After the Ric-Rac (Gathering of cultural institutions and associations), the 804 Movement and the RAAC (Gathering of artists and cultural actors), here is the FRACG, the Federation of the artistic and cultural network – Geneva. This platform with the acronym a bit barbaric unveiled Thursday its raison d’être and its missions.
Faced with ever more complex political issues – such as the LRT-2 (law on the distribution of tasks between the municipalities and the Canton in matters of culture) or the implementation of the initiative “For a coherent cultural policy” (IN167 ) – and the precariousness in which a majority of artists live, cultural circles consider it essential to federate in order to coordinate, to pool their strengths and to gain visibility beyond their diversity.
Exchange, reflect, react
“We have always known how to react urgently to current events, proof of this is the success of the referendums against the budget cuts or of IN167 last year,” explains Fabienne Abramovich, project coordinator. But we needed to have a lasting structure that allows us to exchange, to reflect together on crucial issues for the protection of artists, such as our pensions and our LPP, to defend collective interests or respond to the agenda. Politics.” Stressing that the creation of such a platform will also make it possible to better consider the forty years of history of movements and struggles for culture in Geneva, the choreographer and director ensures that the FRACG intends to be “an actor responding to current issues “. The opening of a website will also facilitate communication within the network as well as with external interlocutors, such as representatives of the Advisory Council for Culture.
The support currently brings together the first five entities: Intermittent Action, the Geneva Federation of Creative Music (FGMC), the Professional Dance Meetings – Geneva (RP), the Aropa (Association romande de la production audiovisuelle) and the Garage (Action group for the remuneration of artists in Geneva). Other associations or groups, such as La culture struggle, Urban resources or different theater companies, have expressed their interest but have yet to convene a meeting. “Today, we are coming out after three years of work,” smiles Fabienne Abramovich. The process has started and will continue into 2020. “
The FRACG is aimed at any organization whose aim is to support artists and defend their rights, outside of programming or broadcasting institutions. “It is an essential tool for organized associations,” says Alexandra Tiedermann, president of Action intermittence, the organization behind the project. The idea is to come together in a clear and democratic structure. ” The member entities, which often have long experience in the field behind them, remain sovereign. They will set up working groups to identify their needs and then “formulate proposals with a view to a generous and plural cultural policy”. Comparing the functioning of the new federation to that of a parliament, its members predict savings in time and efficiency.
More financial means
At the heart of the demands of the FRACG are an increase in financial means for culture and independent creation as well as a decent social status and working conditions for artists and cultural actors.
While the PRs are asking, through their secretary general, Barbara Yvelin, “a revaluation of support for dance professions”, Béatrice Graf, president of the FGMC, calls on the authorities to better balance the budgets, which “favor too much heritage at the expense of creation ”. “Our work feeds institutions and enriches our city,” concludes Fabienne Abramovich. It is normal that we are considered as full citizens. ”
FRACG
reseau-culturel-geneve.ch
Created: 20.02.2020, 6:20 p.m.
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