“They’re closing the doors!” From the workshops where she and other students are busy, Astrid Gallois, 21 and in her fourth year at the Higher Institute of Fine Arts in Besançon (Isba), sees a handful of students barricading the entrances to the establishment. “At that time, I understand that they decided between themselves to occupy the school,” recalls the young girl.
“They” are the ten students who decreed the occupation of the Isba on March 29, without informing the majority of the approximately 160 others. In the corridors of the institution, the noise had been circulating for several days that an “action” was preparing. Of those carried out in several universities to denounce the pension reform. But above all, as in many regional art schools such as those in Angers, Quimper, or Brest, there is also a headwind against the reduction in their subsidies. Gatherings, days of action, occupations… Each school has its own modus operandi.
The day before, Astrid had nevertheless sought to find out from the best-informed students. “There will be a general meeting”, he had been told without giving him a time despite his reminder. “In principle, I found that the occupation was an interesting mode of protest to explore. But there, it was brutal”, she describes.
Faced with the feeling of exclusion of some, the occupants of the school organize a new general assembly, this time by communicating on its holding to gather the greatest number. The authoritarian accents of the first hours are forgiven, at least we put up with it to preserve the common demands: better trained teachers, a complete team, more budget from the Ministry of Culture and help from local authorities local authorities of 6 million euros to renovate the building (including accessibility for people with reduced mobility).
“Horizontality” and “benevolence”
Despite its appearance of a besieged citadel, this new system is intended to be a kind of ideal democracy. “They do not want to prioritize but to proceed horizontally, in a positive and benevolent attitude”, describes Nicolas Bardey, teaching assistant in screen printing. In the general assemblies, which take place several times a week, teachers, management and students have the opportunity to put forward their point of view before voting on a certain number of measures concerning both the substance of the dispute and the methods of occupancy. “But when the loudest group, even a minority, is in favor of an idea, speaking out against it can be complicated. Some are afraid, especially since the vote is done by a show of hands”, summarizes Jean Salomon, 26 years old and in fourth grade. And then there is wear. As the weeks pass, the curious of the first hours desert the “AG”. “Not everyone can afford to spend three or four hours in a meeting to discuss redundant subjects. We are still here to study… In the end, it becomes undemocratic”, continues the young man.
Some will no doubt see in this description the vagaries of democratic life, which has to deal with abstentionism and the depoliticization of part of society. But, according to several members of Isba, the growing disaffection of the majority of students for these assemblies would also find its source in the conception of the occupants of “horizontality”…
Quickly, a small group took over the offices of the administrative staff, forcing them to telecommute – before “agreeing” to return these premises to occupy the artists’ residence which until now served as a teachers’ room. An “attendance list” – which some call “black list” – is set up at the entrance to the school to control entries and exits. “Security reasons”, it says. Even the teachers and the administration must state their identity, as well as the time of arrival and departure (the list has since been deleted).
Emerging at the same time leaders, Jazz and Leon. e who, we promise, have “never wanted to become the leaders”… The fact remains that it is towards them that the majority of those questioned redirect L’Express to find out the motivations of the “occupiers”. But the subject was decided in general meeting: they will not answer our questions.
The director “in a position of neutrality”
One evening, as is customary after a busy day, several students clink glasses in their workshops, a beer in hand, but “without overdoing it”. Suddenly, around 8:30 p.m., a small group of occupants burst in. We must leave. The former retort that “school is for everyone” and refuse to leave the premises on the orders of other students, in principle their equals. Especially since it is not uncommon for a working day to stretch until 10 p.m. A few minutes later, another group returns, preceded by Leon.e. It is explained that this is a double violation of the rules – “little rules” put in place by the occupants prohibit alcohol on the school grounds (just like the internal rules which, in fact , so far made do with a drink at the end of the day), and urge those who do not sleep there to leave the premises earlier than usual so as not to disturb the “sleep of the other occupants”.
