Trepidation Grows in France’s Hallowed Arts & Culture Sector Over Potential Far-Right Election Win

Are you worried about the future of arts and culture in France with the potential rise of the far-right?

This Sunday, France heads to the polls for the second round of a snap parliamentary election. The far-right National Rally (RN) party is set to come out on top.

Far-Right Surge in French Politics

Polls forecast RN winning between 200 to 230 seats in France’s 599-seat National Assembly. This won’t give RN an absolute majority but could result in 28-year-old Jordan Bardella becoming prime minister with Marine Le Pen’s backing.

President Emmanuel Macron, who called this election in response to the far-right gains in the European Parliament elections in mid-June, vows to remain in office until May 2027. However, his power could be significantly diminished under a majority RN government.

Impact on France’s Arts and Culture Sector

The potential RN victory is causing significant anxiety in France’s traditionally left-leaning arts and culture sector. Culture is a major driver of the French economy, and there’s a real fear that an RN win could lead to funding cuts, impacting diversity and freedom of expression.

Jordan Bardella has largely ignored culture in his addresses, focusing instead on anti-immigration and law-and-order initiatives. However, in interviews, he’s discussed plans to scrap public networks France Télévisions and Radio France to save €3 billion.

France’s independent producers’ union (SPI) warned that such a move could threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs. The SPI suggests that beyond direct job losses, some 300,000 salaries are linked to the public broadcasting sector.

Public Discourse and Media Control

Culture sector professionals argue that RN’s plans to sell off public networks are a ploy to seize control of public discourse. There’s also scrutiny over the role of Vivendi-owned media outlets like Le Journal du Dimanche, Europe 1, and CNews in shaping the current political climate.

Vivendi’s former boss, Vincent Bolloré, who officially stepped down in 2022, is often accused of pushing a right-wing agenda through these outlets. Bolloré denies any interference.

France’s audiovisual watchdog Arcom recently served notice on Europe 1 for a lack of honesty and political plurality, highlighting the influence of controversial presenter Cyril Hanouna.

Concerns Over Employment Schemes

Another significant concern is that RN might dismantle or reduce the scope of the Intermittence du Spectacle employment scheme, a contribution-based system ensuring regular income for arts and entertainment workers under temporary contracts.

There’s also fear that RN will place sympathizers in key cultural positions or influence the boards of independent bodies like Arcom. The National Cinema Centre (CNC) is already under scrutiny, following the resignation of its president Dominique Boutonnat.

Heritage vs Contemporary Art

There are suggestions that RN’s obsession with heritage will shift funds towards restoring historic buildings and reviving folkloric traditions over supporting contemporary art and culture. An open letter by L’ARP Cinema guild, signed by over 1,300 professionals, highlighted the detrimental impact of far-right policies on arts and culture in countries like Hungary and Italy.

France’s Ministry of Culture has been a beacon for supporting arts since 1959, with a sophisticated ecosystem of subsidies that many creatives envy. The Ministry benefited from a 6% budget increase in 2024, amounting to €11 billion, with €4.7 billion going to culture and media missions.

The Future of French Culture

Arts and culture directly employ around 600,000 people in France, generating over €100 billion annually. The potential rise of RN poses a significant threat to this sector, and professionals are hoping for a political outcome that will protect the cultural heart of France.

Stay informed and engaged, as the outcome of this election could reshape the future of French arts and culture.

Photo credit: Deadline