2023-09-15 08:12:47
Faced with indignation from the cultural sector since the broadcast of a message requesting the suspension of any cooperation project with nationals of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, the Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, worked , Friday September 15, to clear the subject.
“It’s not a boycott, not retaliation,” she said on RTL. « There is no question of stopping interacting with artists and cultural places, museums, festivals and theaters » you Niger, you Mali and you Burkina. “All artists who already have visas and who have tours planned or shows planned, these will be able to come as planned. All those who are of Burkinabé, Nigerien or Malian origin, but who obviously live in France, are not at all concerned. said the minister. Are concerned the “new cooperation projects which would start and require visas, or to send French people there”, Given the “extremely degraded security context”. And « message » will be sent back on Friday to re-specify the measurements.
The government has been called into question since the broadcast, on Wednesday, of a message from the regional cultural directorates (DRAC), which represent the ministry and are responsible for leading the cultural policy of the State in the regions and departments, calling for “suspend without delay, and without any exception” all the “cooperation projects which are carried out (…) with institutions or nationals of these three countries”. “All financial support must also be suspended, including via French structures, such as associations for example. Likewise, no invitation from any national of these countries should be issued”the message continued.
This message provoked the anger of cultural actors: “This total ban concerning three countries going through very serious crises obviously makes no sense from an artistic point of view and constitutes a major error from a political point of view. It is quite the opposite that should be done”scathed the Syndeac in a press release. “This policy of banning the circulation of artists and their works has never prevailed in any other international crisis, from the most recent with Russia, to the oldest and most lasting, with China”he added.
Thursday, faced with the controversy, the Ministry of Culture assured that it had not requested “no deprogramming of artists, of any nationality whatsoever”. “This decision does not affect people who hold visas issued before this date or who reside in France or in other countries,” he added.
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