“Symbolically, the authority changes”, sums up the director Mathieu Ducoudray, who says he is “in a position of neutrality”, and excludes the “use of force”. The latter describes a complicated position, faced with a community that is both united on the merits of the claims, but partly concerned that classes resume. “The students decide on a certain number of things in general assembly: either I apply them, or I negotiate. But, he adds, I refused certain things like giving them the keys or the codes of the alarm .”
Most of the courses are still canceled or strongly impacted, the occupants “demanding”, according to the director, that there are no more “face-to-face courses” but “different teaching methods” in the form workshops, individual meetings, workshops or exhibits. “I therefore asked all the teachers to be present with the teaching methods to be put in place in view of the situation”, explains the director.
“But I can’t dispense a teacher’s word without a frame!” annoyed a professor who wished to remain anonymous. For his part, Rémy Yadan, professor of performance and staging involved since the beginning of the national mobilization against the pension reform, explains that his research and creation workshop could not be held because the auditorium, where the general assemblies take place, “was not in a state to be invested to work the scene”. He didn’t take offense, he explains; the priority going at this time of the year to the accompaniment of “graduates”. And then, “whatever our function and our political differences, we are fighting together against the disappearance of territorial art schools”.
Anti-Discrimination Charter
As events of this type follow one another, however, most students and teachers struggle to find the original claims. “At first, I thought they were really involved in the defense of our schools, confides the teacher who wished to remain anonymous. But I ended up understanding that they were just there to have barbecues, take credit and take power.” Especially since the authoritarian overtones are added to a certain number of identity claims, “generational” for some, but which “take up space and can make other subjects invisible”, according to Jean Salomon.
A “discrimination charter” (understand “anti-discrimination”), a document of several pages, is for example put in place. Selected excerpts:
“It will no longer be or will not be tolerated, the actions and words moved by the different members of the body of the ISBA mentioned below.
Any form of classism, genderism, homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and other forms of lgbtqi + phobia, validism and racism.
Removing points from a studentX’s final mark on the pretext that he did not listen to his teacherX’s remarks, especially if the teacherX’s remarks make the studentX uncomfortable.
Use references or require students to work on artists who are problematic, or who have in the past exhibited serious inappropriate behavior or which may offend the students’ sensibilities.”
Without forgetting: “The abusive use of the space shared by touX: the walls, the benches, the rooms, the chairs, the tables available in the school are supposed to be available for touX the body of the Isba and not should not be monopolized if it is not necessary”…
Of course, context matters. At Isba, the “Balance your art school” movement, which emerged in 2020 under his leadership (by creating a dedicated Instagram account), has made a lasting impression. Anonymous testimonies denouncing discrimination and sexual assault on the part of the director at the time, but not only, caused a profound restructuring of the institution, between team changes and fruitless administrative and judicial investigations. This is why this document, which is supposed to combat discrimination, also establishes a “duty of memory” involving “informing students of past problems at school (in particular sexual assault) so that they can feel confident and talk about it if such actions were to happen again”.
Repression of the opposition
Between post #MeToo sequels, budgetary demands, identity excesses and generational divide, the opposition is struggling to find its place. “In appearance, some teachers support the occupants, says a teacher. But most are especially afraid of being accused of showing Xphobia or worse, if they step up to the plate…”.
On the student side, the situation is hardly better. After the establishment of the “attendance list”, Astrid had hung banners in protest mimicking the acronym of the Isba: “Drunkenness/Sex/Bordel/Anarchy” and “Prohibit/Submit/Bannir/Amen”. Some, visibly scalded by his gait, had taken them down.
As for the management, which says it receives students “silently” in its office and calls from furious parents, it offered the occupants the resumption of classes, especially for first-year students, who are more “fragile”. “I have an appointment with them later to see to what extent we can imagine a return to normal… Well, if they are there. They never confirm their presence”, announces Mathieu Ducoudray.
A few days later, we call the management. SO ? “So they listened to what I had to say. The students are more for the continuation of the movement, but I have not yet read the minutes of the general assembly. I do not know yet what they have decided, I’m not going there anymore.” If even the direction deserts…