From Gobelins to Lodève, the Mobilier national textile arts school now offers training in Hérault

Coline Espinos, licière, travaille à la réalisation d’un tapis reproduisant “Jardin d’eau” un tableau du plasticien Stéphane Calais, Midi Libre – E. L.

Un CAP puis un Brevet des métiers d'arts seront désormais accessibles à la manufacture de la Savonnerie à Lodève. Une formation technique et artistique d'excellence. 

Jean-Marc Sauvier had dreamed of it for ten years. On the eve of his retirement, the director of the Savonnerie factory in Lodève has the satisfaction of finally seeing the opening of a training course for a silk worker come to fruition in his town. A CAP in carpet and tapestry arts and techniques will open at the start of the school year in September 2024, the recruitment of candidates is underway (1). Teaching of general and artistic disciplines will be provided at the Joseph-Vallot high school in Lodève while the entire practical part of this work-study training will be done alongside the lice makers of the Lodève factory and in particular Benoît Jorba."It will be exactly the same training as that currently provided at Gobelins, with the ambition of completing the four years by offering here also the Brevet des métiers d’arts, in two years also, which completes the CAP. Currently the riders are trained in Paris for four years, but we are having a hard time getting young people to come back to us… However, we absolutely must increase our numbers."

Jean-Marc Sauvier, director of the Lodève factory and Benoît Jorba, who will be responsible for the practical training of apprentices. Midi Libre – E.L.

The Lodève factory had 28 horses ten years ago, there are only 13 today. In Paris, around fifty technicians are trained in different promotions, either in the restoration of carpets and tapestries, or in creation. In Lodève, it is the velvet stitch technique that is used to create, based on works by contemporary artists in particular, carpets which will adorn the salons of the Republic (prefectures, ministries and even the Elysée).

In what was, more than fifty years ago, a workshop intended to employ the wives of harkis, we now create unique pieces, the creation of which can be require five to seven years. "It’s a niche activity of course, but it’s also a know-how that absolutely must not be lost! The young people who will be recruited into this CAP will therefore be paid during training, with the assurance of a position and civil servant status upon exit." < /em>The City of Lodève has thought of everything with the purchase of the Hôtel du Nord which, in the city center, will offer accommodation at suitable rents for these young people in training.