons, directly or indirectly. It currently numbers 1 employee, and is located in Lille, in the neighbourhood of Faubourg de Béthune – even if its action has a European and a local dimension (Lille and NPDC).

Social objective of Histoire de Savoir(s) (modified in July 2013)

“Histoire de Savoir(s) is a structure aimed at framing and initiating public-spirited projects, which goal is the expression, by artistic, visual and intercultural means, on societal issues. Borrowing from the non-formal educational methods, it works to transmit knowledge and know-how by associating, on topics bound to contemporary cultures, young leaders and professionals, to the joint creation of cultural events. Its action aims at favouring the critical reflection of participants and of the public, in order to bring them to act as active citizens for a better mutual understanding. It acts at the local, national and European levels, for equal access to knowledge and culture, for insertion, for the promotion of tolerance and European identity.”

Goals of the structure

  • Boost active civic participation, by offering new innovative and interactive tools of expression and comprehension of the current society (civic expression).
  • Democratise artistic practices, seen as tools of personal, social and professional development, through the acquisition of new skills (non-formal education).
  • Favouring social cohesion and promoting tolerance, by being a space of exchanges at the local and European levels.

The association’s fields of activity – 3 strands of action:

  1. An exchange space (debates, language clubs, intercultural meetings…).
  2. A space of civic expression, through visual arts on societal issues – at two levels:
    • Participatory workshops: Green Touch, Lille Forbidden Zone, Lille-Wroclaw, Portrayals of my neighbourhood, Monchecourt History(ies)…
    • European cultural projects: Shalom Ukraïna, Re-Mind, Black Faces…
  3. A training and networking space (European trainings, networking and information on programmes).