The European Bell Institute
(geographic zone objective 5b)

Since 1980 the Midi-Pyrenees Region and its successive presidents have become personally involved in a policy for the protection and promotion of its bell heritage. This led in 1992 to the creation of the European Bell Institute which has to its credit :

- numerous research projects in Europe and throughout the world.

- the creation of the European Bell Museum in L'Isle-Jourdain (department of Gers, France).

- the conception and realization of international exhibitions among which :  

• "The Art of the Bell, Lines and Symbols", presented by the National Museum of Copenhagen from December 1996 to January 1997 in the context of special events in Copenhagen, at that time Cultural Capital of Europe.

• "African Bell Art, Techniques and Memories", presented in the context of the PACTE II project in July, August and September 1996 at the Chateau Delvoie in Tellin (Belgium) and at the European Bell Museum in L’Isle-Jourdain in Gers (France) in November and December 1996.
  (Exhibition catalogue)

• " 'Tween Bell and Sky, the Weathercock", presented, among others, at the Regional Centre in Toulouse, capital of the Midi-Pyrenees region in November and December 1995 and at the Sacred Art Museum of Rocamadour (2^nd site in France) in July, August and September 1996.
  (Exhibition catalogue)

The technical centre of the European Bell Institute, located in L’Isle-Jourdain in the French department of Gers (objective region 5b), has to its credit the publication of works and brochures to create a growing public awareness, sizeable photo and video archives relative to its fields of research. Its declared objective is to bring about an understanding in Europe of the authorities and populations and to the necessity for protecting, thanks to the firms who have accepted this responsibility, a millenary heritage belonging to the people, and familiar to us all.

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