high school students prepare for cultural school competitions thanks to an immersive internship

To help high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds integrate into major cultural schools, the Culture and Diversity Foundation offers them a week of intensive internship in Paris.

There are 35 of them and their goal is to join the very prestigious École du Louvre. To prepare for this difficult competition, these high school students, most of whom are far removed from the cultural environment, are supported by the Culture and Diversity Foundation, which offers them a one-week intensive course during the winter holidays. High school students delighted to be able to confront art: “I wasn’t necessarily confident in my abilities to make it this far, but I thought it was a good idea to try!”confides Salomé.

It is precisely to encourage these high school students, who sometimes do not dare, that the Culture and Diversity Foundation offers this immersive internship. Because for many, it is the first time they have set foot in a museum, or even in Paris. On the program: theoretical courses but above all visits to cultural institutions to complete their training. In total, the Foundation supports 180 students to prepare them for different schools of art, design, fashion and architecture.

A partnership established for 17 years

Today’s visit for aspirants to the École du Louvre takes place at the Quai Branly museum, to discover the works in real life. Like Salomé, Adrien is impressed by what he observes. He is delighted with this week of classes, especially since nothing predestined him for these cultural professions.

“In my family, we are very little interested in art. When I talk about the École du Louvre, I was told, ‘ah you’re going to draw and paint’, when no, it’s an art history school. I think it’s a great opportunity!”

Adrien, high school student preparing for the Ecole du Louvre competition

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For this internship, the Culture and Diversity Foundation selects students based on their file and social criteria; most are on scholarships or particularly distant from the art world. A partnership that has existed for 17 years, explains Flory Debouchaud, in charge of the equal opportunities program at the École du Louvre. “A lot of work has been done to open the school: 70% of our students do not come from Paris, and we have a higher rate of scholarship recipients than at the university, for example. Many young people will censor themselves by thinking that the École du Louvre is not for them, because it’s far, it’s Paris, it’s prestigious, but we have a real desire to work on that.”

A competition success rate of 34%

To decipher the works for high school students, the École du Louvre makes its speakers available, such as Ninon Bour. “If you look closely, as you get closer, you see four flowers: these are the four parts of the universe”, she describes. For her, this is a first and she is delighted to participate in the training of future students. “They don’t have any preconceptions so I like that!”she enthuses. “They asked a lot of very relevant questions, they really looked at the objects. Often, if they are there, it’s because they want them. And their culture will become an asset!” And in terms of results, it works, rejoices Giulia Fuggi-Jimenez, project manager at the Culture and Diversity Foundation.

“Last year, of the 35 students participating in the internship, 29 took the exam and 10 were admitted, which gives a success rate of 34%. That is ten points higher than the national rate of the École du Louvre, globally.”

Giulia Fuggi-Jimenez, project manager at the Culture and Diversity Foundation

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After the competition, the Culture and Diversity Foundation continues its support for young people, offering them educational and material assistance during their schooling.