It was at the start of the session, during various questions, that Luis Ferreyra, an opposition representative, raised the subject, asking the mayor three questions. “Why is it not renewed? You decapitated her, he says. Since she has been there, there has been a 30% increase in attendance. Are you going to replace it or delete this position? Finally, what is your cultural policy for Sarlat?
The opposition rises to the niche
As tradition dictates, it was at the end of the session that the chief magistrate responded to his opponent. “As for the non-renewal of the director, I explained it with her,” he argues. And I don’t have to talk about it in the City Council. Will it be replaced? Yes, we are in the process of redefining the job description before starting to recruit someone. As for the City’s cultural policy, this is a subject on which we are going to initiate new things. We are going to work on new programming.”
The cultural center hosts, in particular, the Sarlat Film Festival. Archives Philippe Greiller
In Basile Fanier’s sights, the deficit of the cultural center, which, according to him, is around 700,000 euros per year. “Sometimes, certain shows cost between 8,000 and 10,000 euros and are performed in front of almost empty rooms,” he says. We want to strengthen the cultural center to give it new impetus.”
An argument swept aside by the mayor
Justifications that struggle to convince the opposition. “I hope this is not a strategy to change the cultural center into a simple concert hall,” replies Luis Ferreyra. If it doesn’t become something profitable, what are you going to do with it? You are going to kill the culture in Sarlat.”
An argument that the mayor brushes aside. “We have plans to expand the cultural center,” he says. Do you really think that if we had to abandon it, we would invest in it? We want to give it an identity.”
