Faced with the anger of those involved in the performing arts, the Minister of Culture requested an evaluation of “ reductions initiated by local authorities ».
The Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, wants an assessment by the end of February of the impact of the drop in budgets granted by local authorities to performing arts in 2025 and promises « accompanying measures » for institutions of national interest « most at risk ». Most regions voted before Christmas on budgets that ration their spending, some even making their concern for savings a political guideline, such as the Pays de la Loire with a cut of 82 million euros in operating expenses, particularly in culture, to the great dismay of players in this sector. « To face the risks of public funding drying up in live performance, the Minister of Culture indicated that she would ensure that state funds devoted to live performance are preserved in 2025, and that the National Fund for Performing Arts will be defended. employment in entertainment »the ministry announced Wednesday in a press release.
“Institutions of national interest in danger”
The minister also asked the General Directorate of Artistic Creation (DGCA) « to evaluate by the end of February the impact of the reductions initiated by local authorities, in order to clarify the conditions to which the State will commit ». According to Rachida Dati, « the regional directorates of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) will open discussions with the communities concerned, in each region, with the aim of deploying territorial contracts for artistic creation and, where possible, territorial cultural contracts of greater ambition , extended to heritage or even to artistic and cultural education policies ». « This work must be completed before the end of March »she clarified.
Rachida Dati also « entrusted to the DGCA the mission of identifying the most emblematic institutions of national interest in artistic creation which would be in danger, in order to structure appropriate support measures ». In November, during the presentation of her 2025 budget proposal to Parliament, the minister defended a plan on creative freedom. Debates on this text resume this Wednesday, the text having been censored in December, bringing down the government of Michel Barnier.
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