A mediation meeting will take place on July 10 to try to find a solution to the conflict between the organizers of the Les Vieilles Charrues festival and the mayor of Carhaix (Finistère). Compromise, yet another disagreement, move or outright shutdown: the survival of the emblematic Breton festival should be decided during this meeting.
The 32e edition of Vieilles Charrues will begin on Thursday July 11, as usual in Carhaix, with renowned artists like David Guetta, Sam Smith, Shay and Gossip.
If most festival-goers already have in mind to enjoy the concerts of the emblematic Breton musical event, the organizers above all have in mind the more than uncertain future of the largest music festival in France, which attracts nearly 400 000 revelers each year in Finistère.
Relations between the bosses of Vieilles Charrues and the mayor of Carhaix have been tense for several years, particularly over budgetary issues and location restrictions. The situation threatens the survival of the festival. A support petition was launched on April 26 by volunteers, artists, partners and patrons, bringing together nearly 40,000 signatures.
Beyond these nearly 300,000 festival-goers, the Vieilles Charrues festival represents around €18 million in economic benefits.
•
© AFP – Fred Tanneau
In an attempt to resolve this conflictual climate and find solutions so that each party benefits and the event continues in Carhaix, a mediation meeting will be held on July 10, at 10:30 a.m. in the premises of the Châteaulin sub-prefecture (Finistère).
This mediation meeting will bring together the Prefect of Finistère, the President of the Regional Council, the President of the Departmental Council, the Mayor of Carhaix and the festival organizers.
The questions and topics of discussion will be numerous, as there are so many disagreements: the tax of €367,000 requested by the town hall from the organizers for the occupation of the Kérampuilh site, the pre-emption procedure launched by the mayor of Carhaix to acquire disused buildings coveted by the Vieilles Charrues or the desire of the Poher community to regain control of half of the land occupied by the festival campsites by 2026.
Will compromises be found on July 10 to satisfy everyone or will the emblematic Breton festival be forced to make radical decisions? His fate will largely be decided during this mediation meeting, which will be held the day before what could be the last edition of Vieilles Charrues in Carhaix. Or even just the last edition of the Breton festival.
