In the intimate and symbolic setting of the Café des Franciscains, Christian Estrosi presented his new cultural project for Nice. Heritage, creation, artistic freedom, and access for all: the mayor of Nice promises a profoundly renewed cultural policy, built with local stakeholders and supported by a massive investment of over 100 million euros for the upcoming term.
This Monday morning, the Café des Franciscains is bustling with voices, smiles, and cultural figures. An environment far from ordinary. Even before the mayor’s appearance, Muriel Mayette-Holtz, who directs the Théâtre National de Nice, sets the atmosphere.
“I am so delighted to see this Café des Franciscains brimming with positive energy this morning,” she says with a smile. It is a place where, every Thursday, the Jeudis littéraires are organized, where the works of great writers are celebrated and culture is promoted.
A convivial, almost activist introduction, paving the way for Christian Estrosi. Apparently moved by the place, he describes “a magical place where culture already has its beating heart” before delving into the history of the site, mixing anecdotes and patrimonial pride.
“We didn’t know we were sitting on a church dating back to the 13th century,” he says. They were digging through walls, scraping… and then came across a church larger than Sainte-Réparate. “It is an exceptional heritage.”
The mayor laughs, engages in many asides, shares his memories at the Capitol “with the disco ball,” and emphasizes how Niçois heritage has sometimes been discovered… by chance.
Christian Estrosi quickly establishes the ideological basis of his initiative: culture must not be dictated by politics.
“When it comes to culture, political ideas are always doomed to fail, but when designed by culture itself, in a universe of freedom, our chances of success are significantly enhanced.” he says bluntly.
He vigorously defends this freedom, particularly through the Book Fair: “You take everyone. I don’t want to sort through authors. Culture in Nice must remain a land of freedom of expression in all its forms. And I’ll always fight for that.” The cultural project, the outcome of several months of discussion, with over 10,000 responses collected, is intended to be collective, anchored in an already dense network: 15 museums, 34 theaters, 40 galleries, 13 libraries, an opera, and more than a million visitors every year.
An Asserted Cultural Ambition Throughout the Mandate
The announcement is clear: over 100 million euros will be dedicated to culture over the mandate, around 18 million per year, to make it a central pillar of public policies, on par with health or education. Christian Estrosi advocates for culture to be regarded not as a luxury but as a structuring priority for the city. This budget will particularly enable the delivery of the Palais des Arts and culture, the permanence of the theater of cuisine, the deployment of a cultural plan for West Nice, the covering of the Théâtre de Verdure to make it usable year-round, as well as the transformation of the 109 into a major hub for contemporary creation. In educational matters, the mayor asserts to reinforce the “100% culture in school” program, convinced that culture is a powerful lever for gathering and transmission.
Beyond facilities, the ambition is also artistic and symbolic: to create a new “school of Nice” for the 21st century, heir to the creative audacity that has shaped the city’s history, open to contemporary music, live performances, and experimentation. This dynamic will rely on a commitment charter with artists to support the creation, training, and dissemination of artworks. Summarizing his project in four words: emotion, valuation, openness, growth, Christian Estrosi wants to restore Nice’s entire cultural depth. “For too long, Nice has been seen only through the lens of entertainment,” he concludes. “I want it to regain all its depth, its roots, and its wings.” Applause erupts. The mayor smiles, almost surprised:
“You’re applauding yourselves,” he says, laughing. “Because you’ve built this project. And you can be proud of it.” One thing is certain: in Nice, culture is no longer just scenery. It now claims a central role in the narrative of the city.
