« We felt the bad news coming, without realizing that it would be so bad. » Last week, Phalène de La Vallette, Julie Malaure (also a collaborator at Weekly Books) et Armelle Gallineauorganizers of the Angevin Cultissime festival, learned that their regional subsidies would not be renewed, despite a promising first edition in 2024. That is 100,000 euros less, in a budget which mobilized 300,000. This is total political inconsistency.continues Phalene de La Valette with Weekly Books. It is not logical to make such a substantial investment this year and then completely withdraw from the project immediately afterwards. And again, if we were the only ones concerned… »
Local cultural institutions in disarray
Because Cultissime is not an isolated case. On October 17, the president (Horizons) of Pays de la Loire, Christelle Morançais announced its desire to save 100 million euros. “ AWhen the Government is draining communities and growth is slowing down, making operational savings is anything but a choice or a whim “, she indicated on social networks. The decision involves reducing the territory's cultural budget by 73%, and cutting 100 jobs. It aroused strong indignation in the world of culture, including among booksellers and publishers, also affected by the measure.
« Editions 303 have just been informed of an alarming budgetary decisionaffirms the editorial staff of the forty-year-old magazine in a press release. The 2025 draft budget provides for a drastic 50% reduction in the operating subsidy, before its withdrawal in 2026. This decision directly threatens the existence of the journal. »
In another text, it is the turn of the French Bookstore Union to call for mobilization. The SLF underlines in particular that the application of this measure (examined by elected officials on December 19 and 20) would condemn the association of independent bookstores of Pays de la Loire (ALIP) to lose its entire annual subsidy in 2025. The house Julien Gracq, the Mobilis resource center and the regional collective of publishers Coll-Libris would also be affected.
« It is true that culture must find new economic modelsconcedes Phalene de la Valette. But at the moment, everything is done so that we are dependent on these models. » In an interview with Courrier de l'Ouest, she questioned the institutionalized dependence on subsidies from cultural actors. “ French cultural policy for 80 years and the French legal system mean that associations need public subsidies to operate. We would be the first to wish for an association that makes a profit, but this is prohibited by law 1901 (on non-profit associations, Editor's note)! “, she said.
Cult soon to be relocated?
So, the end of the festival of cult works? According to its creator, not quite. After the launch of a call for donations and an online merchandising store, a monthly newsletter, Cult planwill be powered from next month. It will notably include a podcast episode where the authors present during the first edition will share their favorite works. At the same time, the organizers are considering “ with regret to leave the region. But not to go anywhere. “ We want a place as striking as the Jean-Lurçat museumsays Phalene de la Valette. In short, a cult place. »
