What if the public programmed a theater, a museum, a festival? Not all the time, let’s not abuse. The idea is old, it makes its way, but is slowed down in the name of a dogma: that everyone remains in their place. The experts decide, the spectators communicate. Now the city of Villeurbanne jostles this protocol like never before. And it’s exciting.
From June 3 to 5, the popular neighbor of Lyon is home to The real festival . Concerts, shows, street arts, chosen by 115 young people aged 12 to 25. They did much more. They found the name of the festival – a dream becomes real -, managed production, scenography, logistics, communication, concocted posters, reception … They imagined a universe in their image. With 2 million euros, a large but not astronomical budget, they learned to compose, to give up too expensive names, like Rihanna or Beyoncé, not to favor friends either.
They invited, on the music side, Eddy de Pretto, Romane Santarelli, Ofenbach, the DJ Feder, Joanna, Romeo Elvis, Plk. No global stars, not strangers either. They added around twenty emerging groups. The house slogan is “an event created by young people, for young people”. For a bit, the party would be prohibited for over 18s. Rather, let’s see the mark of a city of 150,000 inhabitants where those under 30 are dominant. Access to the festival will be free. Some 30,000 people, 50,000, or more are expected outdoors in a park. The city expects to be kindly overwhelmed.
“guided but free”
Young people have the keys while being supervised by professionals, from solid places such as the Transbordeur, the workshops FRAPPAZ or the National School of Music. “We were guided but free,” summarizes a young organizer on YouTube. We feel a pride. Well in the spirit of a socialist city that has amazed cultural France since the installation, fifty years ago, in the midst of skyscrapers, the National Popular Theater (TNP). Logically, Villeurbanne was elected French capital of culture 2022 on the basis of a participatory project which irrigates the districts and schools far beyond the festive weekend. And who will see Ariane Mnouchkine, while presenting her gold island at the TNP from June 9 to 26, participate in a surprise event with young people.
Villeurbanne responds to an observation that applies to all of France and beyond. Outside a few films and concerts, the public of culture is aging and kicking slowly. So political and cultural leaders multiply actions. The most radical is precisely to transform the viewer into a programmer. But the ditch is dizzying.
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