When presenting his wishes to the cultural world, Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, mentioned a revival of the cultural sector on September 15th.
“September 15th is an irrevocable date.” Christian Estrosi satisfied the entire audience with this simple phrase. At the beginning of the week, the mayor of Nice had gathered local cultural representatives at the town hall. For the occasion, the municipality had set up a round table to discuss the future of this sector, which has been severely affected by Covid-19. “I have always had a special relationship with the cultural world. But culture has a certain freedom that we must respect,” explained Christian Estrosi.
The mayor of Nice made a strong move. He asserts: cultural life will resume on September 15th. A decision naturally appreciated by the actors of the cultural world, like Thierry Surace, artistic director of the Miranda company and city theater: “It’s bold for a mayor to propose such a date. I admire what Christian Estrosi has done. It’s a risk, but it might stir things up in the country.”
A realistic or impossible date?
The announcement by the mayor of Nice inevitably provokes reactions. The cultural sector is currently in danger. “It’s not too late. The current situation is terrifying, but it’s especially this uncertainty around us that is killing us,” explains Thierry Surace. “This date of September 15th, even if it’s a mistake, is a good thing because we know we will fight until that date.” Christian Estrosi surprised the audience by mentioning this timeline, and this announcement is expected to spark discussions up to the highest levels of government.
The mayor of Nice thus wishes to help the cultural sector: “I want to contribute to the government by proposing to decentralize the management of cultural activities to certain local authorities, under the control of health services, the Regional Health Agency, and the prefect. It’s more a partnership offer than a power struggle that I wish to engage.”
Christian Estrosi plans to prepare an “unassailable” file and send it to the government. For this, he can notably count on the support of jurists, constitutionalists, or specialized firms. The mayor of Nice concluded his speech by encouraging artists to produce. Measures should be implemented to continue assisting the cultural sector, such as organizing several open-air performances.
