Headlines conceal issues at its heart

 

With a considerable international following, the Festival of Carcassonne has become one of the most important of its kind in France.

Running from 19th June to August 4th this year (2013), it offers a range of cultural events: theatre, concert, dance, classics and circus.

Recent press headlines claiming the sale of 56,000 tickets by early July for this season suggest that everything is in order. The local press has also reviewed highly favourably, all the main concerts given so far.

 

Bearing this generally positive impression in mind, behind the scenes the festival provokes a number of critical local concerns.

The primary concern is with the budgetary allocation for the festival, quoted in some places as 6.419.800€ and representing an increase of 43% compared with 2012. While many Carcassonnais appear unconcerned, helpless or ignorant about the expenditure, it has been criticised by others.

They cite the overall lack of transparency by the municipal council to justify how much is being spent on the festival itself.

 

There are pressing infrastructural needs, for example, roads, security, public cleanliness and business development. The case could be made for reallocating some of the festival funds towards greater essentials and for using festival expenses more effectively.

 

Another area of criticism has been aimed at the programme itself. Anyone looking at the brochure for this year with both parts of the festival, it is a formidable project. While many advertised events are free those requiring payment range from 12€ for young people to 65€ for an adult.

 

In these days of tight money and rising prices, lower ticket costs may be in order. One might pertinently ask if families are able to afford such prices and come to the planned events.

 

Also, just how many of these events actually take place?

 

L’Independent (27th July) and Midi Libre (29th July) reported that the local UMP candidate for the municipal elections next year Isabelle Chésa has placed such issues high on her electoral agenda. She cites a number of matters including some above.

 

In addition to the lack of attention paid to encouraging local talent and local business, she cited the David Getta concert as an instance of waste & “cultural imperialism”.  She stated that it undermined the popular and free nature of the annual Fête de la musique. Further, the costs were unjustified and the returns insufficient in terms of people who turned out and receipts taken.

 

Incompetent too was that on 14th July the city centre was blocked off from the morning onwards.

 

Hotels, bars and other key places became inaccessible thus seriously reducing their normal profits for National Day festivities.

Without any doubt, those who enjoy the festival will call this pre-electoral campaigning. They will reply that the festival is important to the international image of the city. In times of inflation and austerity, the show needs increased funding for it to continue. Those who attend want to see more not less. Doubtless, there is more to come.

 

By Gnaeus