Jérémy Ferrari, artist and producer
“The reopening of cinemas with fewer than 5,000 people without lifting social distancing is illusory and you know it! So why this silence? Why this denial of reality? Does the cultural world bother you? Is this a world that escapes you? Dislike you? Are you worried? Is culture, like the suburbs, only a lever? A button that you press according to political ambitions and communication needs? Sometimes it's good to hit it; sometimes it's good to defend it? And the artists? Sometimes you ask them to participate in an event and give the impression of being close to the world, like Franck Riester who ironically sang Antisocial during the Fête de la musique 2019, sometimes you let them die in indifference and incomprehension by playing on another lever, that of fear, to have the world with you.
While you have successively and in an extremely clear manner lifted restrictions and social distancing on trains, planes, fairs, trade shows and universities, you have not done so in cultural venues. While each private sector, from tourism to catering to events, has had its reassuring little note, you seem to take a strange pleasure in confusing the question of culture. You have appointed a new minister, rather well loved by artists and the French, but she does not speak. Since his appointment, nothing. In his place, it is Jean Castex who takes the floor to correct a blunder in his ministry (Editor's note: the announcement of the authorization of gauges of more than 5,000 people from September).
Artists, producers and viewers, contrary to what you are trying to suggest, are no less aware of the world's problems. They don't want to gamble at all costs , they don't reject health rules. They may even know more about all of these things than you, since they live among the world and not out of the world. We are many artists to have given our support in the midst of the crisis, made videos, performances without an audience, free live performances, fundraising, made shows available… to get over this difficult course for all. Many of us also have performances at the start of the school year. We will not be able, neither economically nor logistically, to ensure these representations without the lifting of the measure of a gap seat per group and you know it (at least, I hope so). The entire entertainment world is waiting, in fear and crossing their fingers, for you to react.
How many producers, directors of theaters, café-theaters in Paris, but especially in the provinces, this province that you never forget to forget in the field of culture like so many others elsewhere, will have to take blind decisions? To close ? Fire ? Report ? To cancel ? Fighting with insurance companies who will try to stem the bleeding by finding irregularities in the claims?
Don't despise us! Whereas in a theater, as in a train, as in a shop, the wearing of the mask is easy to put on and the use of gel easy to impose, whereas in a theater, as on a train, people are disciplined where they are much less so, in bars, parks and beaches, you have nevertheless shown the fierce determination to close theaters first and reopen them last. But in a theater, around a theater, next to a theater, there are people who work, who have families, rents and credits. Are we a fuse? An alibi that allows you to prove how well you are in control of the situation? Is the goal to muzzle speech? Are you afraid that the performing arts world will swarm with anti-political texts? Are you afraid of movies? Songs ?
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Do not be afraid of the consequences, but of the consequences of your fears. We have taken good note of this sad news, which is the ban on gatherings of more than 5,000 people, but we ask you, for the survival of our sector, to lift social distancing in theaters, cinemas ... with a lower seat gauge. "