Cultural days in Paris

An educational and artistic programme for schools in Lyon's REP+ priority education network

Spring 2025 : two cultural days held on 5 and 17 of June
Fall 2025 : one additional cultural day planned with a primary school

With the support of the Fondation de l’Olivier, Thanks for Nothing launched a programme of cultural days for students from REP+ priority education schools in the Lyon metropolitan area. Designed to reduce inequalities in access to culture, the initiative offers young people the opportunity to discover major cultural institutions, meet artists, and explore Parisian heritage through educational and creative experiences.

Day 1 - Collège Alain, Saint-Fons

Thursday, 5 june 2025

Les élèves du Collège Alain, engagés dans la vie de leur établissement en tant qu’éco-délégué·es, élu·es au Conseil de la Vie Collégienne ou représentants au conseil d’administration, ont pris part à une journée culturelle conçue spécialement pour eux. Ils ont ainsi découvert le patrimoine parisien, exploré de grandes institutions culturelles et participé à un atelier mené par un artiste.

Moments marquants :
• Promenade patrimoniale dans le centre historique de Paris : quartier Saint-Paul, Île Saint-Louis, parvis de Notre-Dame, Hôtel de Ville, esplanade du Centre Pompidou.
• Visite guidée de l’exposition Paris Noir au Centre Pompidou, consacrée aux luttes anticoloniales

Students from Collège Alain, actively involved in school life as eco-delegates, members of the Student Council or representatives on the school’s governing board, took part in a cultural day specially designed for them. Throughout the day, they explored Parisian heritage, visited leading cultural institutions, and participated in an artist-led workshop.

Highlights:

• A heritage walk through the historic centre of Paris, including the Saint-Paul neighbourhood, Île Saint-Louis, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Hôtel de Ville, and the Centre Pompidou esplanade.

• A guided tour of the Paris Noir exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, exploring anti-colonial struggles and the artistic exchanges of African-descended communities.

• A visit to the Merci ! John Giorno exhibition at Almine Rech Gallery.

• A poetry workshop with artist Nico K., exploring the theme of gratitude.

• A visit to Hélène Bailly Gallery to discover an exhibition dedicated to Pablo Picasso.

The day gave students the opportunity to explore a wide range of artistic practices, engage directly with an artist, and develop new perspectives on the places and artworks they encountered.

Day 2 – Collège Paul Éluard, Vénissieux

Tuesday, 17 june 2025

Students from Collège Paul Éluard, selected through an internal competition organised by their teachers, took part in a cultural day in Paris centred on heritage discovery, guided tours, and immersive exhibitions.

Highlights:

• Discovering Buren’s Columns in the courtyard of the Palais-Royal.

• A guided tour of the Louvre Museum exploring the question “What is a museum?”, exceptionally organised on a day when the museum was closed to the public.

• A guided walk from the Tuileries Garden to the Grand Palais.

• An immersive visit to Ernesto Neto’s monumental installation Nosso Barco Tambor Terra at the Grand Palais.

• Discovering Mohamed El Khatib’s exhibition Le grand palais de ma mère.

The day enabled students to explore iconic cultural landmarks, gain a better understanding of how museums operate, and experience different forms of artistic expression, including interactive installations.

Impact

Through these two cultural days, students were able to :
• Discover and develop a personal connection with major national cultural institutions.
• See culture from a new perspective, as something open and accessible to all.
• Gain confidence and a greater sense of belonging in cultural spaces.
• Develop an interest in artistic practices and careers in the cultural sector.

Thanks for Nothing' Role

Thanks for Nothing coordinated every stage of the cultural days, from initial conception to implementation, working closely with participating schools and partner cultural institutions.

The organisation developed tailor-made programmes and provided cultural mediation and guidance for students throughout each visit. It also managed all logistics and covered transportation and admission costs, ensuring that the programme was entirely free and accessible to schools and families.