The deliberation was administrative, it was about voting on the authorization for “the decommissioning, reclassification, and demolition” of the current TNN building after ministerial authorization, but it turned… political.
It must be said that while Deputy Anne Ramos stuck to the technical aspects of the deliberation, Christian Estrosi ignited controversy by describing the current TNN as an “architectural atrocity,” a “sort of concrete contraption” that produces “1700 tonnes of CO2 per year.” Just a bit more, and we would have found the culprit for global warming!
It’s true that the building may no longer suit the tastes of the time (“de gustibus non est disputandum” said the Latins to signify that everything is subjective) and significant compliance work would be anticipated, but… how can you fault the daughter of the architect, Martine Bayard, who opposes the destruction of the work? In her affectionate judgment, she probably thinks of it as the eighth wonder of the world…
But it wasn’t over. In the ensuing controversy between the Mayor and opposition groups, apocalyptic tones were heard: “How can you let this madness happen?” asked Juliette Chesnel, the environmentalist elected official, using her tongue as a blade. For her, the additional green lung (1500 trees), which is Christian Estrosi’s pride, will only be a “patch of greenery on the concrete slab” of the parking lot that will be retained…
On their side, the RN group, through the voice of Geneviève Borgo del Pozzo, took a middle position: “Our group opposes the principle of demolition because the continuation could be possible by retaining the TNN, built at the same time as the Mamac (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), which you do not consider demolishing, by the way,” pointing out: “There is an inconsistency there.”
Opposing but not dogmatic, the RN elected officials requested to “postpone the demolition until the reception of the three sites in 2023.”
How could one not see a tactical position there? By then, there will be the presidential and legislative elections, and you never know: three cards remain to be played, those of Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour, and that of Eric Ciotti, who, after validating and financing the project as President of the Department’s Finance Committee, has become its number one adversary. Moreover, his affiliate Bernard Chaix voted against the deliberation along with opposition groups.
In this abundance of political positions leading to confusion, one might forget that a theater is a place for culture and that the real estate aspect is merely ancillary to the contents (performances and other forms of performing arts).
For instance, how can one forget that TNN director Muriel Mayette-Holtz approved the new organization of the performance venues? An opinion, hers, that the Ministry certainly took into account before authorizing the demolition of the current TNN and its replacement by other venues.
Can we consider that she has a few more competencies than some loudspeakers we heard during this debate?
And yes, as Patrick Mottard, municipal councilor in charge “of performing arts,” recalled in his intervention, the Théâtre de Nice will not disappear with the demolition of the current building but will continue to operate during the transitional period with the Franciscans’ site (300 seats, open as of March 2022), the temporary “la cuisine” theater (600 seats accessible in March as well) and the Iconic hall (500 seats) to be delivered in January 2023. Additionally, four new substitute sites will also complement this offer: the Nice Opera, the Francis Gag theater, the Lino Ventura theater, the Nice-North forum.
All while awaiting the reception of the large 800-seat hall at the exhibition center, which will complete the reticular and decentralized structure of the cultural offer, a modern urban model to encourage citizen participation and break the glass barrier of sacred venues.
Does anyone have in mind the city at 30 minutes (C30), where all public services must be within the reach of citizens within this time limit?
But when popular becomes populist, key points are missed to get lost in the meanders of abstruse reasoning. If that were the case, we would have avoided confusing culture and building, TNN and theatrical activity.
- William Shakespeare made Gratiano say in “The Merchant of Venice (1596)
- “I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; A stage where every man must play a part”
Was that the case, this Friday morning, at the Nice City Council?
by Garibaldino
