Nice Premium: André Barthe, the dancers from the Opera raised concerns during the last city council meeting. Has there been any progress on this matter since then?
André Barthe: The dancers whose contracts weren’t renewed will be received if they wish, and each resume they provide will be reviewed.
NP: What will be offered to them?
AB: As I have always promised, job offers within the City of Nice may be made to them, considering their qualifications and abilities to perform one of the roles found in municipal public service.
NP: Don’t you think their contract non-renewal could have been handled differently than by registered mail?
AB: Sending a registered letter to the dancers announcing the non-renewal of their contracts is a legal necessity. Indeed, we could have sent this letter at the end of June 2007 only, without any further explanation.
We opted to put in place rules that are more in line with social relations, meaning meetings with the General Director of the Opera, appearances before a completely independent expert committee including prominent figures from the dance world, and case-by-case evaluations taking into account age, physical ability to continue in the profession, and professional quality…
We could not have handled the matter more transparently.
NP: Have you met with the dancers and what have you told them?
AB: Yes, I have met with the dancers. I explained to them that the City of Nice has always proceeded in this way, not renewing dancer contracts from time to time, offering them — as some have accepted in the past — positions within the City.
I also pointed out that all other cities act this way, but in some cases, it was the General Director of the Opera who, alone, decided, which we did not want in the interest of impartiality.
NP: Next Friday, you will present the project of “Nice, European Capital of Culture 2013”. Can you give us an update on this file?
AB: The file for our project “Nice-Côte d’Azur European Capital of Culture 2013” is progressing very well, thanks notably to Mr. Bernard Faivre d’Arcier, who defines the strategies, and Mr. Jean Nouvel, who presides over the association.
We have decided, with our colleagues from allied cities and the Principality of Monaco which joined us, as well as the General Council, the C.C.I., the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, the C.H.U…., that four themes would be developed: light, living and artificial, the spirit of the Baroque, and arts of the shore.
NP: What are the highlights?
AB: We have numerous strengths: our affirmed will, the quality of the members of the created association and that of the ambassadors, but especially the excellence of the venues and people, which make the Côte d’Azur an exceptional cultural hub.
NP: Finally, what are the latest news from André Barthe and culture in Nice?
AB: After the inauguration of the C.N.R. and as we prepare our candidacy file, we will also inaugurate the renovation of the Masséna Museum next autumn, open two neighborhood media libraries within the next two years along with the instrumental museum of the Palais Lascaris which will be the second in France in terms of the value of the pieces presented but, above all, we are entering the active phase of cultural realization at the Halle Spada where, apart from a 1200-seat auditorium, a show theatre, a contemporary music theatre… of 700 seats, two equipped dance rooms (150 m2), we will also initiate an exceptional place in favor of creation and new cultural trends.
