Located in the old town, commonly called Place d’Armes, the headquarters of the artists’ union office of the wilaya of Annaba, chaired by Warda Boutaghane, is in danger of ruin. It risks collapsing if nothing is done in the coming days. Its restoration is urgent to avoid a possible human catastrophe. “Every day we are exposed to ever-present danger. The members of the office and I continue to work in poor conditions. This is why I refuse to receive artists, because I fear for their safety. I’m afraid that an accident will happen to them,” declared Warda Boutaghane, president of the artists’ union office in the wilaya of Annaba. She continues: “Our artists deserve a beautiful seat where they can meet. This is why I am launching, on behalf of all the artists of the wilaya, an appeal to the authorities to carry out its restoration as soon as possible.” “Currently, I am processing artists’ files in the lobby of this headquarters, because all the offices are in ruins,” she added. Furthermore, this headquarters, which belongs to the local General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) and which dates from the colonial era, has never been the subject of development and renovation work. “We ask the officials concerned to intervene as soon as possible in order to restore the seat we occupy, before there is a collapse or an accident,” concluded Warda Boutaghane. For artists in the region, this headquarters also represents a symbolic place and an essential space for cultural exchange. The restoration of this building could also be an opportunity to promote an architectural heritage inherited from the colonial era, while creating a dignified and secure work space for artists. The restoration of this seat could thus serve as a starting point for a broader mobilization in favor of the cultural actors of the wilaya. Rapid mobilization of local authorities is expected to prevent this site from sinking permanently into oblivion.
Nejmedine Zéroug
Canada
