Identity and sense of belonging in border areas: the case of Luxembourg and the Greater Region 2007
Sentiment d’appartenance et identité collective dans/par les CEC : le cas de Luxembourg et Grande Région 2007
Abstract
Within the framework of MSH Lorraine, a multidisciplinary project (2007–2010) sought to find out to what extent the designation of ‘Luxembourg and the Greater Region’ as European Capital of Culture in 2007 constituted an opportunity to develop a cross-border cultural space through the deployment of large-scale cultural programming. In particular, how could major events (celebrations, the closing ceremony, etc.) and exhibitions (municipalities, travelling, etc.) create cross-border synergies and an awareness of a transregional cultural identity? Reception studies have revealed that in exhibitions, cultural heritage is a catalyst for an identity that remains mainly confined to the regional territory. Similarly, cultural events contribute to the invention of a common memory territory, but mainly at the regional level, rarely achieving integration on a larger scale. To strengthen the perception of the Greater Region as a common territory of belonging, it remains essential to take into account the cultural and linguistic determinations that structure communities in the Greater Region, as well as the cultural practices, mobility and expectations of the audiences concerned.