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The President’s wishes for the Cultural world
Tuesday 13 January, Nicolas Sarkozy presented his wishes for the Cultural world during a trip to Nîmes. This provided the opportunity for him to clarify his priorities and objectives for 2009.
A French History Museum – recalling that Arts and Culture are the highest and most precious values of civilisation, Nicolas Sarkozy presented his wishes for the Cultural world on 13 January at Nîmes.
In addition to the Grand Museum of Mediterranean Civilisations which will open its doors in 2012, the President announced the creation of a ‘museum of the History of France’. Deploring that ‘there does not exist a place to question the History of France in its totality’, he made clear that the emblematic place in which the Museum of the History of France will be situated is still to be decided.
In his mission letter of 1 August 2007, he requested that Christine Albanel ‘asses the project to create a centre of research and permanent collections dedicated to the civil and military history of France’. From this perspective, an inquiry was conducted by Hervé Lemoine, conservator of heritage, who returned his report in April 2008 [available on line].
Free museum entry and art education – During his speech Nicolas Sarkozy announced the establishment of free access to State-run museums and monuments for all young people under 26 years and their teachers, as of the Easter holidays, beginning 4 April. The President also indicated his resolve to attract young people into museums ‘these young people will begin a habit of museum attendance, and when they are adults, they will take their children’, the President believes.
In addition to this, Nicolas Sarkozy has made arts and cultural education policy one of his 2009 priorities. He hopes that partnerships will be signed between all schools, from pre-school to university, and cultural establishments of France to develop artistic and cultural teaching.
Heritage and architecture – An additional 100million euros in the budget, allocated to the restoration of protected heritage, set out under the revival plan, will be continued through the duration of the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. Declaring that ‘it is time to maintain our heritage’, he brought up three priorities ‘major emblematic monuments, cathedrals and abbeys, and the heritage of small communities’. In addition to this, Nicolas Sarkozy defended the architectural consultation of the ‘Frand pari de l’agglomération parisienne’, on the future of Grand Paris, which will be completed in February.
Council for artistic creation – The President announced the creation of a ‘council for artistic creation’. It will be presided over by himself as well as the Minister for Culture and Communication and will be run by the cinema producer Marin Karmitz. ‘It will support creation and refocus assistance for artistic excellence, as our policy suffers from an pileup of grants,’ affirmed Nicolas Sarkozy. In addition to this, the funds for 2009 for live performance which had been put into reserve will be distributed. The President declared his ‘commitment to the specific system of casual work, reserved for situations for which it is truly legitimate.’
Finally, Nicolas Sarkozy hopes for the development of an ambitious cultural policy, notably thanks to the reorganisation of the Ministry of Culture, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009.
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