Another fundamental aspect is that funding for heritage conservation and promotion—which is currently primarily public— must be diversified to meet the challenges at hand by tapping into new sources, including international funds and private financing, which alone would make it possible to bring many stalled projects to fruition. A feasibility study on the model for the joint public-private body to be established and the type of public-private partnership to be adopted is currently undergoing approval by the Councilof Ministers. Capacity building and professional development, as well as the transfer of expertise, are also fundamental components of a genuine heritage policy. Pilot sites enable project owners to find ways to adapt best practices to the local context and to experiment with collaborations and the transfer of expertise between heritage professionals from France and Mauritius.
To energize and engage civil society, we must— beyond existing NGOs —develop career pathways in the fields of conservation, archaeology, heritage architecture, historical research, and engineering, among others. We could also consider creating heritage clubs to encourage young people to take an interest in these fields.
The three pilot sites naturally have different needs. In Mahébourg, the magnificent museum building must be renovated in a way that better highlights its architectural features, with an emphasis on a new museum design that integrates content and form, and on a well-planned visitor experience. At the Pamplemousses Garden, questions arise regarding the function of the Château de Monplaisir, the potential for showcasing the ruins linked to the history of slavery, the botanical collections, and themed trails… As for the former Supreme Court, which is set to be converted into a court of appeals, securing funding is likely to be the most challenging aspect of the renovation, which is expected to be particularly costly. For these three sites, the report by Dominique de Font-Réaulx, Chief Curator of Heritage at the Louvre Museum, is eagerly awaited…
Mahébourg Museum—renovated rear roof © Twogether