|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Introduction |
     |
| A little bit of history ... |
In 1962, when François Lehmann organized a “Mine Day” on behalf of the technical Cinema club, it was simply a local exhibition. Two years later, our exhibition, then entitled “Stones,” had progressed from being a local affair to being a regional attraction. It was not until 1966, after the success of the first “International Trade Show” that it was decided to hold the fair every year on the first weekend in July.
In 1992, Europe's first mineral and fossil fair was launched on the last weekend in June and has kept the same schedule ever since.
Who could have imagined at that time that the European Mineral and Fossil Fair would become so important and attract such large numbers? |
The show : view from the air
Photo : A.Wipff / MRW Zeppeline ©Minerapole-2003 |
|
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines
Photo : A.Wipff / MRW Zeppeline ©Minerapole-2003 |
|
The show : Rue Kroeber
Photo : C.Pélisson © |
|
|
With the same spirit in mind, in May 1973, François Lehmann organized the first Mineral Exhibition in former “eastern block” in Trzic, Slovenia, the sister city of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. This event has been held annually since, on the second weekend of May, and presents some very interesting perspectives for collectors from the “west”.
The organization of the Sainte-Marie exhibition was taken over, in 1981, by Michel Schwab, who has helped adapt the event to the needs and changes of the international market, such that the exhibition takes on exciting new dimensions every year by bringing together, in the heart of the Val d’Argent (“Silver Vale”), nearly 900 exhibitors from 60 countries, and welcoming nearly 25,000 visitors. These figures represent something of a cap, as it would be very difficulty, logistically, to increase further. In order to professionalize the organization, the event was entrusted to Communication and Company and, since 2004, Mineral Concepts SARL is responsible for marketing.
The organization is the result of a partnership between Mineral Concepts SARL, the local municipalities, and several associations in the Val d’Argent. The economic benefits are particularly interesting for the associations of the Val d’Argent as well as for the tourism and hospitality sectors in Alsace and the Vosges.
From a true “family festival”, specialists now say “this show is undeniably one of the most important exhibitions in the world, alongside Tucson (USA) and Munich (Germany)”, and that it “holds the first place among French exhibitions and is increasingly a business sector for the entire world” to the point that 1986 saw the birth of the “Professionals Only” day on Friday, which was extended to Thursday in 1997.
The Germany weekly magazine (Katholischer Digest, 88) dubbed Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines “the Mecca of mineralogists”, and the Mineralogical Record (USA) regularly publishes articles about our exhibition, apparently the favorite European show of their American subscribers.
|
|
   |
| Last update : 06.03.2007 |
|
|
|
