Since the onset of the health crisis, public policies have legitimately placed the emphasis on the health response and favored the maintenance of “essential” services, some will add “to the detriment of culture”.
We do not wish to fuel the controversy over the essential character of art in society.
Its place is obvious.
It is universally recognized.
Access to culture is even a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as in the Unesco Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.
In other words, culture is vital for the well-being of all.
To read also: "Culture: a real antivirus"
Despite the substantial support and accompaniment measures put in place by the Ministry of Culture in favor of the various cultural sectors (support mechanisms for professionals, aid for cultural employers, support for bookstores and record stores), the social and economic repercussions and policies of confinement followed by the closures of establishments may have a lasting effect on artistic activities and professions.
The more we delay the recovery, the more we put the culture at risk!
The Council of State has also positioned itself in this direction in an ordinance of 23 December last.
The administrative judge, under the freedom of artistic creation and that of access to cultural works, thus indicated that it would be disproportionate and manifestly illegal to wait for the end of the epidemic to reopen cultural places.
"Republican cement"
The whole of society is now aware of the risks of the current situation: the absence of interactions, especially among young and old, has devastating psychological effects;
the economic problems of some professionals also make them very vulnerable.
In this context of social insecurity, isolation and loss of meaning, culture must be able to play its role of republican cement.
It must help our fellow citizens to recover from a trauma for which we were absolutely not prepared.
There is no inevitability, there is an opportunity.
Because culture is one of our most precious assets.
She is our soul supplement.
It has been part of our heritage for centuries and we can be proud of having contributed to its universal development.
Under the leadership of Roselyne Bachelot, it occupies a central place in the government's recovery plan because it is an economic engine, a source of attractiveness and diversity.
Globalization and the digital transition had already highlighted the need to adapt cultural policies and economic models.
The health crisis has accelerated this movement and led to the emergence of new practices.
The local level was able to carry initiatives throughout this unprecedented period, such as the organization of exhibitions in shopping centers in Charleville-Mézières, the adaptation of a festival in Angoulême, the hosting of artists. in residence at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye theater, the opening of the City Hall of the 9th arrondissement of Paris to theater companies and orchestral groups for rehearsals and masterclasses, or the plan for artistic and cultural education in the schools of Nice.
Culture will be reborn in its laboratories of ideas and thanks to our capacity for innovation and experimentation.
We have the expertise and the resources to guarantee the resumption of activities in secure conditions
Signatory mayors
To gradually support activities, while remaining vigilant and responsible, we wish to stimulate and deploy experimental actions in our territories, in our museums, our theaters, cinemas, concert halls and exhibitions, framed by health protocols.
We wish to be authorized to carry out these experiments by the health authorities.
This phase of resilience seems necessary to us to renew the link between artistic productions and the public, and to gain their confidence.
We have the expertise and the resources to guarantee the resumption of activities under secure conditions.
We have already demonstrated this by setting up screening and vaccination centers and by maintaining our public services with the reception of all children, in particular.
So, let's make the spring of 2021 that of winning back the public.
April 15 is World Art Day;
our goal is to be able to celebrate it across our country.
“Art and speech are the two organs of human progress.
One makes the hearts communicate, the other the thoughts ”
, wrote Romain Rolland.
We all need to feel again the emotions that only Art can provide.
Read also: "Many European countries are reopening their museums: France must reopen hers!"
To read also: "Private theaters, concert halls, cinemas and artists are in danger of death"
Signatory mayors:
Arnaud Péricard
, Mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Delphine Bürkli
, mayor of the 9th arrondissement of Paris
Brigitte Fouré
, mayor of Amiens
Christophe Béchu
, mayor of Angers
Xavier Bonnefont
, Mayor of Angoulême
Yves Foulon
, Mayor of Arcachon
Arnaud Murgia
, Mayor of Briançon
Boris Ravignon
, mayor of Charleville-Mézières
Laurent Brosse
, Mayor of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Stéphane Beaudet
, Mayor of Évry-Courcouronnes
Marie-Agnès Poussier-Winsback
, Mayor of Fécamp
Michel Py,
mayor of Leucate
Christian Estrosi
, Mayor of Nice
Frédéric Masquelier
, Mayor of Saint-Raphaël
Alain Chrétien
, Mayor of Vesoul