On the Millevaches plateau, a “red list” of private subsidy associations

2023-08-09 08:28:12
During the signing of the first republican commitment contracts for associations and foundations wishing to benefit from state subsidies, at the town hall of Beauvais (Oise), on January 7, 2022. BENJAMIN GIRETTE FOR “THE WORLD”

Is there a deliberate policy of the State and its representatives consisting in discriminating and financially sanctioning associations as well as municipalities perceived as “suspicious” on the plateau of Millevaches, which extends over the departments of Creuse , Corrèze and Haute-Vienne? This is the meaning of two letters sent recently to the prefect of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Etienne Guyot, and to the prefect of Creuse, Anne Frackowiak-Jacobs, of which The world took cognizance.

The first letter, signed by the Astre network representing the world of culture in the region, is surprised at the sudden refusals of subsidies by the regional directorate for cultural action (DRAC) to a certain number of associations, engaged for several years in sustained actions of long-standing by the Ministry of Culture.

This is the case of the associations Quartier Rouge, Les Michelines, La Pommerie, but also of Télé Millevaches, created in 2006 by a priest-worker, or even of the association La Broussaille. Stops of financing are motivated by the sole mention of “insufficient funds”. However, several of these structures are involved in multi-annual programs. “Quartier Rouge, supported since 2011 and increasingly by the DRAC, has for several months been in a process of multi-party agreement (requested in particular by the DRAC). To date, the notifications received on the lines “cultural transmission” and “territorial innovation” settle the loss of 20,000 euros for the structure”can we read in the letter addressed to the prefect of the region. “The request on the “creation and visual arts” line (38,000 euros) did not receive any response. The refusal of this envelope would lead to the dismissal of employees, to the stopping of projects”warns the courier.

“An implicit red list”

All the associations mentioned are hard hit by the stoppage of loans granted by the State. In particular La Pommerie, supported by the DRAC for thirty years, and which sees itself deducting 24,500 euros (30%) from its annual budget. The authors of the letter to the regional prefect point out that such a policy strongly undermines the State’s objectives in terms of revitalizing rural territories in regions where local authorities are notoriously poor. The regional prefecture, contacted by The worlddid not respond.

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The second letter, dated June 30, sheds a more political light on the first. Signed by Eric Correia, president (Radical Left Party) of the urban community of Grand-Guéret, seat of the prefecture of Creuse, it expresses its “deep concern” about “the reading which is made by the State services of the republican contract of engagement requested from the associations”. Said republican commitment contract was established by the law of August 24, 2021 confirming respect for the principles of the Republic − known as the law against separatism. Each association wishing to receive public funding must subscribe to this contract with vague outlines. Mr. Correia talks about an implementation policy “deliberately confused and even in many ways knowingly opaque” of the government. At the local level, it raises the “virtual certainty as to an institutional functioning” aimed at undermining the “freedom of association”.

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