- A Clear Ambition to Enlighten the Future
- Missions and Values
- The Future Heritage
- The Confluence Museum Staff and Services
- Interview with the Rhône Department President
- Interview with the Confluence Museum Director
- Interview with the President of the Corporate Patrons Club
- Confluence Museum’s Patrons Club Members
Michel Côté responds to several questions
why have you chosen this name?
First of all, it is a museum, that is to say an institution whose primary mission is to preserve, to emphasize, to develop and to disseminate knowledge about the collections.
Confluence is derived from the building's location overlooking the meeting of the Rhône and Saône rivers, by the cultural project which brings together the sciences and society and by the objectives of the Museum, facilitating the encounter between visitors and knowledge.
What is the theme?
A subject heretofore untreated in France: science and society.
In order to understand the complexity of the world in which we live in today, one must look at all of the sciences and the impact on the different societies. The role of the Confluence Museum is to try to understand how man interacts with his environment and vice versa, from both a natural and
a cultural perspective, and to comprehend the realties of the world in which we live.
The Museum will study themes and concerns of global citizens. It will enable one to see and to understand the questions, the challenges, the different viewpoints... and to tell a story, to present the facts, as well as to identify new theories...
On the one hand it is thematic, that is to say it will explain the different subjects in detail, and on the other hand, it is multidisciplinary because associates other resources enhancing the study of objects (audio-visual, interactive, and live performances, etc.).
Can you describe the planned exhibitions?
The Museum will propose 9 exhibitions simultaneously:
3 permanent "Permanent Core Collection Exhibitions" and 6 temporary exhibits "In-Depth Multi-Disciplinary Exhibitions". In addition, there will be 4 discovery centers and 2 auditoriums.
The 3 permanent exhibitions will take up 3000m² and the 3 themes ("Where do we come from?" "Who are we?" and "What are we doing?") are at the heart of the Confluence Museum.
They are aligned with the Museum's primary purpose: to stimulate an interaction between the sciences and society; the exhibits treat the origins and the future of mankind, from their identity, relative to other living species, to man's capacity to build, to innovate and to dialogue.
They reflect the advancement of knowledge; bring to the forefront the progress and innovation, always using a rigorous scientific approach.
Concurrently with the Permanent Core Collections will be 6 In-Depth Multi-Disciplinary complementary temporary exhibitions, which comprise about 3,500 m².
With different time frames, these exhibits will deepen and broaden the understanding of the various themes in relation to what is happening in today's world and will add value to a collection. Different presentation modes will be used, and exhibits will employ state of the art technology.
For example, they will be organized around themes such as Sound and Music, Art and the Machine, Deserts, Women and Men, Aborigines and Inuits, Light, etc.
You often speak about "the public". What do you really mean?
A museum is a knowledge center, but the Confluence Museum is more; it will be a dynamic environment that brings people together, conceived to welcome all types of publics: students, adults, families, experts...
Particular attention has been given to visitors who are physically challenged: the majority of the Museum will be accessible and under-
standable. Each visitor may decide their route, based on their interests and their curiosity.
Here, one comes to discover, to explore, to wonder, and to be delighted. Culture will no longer be a barrier, but a pathway between visitors from all horizons, giving a new sense to the idea of social unity.
There is not a Museum without collections, what are the Confluence Museum's collections?
The Confluence Museum is inheriting many collections from the former Museum in earth sciences, life sciences and social sciences. However, based on the redefinition of the
Confluence Museum's cultural scope we will be developing the collections, particularly the sciences and technology sector. Of course, this global plan will be determined by the themes further developed in the exhibitions and also by the predefined fields of research.
The collections will be continuously improved, both in depth and breadth.
The collections will be presented in an entirely new museographic manner, associating objects with sounds, images, and interactive devices thanks to current technologies.
You describe the Confluence Museum as anchored in its environment and that it is open to the world, would you explain more precisely what you mean?
The Confluence Museum is based in Lyon and intends to develop a working partnership with the scientific community, industry, regional universities,
and, at the same time, demonstrate the uniqueness of our local scientific and industrial heritage. The creation of the Corporate Patrons Club and the fundraising campaign in addition to the excellent Campaign Committee are committed to this initiative.
And one must not forget that the citizens of the Rhône are also French, Europeans and citizens of the world.
The Confluence Museum will be open to the world and is part of a national and an international network of cultural institutions, sharing an objective of discovering and getting to know what is happening elsewhere.
Our development is influenced by this collaborative spirit and through partnerships.
