A guided tour, free, on the theme of street art, this is what a professional from Reims proposed on the occasion of the international day of guide-lecturers. The opportunity to resist despite the health constraints imposed, which impact its activity.
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It shows the unmissable cathedral of Reims, in the Marne, but also durocortorum, the ancient city, or the City of Coronations, at night, but its specialty, for four years, it is the street art. In Reims, the works of C 215, Cez’Art, or Boutros Bootleg are numerous, enough to nourish guided tours. But for Anne-Marie Bonnouvriée, the only one in Reims to offer this discovery, it is also a passion that she likes to share.
Rémoise by adoption, for 15 years, this Axonese has been practicing since 2013, after having obtained her diploma. Professional card in pocket, issued by the Ministry of Culture, in recent years she has enjoyed sharing her knowledge, with curious locals, but also with tourists. Before the onslaught of the pandemic, its groups were made up of 50% foreigners, 40% of whom were Americans. The crisis has brought everything upside down. She guided her last English couple in October.
Anne-Marie Bonnouvriée is passionate about the art that is expressed in the streets.
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© Valentin Cruard FTV.
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A disaster-stricken activity
At the start of her career, Anne-Marie Bonnouvriée worked as an intermediary at the Reims Tourist Office, and for champagne houses. In 2017, she took the status of auto-entrepreneur. Everything was fine. “Over nine months, I worked, full time, as a guide“, she says. “And in winter, I was an English teacher for the Regional Institute of Social Workers“. But today, with the arrival of Covid 19, things have changed a lot.”During the first confinement, I took training in marketing, to be able to reach a local audience. It worked, because from July to October, I met Rémois. But in the whole summer I only made three tours in EnglishAs her clientele had collapsed, with the Coronavirus, and the health constraints that go with it, Anne-Marie Bonnouvriée decided to acquire helmets, so as to be heard, but also to allow distances between clients are respected.After each visit, the equipment must also be disinfected, in short, the guide-lecturer had to invest in order to continue working.
Currently, it is not profitable, but it would not make sense to have expensive prices. I don’t want an elitist culture. I like to popularize.
A hopping “Mickey”, not far from the cathedral.
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© Valentin Cruard FTV.
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The passion still there
The significant loss of clientele forced the young self-employed woman to resort to Solidarity Fund, since April 2020. “It’s long, there are delays, checks, so I resort to odd jobs, in day camps, during holidays, or in tutoring. You have to continue to pay your rent “, she explains, regretfully. However, no way for her to increase its prices. A visit costs eight to nine euros. “Currently, it is not profitable, but it would not make sense to have expensive prices. I don’t want an elitist culture. I like to popularize“. Last January, the guide-lecturer was able to introduce street art to college students, students of the Saint-André college, in Reims.”Despite the wind, the rain, the cold, it was a breath of fresh air for everyone. People want to come out. And then, I like to accompany these discoveries off the beaten track. Street art is in constant renewal. Works appear, others disappear. The design of the tours is different each time. It is an ever-renewed challenge. Thanks to what is a passion, I can visit workshops, meet artists. It is an open-air museum. An industrial heritage, too “.
Stars, sometimes, adorn the walls.
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© Valentin Cruard FTV.
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An initiative to help people discover their profession
On the occasion of the International Day of Guide-Lecturers, Anne-Marie Bonnouvriée wanted to offer a free visit to those who wish to be interested in street art, but also to have a moment of exchange. “In less than two hours, on my reservation site (https://amb-reims.fr), there was a waiting list. It filled up very quickly, because we cannot guide more than five people, due to health restrictions. By this so beautiful sun, a walk of one hour and a half, allows to see something else, to pass the gloom, to give courage to all, until a relaxation“. Anne-Marie Bonnouvriée has a few faithful, residents of Reims who have already followed her two or three times in her guided tours. Whether they are seniors or students, all share curiosity and desire to communicate, to share, through the art, culture. It is on her Facebook page (AMB-reims) that she informs them of her new visits and dates. Routes, in the City of Coronations, that Anne-Marie Bonnouvriée hopes to be able to multiply, in the coming weeks, if the pandemic permits.
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