The MJC of Albi is an association which since 1957 offers cultural activities to the Albigensians. A structure which currently claims (despite the health crisis) 500 members and a thousand passages per week. A structure which has always been supported by the municipality and which offers around thirty workshops for Albigensians of all ages. The Youth and Culture Center is also intended as a space that helps artistic creation.
From 150,000 euros to 0 euros in subsidies in two years
But it’s over. In his budget 2021, the town hall halved the grant to the association (which was 150,000 euros per year). And in the budget 2022, no subsidy was voted for the MJC. Which obviously calls into question the structure of these 15 employees and its 18 stakeholders. According to the management of the association, the MJC does not have enough to live on and pay these workers for six months
Since the beginning of the crisis with the town hall, the board of directors of the MJC had said nothing, hoping for the resumption of dialogue. But this time, they just launched a petition. A public debate should also be organised.
“Public money is too scarce to be spent without its project” says the mayor
On the side of the town hall, the speech has been the same since December 2020: not enough members, not enough projects, not open enough in the summer. municipality explains why it will no longer fund the MJC. But the mayor of Albi, Stéphanie Guiraud Chaumeil has decided. “We have been asking our partner for a certain number of projects, a certain number of elements, for several months, even years. We actually decided to reduce the subsidies last year because we cannot afford to continue to spend public money without justification, without a project. We are not at all on political considerations and even less politicians. Today, public money is too scarce to be spent without its project. It seems to us that Albigensian youth deserves better. And I allow myself to add that I am very proud of Albi’s municipal youth policy. Youth will continue to be at the heart of our priorities for the weeks, months and years to come. ”
Like far-right town halls
So far the members of the association have tried to negotiate. But in vain. So now, members of the MJC board like Thierry Besche are now responding. “The Maison des jeunes is not just about members. It’s a place totally open to any team with a project. A team that would like to set up a newspaper, a play, a rock band. We’re not going to sell them a membership card. We will first listen to their project. We are going to suggest that they sit around a table. They will come back many times. We will offer places, premises, support. And this is how in the history of the MJC, very many groups, very many artists have spread all over France, and particularly in Albi. They knew how to find here, in this house, a welcome, an accompaniment, a listening ear. It was after they became members.”
A decision very political in any case for Pascal Pragnère elected green opposition in Albi. ” It’s simple, with %JC in Danger, there is a list of right-wing town halls that are suppressing MJC subsidies. It seems to be consistent with a certain ideology that started with far-right town halls. In Albi, we prefer to finance events or bling-bling rather than the substantive work that is done by popular education structures.
Chloé Albrand is a member of the board of directors is for her, the MJC is condemned to death. There is still enough to live on for six months, says the young woman, who insists on the necessary trust between a municipality and its MJC.