To preserve a cultural activity in Saint-Lô, in Manche, the art and history museum of this city has launched an operation to exhibit its paintings in merchants.

This initiative also aims to convince the inhabitants of this Norman city to go to the museum once it reopens.

REPORT

Despite the Covid-19 crisis and the closure of cultural venues, the Saint-Lô museum, in Manche in Normandy, does not want to relegate art to oblivion.

For lack of being able to welcome visitors, the establishment has set up an astonishing initiative: it has chosen to deconfin its productions by exhibiting its main paintings in the windows of merchants in the city center.

Called "Masterpieces in store for an artistic journey", the operation will end at the end of March.

Europe 1 went there to attend.

>> LIVE - Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation on Saturday March 13

Tables in the middle of the decoration of the windows 

In the streets of Saint-Lô, we find Emmanuelle Siot, the director of the museum.

"We are rue du Maréchal Leclerc. In front of us, we have 'Tunisia' by (the painter) Sergio de Castro in Geneviève Lethu's shop," she describes.

In front of her, a painting, or rather its reproduction, hung in the middle of the classic decoration of the shop.

Usually, Emmanuelle Siot provides visits in another context, to the city's art and history museum.

But this time, therefore, the director invites you to look towards one of the other exhibition sites, the windows.

CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS

> Covid-19: is there really a risk of contamination outside?

> Coronavirus: why can a PCR test be positive one month after infection?

> Are private parties really prohibited with the curfew?

> The English variant would cause slightly different symptoms

> Audio, webcams ... When technology adapts to teleworking

This cultural parenthesis in the heart of Saint-Lô when museums are closed, Sylvette Dessoude's clients do not always notice at first glance.

"They are a little surprised. At first, they think it's an advertising poster," smiles the professional.

"Then, looking at (the work) more closely, they see that it is not."

For her, this makes it possible to get out of a single "commercial link" with customers.

"It makes people talk."

For customers, it is also a way to "discover the works", emphasizes Sylvette Dessoude.

>> Find Europe evening weekend in podcast and in replay here

"We hope to reach a new audience"

Beyond the works, it is first of all the museum that it is simply a question of making known.

"Museums, it can be impressive when you arrive in front of the door and that you are not used to it. There, you have them around you when you go to get your baguette, to the optician or to look for your chocolates. We hope to reach a new audience and have new people come when the museum reopens ", explains Emmanuelle Siot.

Its museum is also ready to reopen as soon as the green light is given by the authorities.

The protocols are ready.