Professionals from the cultural sector demonstrated at Place de la Bastille, in Paris, this week.

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CELINE BREGAND / SIPA

The Council of State, the highest administrative court, must consider Monday the closure of cinemas and theaters, extended at least until January 7 to fight against the coronavirus pandemic but contested by professionals.

As other sectors have done before, ski resorts for example, it is by way of summary proceedings, an emergency procedure, that the world of culture has taken the administrative court to challenge the decision. government.

Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on December 10 to maintain the closure of cultural places, despite the end of confinement on December 15.

This due to epidemic pressure and for an indefinite period, at least until January 7.

This decision "aroused the total incomprehension of all players in the sector", noted several cinema associations, whether producers, directors or distributors (ACID, API, ARP, FNCF, SCAM, UPC, etc.) , at the origin of one of the nine appeals.

Lawyers plead the difference in treatment between sectors

"The vast majority of other economic sectors have been able to resume their activities, whatever the flows generated in the territory", "the cinemas have a recognized health protocol" and "the whole of the artistic and professional community had worked hard and invested for the reopening of cinemas, ”they argue.

In total, nine appeals will be examined, including those of representatives of the theater and the circus as well as those of several Parisian theaters, who consider the measure "eminently unfair and disproportionate".

"Everyone can see the difference in treatment between places of worship and places of culture (...) While the sustainability of theaters is seriously threatened, the decision must restore equality before the law and allow the theater world to limit the catastrophic consequences of the crisis ”, declared their lawyers Vincent Brengarth and William Bourdon.

They believe that their closure is contrary to four fundamental freedoms: the freedom to conduct business, the freedom of association, artistic freedom and the principle of equality with other businesses.

On the museum side, an appeal bringing together plastic artists and contemporary art professionals has also been filed, but will not be examined until the next day, as the legal questions raised are not exactly the same.

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