A concept that stands out in the Rochelle campaign where culture is never mentioned among the priority projects. So why not? The road would be long (financial assembly, creation of a team and an artistic program…), the project very costly (several tens of millions of euros) but the benefits (economic, reputation, opportunities…) would be worth the investments if we refer to the feedback from cities that have embarked on the adventure.
La Rochelle vs Rochefort In La Rochelle, the idea is not entirely new. In 2013, under the mandate of socialist Maxime Bono, the Development Council of the La Rochelle Agglomeration produced a small report to suggest the project to the current team. “Culture, wealth of intelligence but also powerful economic lever, is a very present function in the Rochelais territory. This candidacy could constitute a federative project carried by its inhabitants and allow opening up to neighboring territories for sharing,” wrote its president Guy Chézeau at the time. But the matter was left there.
