The history of the project
Since the Renaissance, glove-making crafts have shaped the identity of our region. The development of rare skills, the emergence of industrial architecture, and a strong social history together form a unique heritage, highlighted today by the Cité du cuir. This tradition continues through an active industry that brings together outstanding local tanneries glove-making, leather goods, and other leather-related craftscompanies.
Our goals and ambitions
The Cité du cuir aims to safeguard the skills and collective memory of these professions. It shares this heritage with the general public while supporting the leather industry, its artisans, businesses, and training organizations. By strengthening the region’s specialization in leather, the Cité du cuir also encourages artistic and historical research and creative practices, making them accessible to all.
A long-standig commintment to heritage
As early as the 1980s, local elected officials and associations supported the promotion of leather craftsmanship. A steering committee bringing together industry stakeholders, chambers of commerce, funding bodies, and associations initially envisioned the creation of a workshop-museum focused on tanning. This project later evolved into an interpretive museum space. To raise public awareness of this rich heritage, the local authority has organized numerous events since 2005 and taken part in exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences, and professional meetings across France.
Form vision to realization
Between 1980 and 2000, local associations, companies, and families began a meticulous preservation effort in partnership with local authorities. This work took shape in the early 2000s with the creation of a museum archive led by the City of Saint-Junien.
Collection conservation
- Preserving the collections involves cleaning, packaging, photographing, cataloguing, and the creation of inventory records in accordance with the standards of the Museums of France. All items are registered in the public database: ALIENOR.ORG
- To enrich and diversify its collections, the Cité du Cuir regularly acquires new pieces.
A work supported by the region's inventory department
Between 2013 and 2016, the Inventory Department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region conducted a survey of Saint-Junien’s industrial heritage, accessible online..
Active engagement with artisans and businesses
The Cité du cuir actively promotes the leather sector alongside artisans and businesses. To do this, it organizes and participates in various events The Cité du cuir actively promotes the leather industry alongside artisans and businesses. It organizes and participates in trade fairs, exhibitions, and workshops, and provides professionals with access to machinery, an auditorium, and a showroom. It also encourages creative collaborations between artisans, artists, and designers. ch as fairs, exhibitions and workshops and provides professionals with a machine park, auditorium and showroom. It also encourages creative collaborations between artisans, artists and designers.