The world of Geneva theater is launching a manifesto in favor of the cultural press
The actors of the world of theater in Geneva are concerned about the disappearance of the cultural press. To this end, they wrote an open letter:
Faced with the planned disappearance of the regional and national public service, we, Geneva theatrical institutions and professional organizations in the fields of theater and dance, we mobilize to express our concern and our dismay for the agenda dismantling cultural journalism. Access to culture is a fundamental right and the weakening of the relays of independent and critical information is serious.
The heart of the activity of our institutions is to program artists and build bridges between their creations and audiences. To support, enhance and transmit this important mission, it is essential to have a regional and national press of strong public service which knows the institutions, its actors and the territory they occupy. For several years, we have been shocked to attend new profitability policies that guide the editorial and strategic choices in force in the majority of regional and national media.
The unique thought that governs this new economic agenda – under the guise of the digital development of the media and new practices of the audience – is none other than the dismantling of a plural and democratic thought.
Need for a cultural press
This collective of interest# recalls why presence in the media is a vital need to disseminate culture:
The media, cultural actors as well as the audiences together form a virtuous circle allowing to design plural visions of society. When a link in this chain is missing, the whole ecosystem is in danger.
And regret:
We do not have a sufficient economic lever which allows to counter this movement in progress, we think essential and urgent to bring together and
to alert – in the name of a critical mind – dangers that threaten our future of artists, journalists, cultural workers, (TV) spectator, author, readers ices, and above all, of citizens.
What to do?
The press situation is known: fewer readers, fewer advertising investments. Cantons have offered support to offer free subscriptions to the youngest. Private foundations also support the media but it is up to society to understand the impact that the disappearance of the media will have throughout society. Consume free online information at a price: the cost of the subscription that some refuse to pay!
*L’Arison, Théâtre des Amis, Théâtre Am Stram Gram, La Bâtie-Festival de Genève, theater of Carouge, Comedy in Geneva, theater of the Crève-Coeur, Theater Le Twelve Eighteen, theater of the Galpon, Scenes du Grütli, Théâtre du Loup, Maison Saint-Gervais Geneva, Théâtre des Marionettes, Meyrin Culture, Théâtre de l’Orangerie, Théâtre de la Perfumerie, Pavillon ADC, Poche /GVE, Theatriculus, Factory Theater, Antigel Festival, Festival Les Créatives, Professional dating from Dance Geneva (RP Danses), Geneva Tiger of producer · Rice · X · S of independent and professional theater.
