Friday, June 3, 2011

Yippee…the Quimper Faïence Museum is Back in Action !!!

I know…I know…I’ve hardly done any blogging for the past month…but I’ve been busy…doing this, that, and everything else except writing. But I wanted to interrupt my stupor to share some great news…the Musée de la Faïence in Quimper will re-open to the public on June 6, 2011!

The museum first opened its doors in 1991 and regular readers of our Quimper-devoted website…www.oldquimper.com…will no doubt remember the photographs of the many spectacular expositions that have been mounted there…each encompassing a specific theme to take advantage of the more than 3500 pieces in the museum’s collection. Quimper’s Musée de la Faïence is a private museum and, therefore, was dependent upon the support of outside benefactors…local enterprises, banks and insurance firms, etc…for its operating expenses.  In the spring of 2007, four of the five businesses that had underwritten the cost of bringing forth those marvelous expositions were caught in the global economic slowdown and had to withdraw their support…forcing the museum to suddenly and sadly close its doors.

During those four years many different avenues were explored…until, finally a solution was found and the museum can open once more. Here’s the cover of our invitation to this evening’s opening ceremonies…
0611odettaexposition
The exhibit is entitled Odetta…Les Grès d’Art de Quimper…translation: Odetta…the Stoneware Art Pottery of Quimper.

Since its opening, the Musée de la Faïence has been to a Quimper collector what Cooperstown's  Baseball Hall of Fame is to a Little Leaguer.  Heaven on Earth.

To stimulate economic growth, the French government recently initiated a system similar to what many U.S. universities call an endowment fund. Immediately recognizing the implications, Jean-Yves Verlingue...who from 1956 to 1983 owned the HB factory/Les Faïenceries de Quimper...sprang into action. The tax benefits connected to the endowment fund...fond de dotation in French...suddenly made fund-raising efforts on behalf of the museum much more interesting and...voila...it will at last be open to the public once more.

Contributions from individuals are welcome as well...and though I hear you saying "But there's no tax benefit for me because I'm not subject to paying French taxes"...there is a roundabout, but very real benefit that comes from having such a prestigious museum dedicated to the subject of your collection...it adds an incalculable value to your collection.

So, FYI...for as little as 50 euros,  you can contribute to the Fonds de Dotation du Musée de la Faïence de Quimper and assure the museum's continuation...not to mention that contributors enjoy free entrance, invitations to events, etc. Contact me if you would like further information.

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes adventures of The Meadows Collection…or check out the results at www.meadowscollection.com