The figures are still below the seasonal average, but the trend is good.
Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak said she was optimistic on Friday about the return of the public to cinemas and live shows, which have not returned to their pre-pandemic occupancy rate.
The average drop
“for cinemas and theaters is less than 25%.
It's too much, but it's not a disaster: there are countries where it's much worse,"
the minister told AFP from the Avignon festival, the last edition of which opened. Thursday.
To support his remarks, Rima Abdul Malak cited Italy as an example, where the occupancy rate of cinemas fell by 65%.
A level still comparable to the attendance of European dark rooms in 2021. Last year, admissions had plunged by 60% compared to the average level recorded before the pandemic.
In France, however, business is picking up little by little, assures the Minister of Culture.
Read alsoIn Europe, cinema attendance plunged by 60%
"We are going to have magnificent shows at the start of the school year, there are going to be habits that will be taken up
," she said.
The only fly in the ointment: inflation.
A challenge on which she said she wanted
to "reflect with the professionals"
, in order to see
"how to respond to this issue which is temporary but which can last a few more months"
.
Developing the culture pass
The Minister also indicated that she wanted to make
“a precise inventory”
of the distribution of shows, after a report from the Court of Auditors pointed to a proliferation of subsidized artistic creation, but with a restricted distribution.
“I would like to know the places where the shows are broadcast the least and those where they are broadcast the best to try to find the point of balance
,” said Rima Abdul Malak, a theater enthusiast.
“There cannot be diffusion without creation;
at the same time, if the creations are not addressed to audiences, it doesn't make sense either”
, she underlined.
Read the fileConcerts, festivals: our cultural agenda for summer 2022
The Minister also defended the proposal to extend the culture pass from the 6th, a device proposed on July 6 by the government of Elisabeth Borne, and which already allows 15-18 year olds to benefit from an envelope intended to buy cultural products.
"In college, we see that what happens first for teachers are live performance outings with the class,"
said Rima Abdul Malak.
Even if the system led above all to a rush of young people on manga, the minister also recalled that two million cinema seats had also been purchased thanks to the culture pass.
Asked about sexist and sexual violence in the performing arts, Rima Abdul Malak finally indicated that her ministry will
“continue to work”
on its fight plan already put in place by former minister Roselyne Bachelot.
In particular, this makes it compulsory to respect formal commitments against such violence in order to obtain public aid.