Josiane Chevalier, regional prefect, installed this Monday, May 4, in the presence of Jean Rottner, president of the Regional Council, the Council of Territories for the Culture of the Great East, which brought together the regional representatives of the following associations and federations: Association des maires de France, Association des départements de France, Association des régions de France, Fédération nationale des collectivités pour la culture, Association des maires rurales de France, Association des communautés de France, France urbaine, Villes de France, Cities and suburbs.
A territorialization of the Council of Territories for Culture (CTC)
The Minister of Culture wished that the Council of Territories for Culture (CTC), which brings together representatives of the main associations and federations of communities at the national level, or territorialized, in order to strengthen cooperation in each region in favour of cultural policies, a competence shared by all communities.
This forum for dialogue between the State and local authorities is essential in the context of the current health crisis that profoundly and durably affects the artistic and cultural life of our country.
The Prefect welcomed the quality of the cooperation between the services of the DRAC and the Regional Council, within the framework of the working groups that have been established since the end of March with the actors of all fields (heritage, book, cinema, visual arts, performing arts, festivals and arts and cultural education).
The exchanges focused on the aid provided to the cultural sector by the State and local authorities, on the problems encountered by festivals and the functioning of cultural institutions (in particular the question of museums and libraries), on access to part-time work by public cultural cooperation institutions and on film shootings.
With regard to aid to the sector, the Prefect stressed the action taken by the State services to support all the cultural actors of the territory - artists, associations, places - with the maintenance and simplified payment of subsidies, the arrangements set up by the government and the emergency and relief funds set up by the Ministry of Culture.
In addition, a festival unit has been set up by the Ministry of Culture, with an address dedicated to the organizers of the Grand Est (festivals-covid19.grandest@culture.gouv.fr). A reflection is also being conducted with museums and libraries in view of their potential re-opening, and the site #culturecheznous now offers 700 online cultural offerings, including about fifty on the Great East.
The next Council should take place in a month.