2023-09-22 21:50:40
It’s almost the only free festival in Seine-et-Marne. The Affolantes are settling into the Melun landscape and thinking bigger. Launched Wednesday September 20 with the fireworks initially planned for the national holiday this summer, the 6th edition lasts five days until Sunday evening and offers a abundant program with 28 groups and companies (circus and street arts, music, etc.), or 170 artists! For the first time, he goes to part of the working-class neighborhoods of Melun such as Almont and Montaigu.
The performance of the Compagnie Lombric Spaghettis on Wednesday was a success on the Saint-François esplanade in Almont. A meeting prepared in advance with the La Boussole social center team. ” It is a success ! The stands were full with mothers and children. Not to mention dads and grandfathers who passed by and stopped to watch the show until the end! » greets Hazielle Picart, cultural mediator at La Boussole.
Last summer, she organized a painting workshop in which residents created a fresco representing the Affolantes mascots. “It aroused their curiosity. And there they saw them! Bringing culture to neighborhoods is an objective. People appreciated it. We hope that this will continue because the residents now know them and expect them! »
Spread over five days, the festival began with the Compagnie Lombric Spaghettis and their balancing games in the Almont district. DR DR
President of JS Festival, the organizing association, Simon Pigot is very confident in this development of Les Affolantes. “We’re going there gradually. Next year, we will expand to more neighborhoods.” This year, it also wants to reach 1,300 schoolchildren instead of 800 in 2022, via performances at Place Praslin (city center) and the Montaigu district (Les Marronniers leisure center, Capucins gymnasium).
The municipal subsidy has almost doubled in one year
Other new features: a show for young audiences on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. at Place Praslin while families are invited to bring their picnic; then on Sunday, after a brunch in the morning, in the afternoon there is an introduction to Latin dances, Place Jacques-Amyot, followed by a Latin ball. The cooperative store of organic products Coop’in, which has moved to rue du Four, will host games on the banks of the Seine.
German-Nigerian singer Nneka will be the star of Affolantes 2023, Saturday evening, Place Praslin. DR
With 8,000 spectators recorded last year, and “a goal of exceeding 10,000”, hopes Simon Pigot, the number of partners is increasing. There are 72 of them, between the city of Melun which voted for a subsidy of 47,500 euros this year (compared to 25,000 in 2022), the department (5,000 euros, as in 2022), traders, craftsmen, businesses, etc.
“Without institutional grants and patronage, the festival would not be possible. We need to be able to pay artists,” assures Simon Pigot. The absence of precise accounting figures transmitted to the municipal council is surprising. “If we are helped by the city and the departmental council, it is because they have the figures. Any grant request is subject to a financial report. We have an accountant,” says Simon Pigot. “It’s not a phony festival, we see that it exists and attracts people,” explains the mayor of Melun, Louis Vogel (Horizons).
Is there a conflict of interest between the organizing association and the profession of Simon Pigot, bar manager, as Philippe Martin (LR), opposition elected official, questioned? “None”, retorts Simon Pigot, “the Affolantes bar is managed by JS Festival which buys its beers”. He confides that his Doctor Beer store offers the festival three or four barrels (the equivalent of 120 beers per barrel). “Everyone tries to help. The Métro brand is offering us part of the shopping basket because there are 500 meals to be provided in five days for artists, volunteers, etc. Des Lis Chocolat offers small gifts to partners…”
Soviet Suprem and Nneka headline
Furthermore, the role of the 80 volunteers is essential to carry out this organization, between welcoming artists and the public, negotiating contracts with companies, installing sets, etc. “There would be 5,464 hours of volunteering, which would correspond to 93,404 euros in 2022. This is a real saving. That raises questions,” said Arnaud Saint-Martin (LFI), another opposition elected official. “It’s a popular festival, it’s normal that there are volunteers. They take charge of the party,” replied Louis Vogel. For Simon Pigot, these doubts are “a hell of an insult to the work of the volunteers who give their all”.
The group Soviet Suprem will get the public moving on Friday evening at Praslin Square. DR
Why not instead invite icons of song like Véronique Sanson or Louis Bertignac, stars of the Deux Rivières festival in La Ferté-sous-Jouarre in June? “Véronique Sanson was 49 euros per place, Bertignac 35 euros. That’s not what we want to do,” replies the mayor, who defends the principle of free access. After the Fatals Picards in 2027, Oldelaf in 2018, Yarol Poupaud in 2019, discover this Friday evening, Place Praslin, the group Soviet Suprem (punk rock, hip-hop) – John Lénine alias Toma Feterman (from the Passe caravan) and Sylvester Stalin aka R.Wan (from the group Java) – and, Saturday evening, the German-Nigerian singer Nneka (soul, reggae, hip-hop). Do not hesitate !
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