WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3989/98 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Toy museum
Date: 1999-01-04
Institutions: ANGELILLI, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, EU initiative, EU programme, Italy, cultural heritage, museum, project evaluation, toy industry













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91998E3989

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3989/98 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Toy museum  


Official Journal C 207 , 21/07/1999 P. 0154 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3989/98by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission(4 January 1999)Subject: Toy museumNearly all major European cities, Vienna, Salzburg, Zurich, Budapest, Nuremberg, Göppingen (headquarters of Marklin), London and Paris, have a toy museum. Germany, France and England were the main manufacturers of toys during the interwar period and this is nearly always reflected in the collections of toys produced in those countries which the museums hold. In Italy, on the other hand, partly because people were less wealthy, toy factories were rarer and made products which, although less sophisticated, were clearly superior as regards being imaginative and varied. As a result, the small quantities of toys produced and the low-grade materials used in their manufacture have contributed to an impoverishment of the collection and preservation of Italian toys. Currently in Italy, in the historic centre of a village near Rome, a cultural association called "La memoria giocosa" [the playful memory] runs a toy museum containing over 1 500 period artefacts dating from between 1920 and 1960 which belong to the association itself. It is proposed that the toys, which come from Germany, France, England, Italy and the United States, be displayed in more suitable premises of at least 200 m2 in order for the museum's full potential to be realised.In view of the important educational value of toy museums, the tourist and promotional activities which could be developed in the region, the importance of preserving this aspect of our cultural heritage, and above all, the fact that Italy does not have a toy museum, can the Commission say:1. whether there are any Community programmes or initiatives which cover the setting up of a toy museum;2. whether there is any possibility of aid or economic incentives in the form of grants to publicise such an initiative?Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission(16 February 1999)1. The Community initiative best suited to the Honourable Member's question is the 1999 Raphael programme(1) which, in Action 1 provides for the safeguarding and enhancement of the European movable cultural heritage by promoting the pooling of skills and the development of best practice with reference to themes and problems common to various Member States. Toys, for the reasons given by the Honourable Member, clearly fall within the scope of these themes.2. A contribution from the Commission may be obtained on presentation, by a European cooperation network consisting of partners from at least three countries eligible under the Raphael programme, of a project for the study of the common problem evoked and the development of a common methodology for innovative interventions which will serve as an example at a European scale and a case study. The closing date for presenting projects is 26 March 1999.(1) OJ C 342, 10.11.1998.