A hundred artists and technicians gathered this Thursday in Séléstat at the offices of the cultural agency of the Grand Est. They fear the dismantling of this agency and denounce the 5 million euro cut in the regional budget dedicated to culture.
“The culture is dying in the East.” This is the name of the statement signed by 400 people, including actors, artists, and technicians from the Grand Est. They denounce an unprecedented attack against culture.
The Grand Est region has reduced its budget for culture by 5 million euros in 2026 and plans to dismantle the cultural agency of the Grand Est in Sélestat. Its operating budget has been cut by 63%. The performing arts sector is threatened with disappearance, as it enables troops to rehearse and benefit from financial and material support.
“This Thursday, a hundred people gathered in Sélestat to denounce this project. They achieved a symbolic victory, as the General Assembly of the cultural agency of the Grand Est voted against the closure of the performing arts sector.
“The planned closure of the agency is a moment of stripping that is much more general, which actually hides a political will,” says Pierre-Marie, who leads a theater company in Meurthe-et-Moselle. He emphasizes that this situation is truly destroying the artistic vitality of the region.
“Some theater companies are at risk of slowly dying in the coming years. Two fellow actors told me this morning that they had decided to change careers,” explains Paul Schirck, actor and director of the company l’Armoise in Strasbourg. He points out that the decrease in budget leads to fewer creations and job opportunities for actors.
Violette Rolin, a production manager in the theater, is worried about her future and that of many of her friends in the cultural sector. She highlights the challenges faced by emerging companies as well as individuals in their 40s who may struggle to sustain their livelihoods in this situation.
To raise awareness of the situation, a petition has been opened online this week, already signed by over 1,700 people.
