Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, Minister of Culture, received representatives of the symphonic sector and local authorities on November 8, 2021, for the presentation of the mission on French permanent orchestras.

Entrusted to Anne Poursin and Jérôme Thiébaux, this mission had a double objective: to draw up an inventory of the life of permanent symphony orchestras and to make recommendations for the sector. Accompanied by a monitoring and steering committee, extended several times to the social partners, Anne Poursin and Jérôme Thiébaux present a complete vision of the sector, which allows to understand and understand the permanent orchestras in their heterogeneity and their diversity, whether it is the political environment of the orchestras, their missions, or their organization.

The report also proposes some fifty recommendations, addressed to all the actors of the symphonic world, thus outlining the foundations of a new «symphonic pact» between the State, local authorities and orchestras. This draft new pact could serve as a basis for discussions between the partners concerned, both on the question of the musician’s career, as well as on the artistic use, the missions of orchestras and their appropriation by the greatest number.

Following this presentation, the Minister of Culture identified several priority areas for the Ministry’s work:

  • The establishment of a process of observation of the sector with the professionals, to improve their knowledge, in coherence with the conclusions of the report on lyrical art conducted by Caroline Sonrier;
  • The integration of young artists through specific measures in connection with higher education institutions;
  • The development of creation, notably through the residencies of composers;
  • The updating of the specifications of the National Orchestra label in the regions.


Finally, taking into account the difficulties highlighted in the report, related to the inadequacy of the orchestras' workplaces, the Minister of Culture wishes to engage a more in-depth expertise on investment needs, on the one hand, to bring the rehearsal rooms of orchestras up to standard and on the other hand to bring them in line with the missions of an orchestra of the 21st century. The result of this expertise is expected for the first half of 2022.

Summary of the report here.