First wishes to the cultural world for the new Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati. The former Minister of Justice of Nicolas Sarkozy and candidate for mayor of Paris was criticized during her appointment, with many being surprised by her lack of knowledge of artistic issues. For her first contact, the minister played appeasement and listened, and announced her action plan.
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A speech at the Cité de l’immigration, in the majestic setting offormer Palace of the Coloniesa symbol for Rachida Dati, from a North African family of eleven children, whose faultless career is a model of republican integration. “ It’s true, she recognizes, my appointment came as a surprise and – to remain neutral – many comments were made. When you have a background like mine, I can assure you that culture enters your life in a way that never leaves you. »
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Culture for all audiences, particularly in rural areas, is the leitmotif of the new minister, moreover candidate for mayor of Paris in 2026 and mayor of the 7th arrondissement, in the middle of the farmers’ demonstration. “ Accessing a real cultural offer in rural areas, as in certain neighborhoods or certain overseas territories, is a challenge », Estimated Ms. Dati. She had also reserved her first trip as minister to a sub-prefecture of Dordogne (south-west) with few cultural places, Nontron. Then in mid-January, she visited with Emmanuel Macron the Ateliers Médicis in Seine-Saint-Denis which welcome young artists to support them in their projects.
“ The challenge is not to create many scenes in rural areas tomorrow. It is rather to see how we can seriously take into account these 22 million French people who do not have the same ease of access to artistic offers », According to the minister.
Another issue, the media. The minister insisted on the role of the media in culture, because it is “ the only cultural offer that is available in the same way for 100% of French people “. Concerning public audiovisual, the minister asks the companies that make it up to accelerate their cooperation in order to ensure their long-term financing. THE public broadcasting budget is certainly increasing by 6% – and exceeds the 4 billion euro mark for the first time – but it was necessary to compensate for the abolition of the fee and the costs of technology and digitalization are exploding.
According to the wishes of Emmanuel Macron, Rachida Dati intends to soothe memories by creating links with Africa, in particular with the project of House of African Worlds.
Before concluding : “ When I leave you, you will not cry, you will applaud me. In the meantime, I wish you a very – very happy new year.. »