President of Bidache Culture, Jean-Paul Sudaka looks back on the past year and the outlook for 2025.
The year 2024 is behind us. What assessment do you draw for Bidache Culture?
We have been present in a number of local cultural events. Above all, we published three new books: “The saga of the Techers” by Micky Le Saux, “D’Artagnan and some famous Gascons” by Jean Bouheben as well as “First Steps” by Jean Weber. In this regard, we organized various dedications. Micky Le Saux presented his work at the Autre bookstore in Saint-Pierre de la Réunion and Jean Weber set up readings of short stories taken from his latest opus with Christine Weber, his wife. We have thus renewed our style of presenting an author and his book by showing up at the Bidache library, at the Amikuz’Echos-Borda press center in Saint-Palais and at the Bardos media library. Taking advantage of a trip to Quebec, Jean-Claude Rousset, a member of our office, sold several copies of the book “First Steps” by Jean Weber.
A highlight?
Our participation in the Entrepreneurship in culture forum in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, at the Cité des Arts in Bayonne in November. We presented our project for the Cultural Activities Center of 64 – CAC 64, using as support the Bidache castle and its esplanade managed by the Basque Country Agglomeration.
What does 2025 inspire you?
We are experiencing rising costs to print and distribute the books we want to publish. In 15 years of activity, production costs have doubled! However, Éditions Bidache Culture reduce their margins as much as possible and display a low unit price. This makes things difficult for an independent local publisher. We are looking for a more effective way to promote and distribute our books.
The year 2025 should allow us to offer the fifteen works that we have published to date on all types of media (paper, audio, digital). So many themes to be discussed at our next general assembly, Saturday January 25, at the Bourthaïre lodge in Arancou.
