the concern of the world of culture despite a “sanctuary” budget in New Aquitaine

In a restricted budgetary context, the cultural sector seems preserved in New Aquitaine, since the region has decided to maintain cultural subsidies. Despite everything, professionals remain vigilant, awaiting the government’s vote on the budget. Illustration in Saint-Junien and Limoges.

“Sanctuariser le budget“, the key word of the vice-president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Visiting the Ciné Bourse in Saint-Junien, the second town of Haute-Vienne, Charline Claveau, went to meet cultural actors.

The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region devotes 85 million euros to culture (investment included). “This year, we decided, on the operation, that is to say on what constitutes support for the structures to protect 96.5% of our operating aid. We still have a question about 3.5% of our budget. We are waiting for the state budget, to see if we can loosen the belt a little, at the time of an amending budget to try to find room for maneuver, for these few remaining percentages. explain Charline Claveau, vice-president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional council in charge of culture.

The town of St-Junien has a total of 12,000 inhabitants at the last census, and several renowned cultural structures, first and foremost La Mégisserie. On site that day, director David Gauchard was preparing Macbeth. The cost of production is around 300,000 euros. “You can imagine that Mégisserie alone could not create this show. Neither does the company, so there, indeed, there is a lot of public funding“, welcomes Laëtitia Delpech, director of the public cultural cooperation establishment La Mégisserie-Ciné Bourse.

In the glove-making city, public aid represents 85% of the budget. “The first financier is the community of municipalities which contributes 830,000 euros, then comes the State with 144,000 euros, the region 92,000 euros, and the department, 32,000 euros.explains the director.

Not far from La Mégisserie, the third place opened since 2018, also benefits from public funds, including 8000 euros from the municipality and 1000 euros from the community of municipalities. The regional share amounts to 10 000 euros. “We take the example of the association which receives 10,000 euros. For us, in the year in expenses, it is between 60,000 and 70,000, so this support allows us to launch the activities, and this money is important for that, because otherwise, we have no ramp launcher to be able to trigger things“, explain Charles Meillat, president of SCIC Manestela. The collective interest cooperative society now has a part-time employee, and two territorial agents (a municipal agent and a community agent) made available.

In detail, regional aid devoted to culture and heritage amounts to more than seventeen million euros : 4,132,954 euros for Corrèze, 3,353,582 euros for Creuse and 10,305,104 euros for Haute-Vienne – for overall aid from the Department of Culture & Heritage – in the three departments in 2024 .

Support from the region for major cultural events in Limousin:

• €118,000 for the organization of the 43rd edition of the Caricature, Press Cartoon and Humor Salon from Saint-Just-le-Martel (87)
• €270,000 for Spring and Autumn Zebrures 2024 from Limoges (87)
• €70,000 for the Brive Book Fair (19)
• €70,000 for the Paroles de Conteurs Festival from Royère-de-Vassivière (23)
• €30,000 for the Jazz Festival at La Sout’ in Creuse (23)

If, in Saint-Junien, public aid is maintained, the budget cuts made in the Pays de Loire region continue to raise fears of a bleak future, particularly in Limousin. As a reminder, on December 19, the president of the region voted in Nantes, by a large majority, for a cultural budget falling by 73%. And the absence of a nationally voted budget fuels fear.

This Wednesday, January 15, in the evening, at the Théâtre de l’Union in Limoges, professionals were moved by the situation. A press release was read ahead of the presentation of the show scheduled for that day: “The public cultural service allows, for example, you, spectators, this evening, to attend the performance of this show, Neige , for an average price of nine euros Without the subsidies we receive, your place this evening would cost 88 euros Without the support of the State and local authorities, it is twenty-six. permanent theater and school workers, the thirty-five intermittent entertainment workers in the region, whom we regularly hire, who could find themselves unemployed. Without state support, there are 16,350 fewer hours of artistic and technical employment per year in the region, or more than 1,200 employment contracts. Without the support of the State and local authorities, we will no longer be able to carry out projects in high schools, in neighborhoods, with audiences far removed from culture… Without the support of the State and local authorities, we will be forced to program fewer shows, to welcome fewer artists.”

Without the subsidies we receive, your place this evening would cost 88 euros.

The cultural actors of the Union Theater

This Wednesday January 15 in Limoges

Whatever the structure, community funding is essential for culture.