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Projected on a military site, the MAC (Middes Contemporary Art Museum) is popular with the State. The Confederation will decide.
“With the exception of a few peaks for openings and busy days, the question of flow generation should not be problematic,” writes the Council of State in its response. © Jean-Baptiste Morel
Published on 06.05.2024
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The Middes Museum of Contemporary Art project is closely linked to the Department of Economy (DEEF). More than twenty-five years ago, the latter entrusted the coordination of this project to Economic Promotion. And this, “although this is not part of its main activities”, recognizes the Council of State. Promotion was engaged in land discussions “in order to promote the realization of this project”, we read further in the government’s response to MPs Menoud-Baldi (center, Romont) and Roulin (Greens, Torny). The State confirms that it is committed to transferring a right of refusal on the land to the Leschot Foundation, the project leader.
In their question, the elected officials were concerned about the urban sprawl caused by the project. They call into question its inclusion in the cantonal master plan (PDCant). The State recalls that it was the DEEF which requested registration with the PDCant, following a request from the Leschot Foundation. Registration taken into account because the project met the criteria of strong impact on the territory and the environment. The project does not fall into the category of a major traffic generator, however, assures the State, citing an average attendance of eight visitors per hour.
For elected officials, the location of the project in the middle of the countryside, outside the tourist center, “dilutes the tourist potential of other already established cultural centers”. Invoking the PDCant file relating to tourist infrastructure, the State justifies the establishment outside tourist centers of equipment which, “for objective reasons of feasibility, cannot be established there”.
Outside the zone, this project requires the creation of a special zone and must be “imposed by its destination”. Criterion that the canton considers met “since one of its objectives is the development of existing military works located in the sector”. The State has also given favorable notice to the preliminary examination file for modification of the local development plan.
Questioned about the revelations of Freedom on the troubled past of the Leschot Foundation, the government hits the nail on the head: “The Council of State does not make its decisions on the basis of press articles.” He points out that registering a project with the PDCant does not guarantee completion. This will depend on the approval of its status “in regulated coordination” by the Confederation.
