Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) is planning to cut arts subsidies, targeting France's National Cinema Centre (CNC) for elimination. The party argues that film quality should be judged by box office success, a stance that would effectively replace state-supported cinema with market-driven content.
The CNC provides €850 million annually to French cinema, about €12.50 per person. This funding has helped maintain one of the world's most vibrant independent film industries. The RN's proposal would also extend to other cultural subsidies, potentially affecting radio music quotas and international language promotion.
Party vice-president Sébastien Chenu has framed the cuts as a fight against 'le wokisme' and 'leftist' output from public media. The RN has previously proposed eliminating funding for contemporary art, modern dance, and avant-garde music festivals, including the Trans Musicales festival, which a deputy mistakenly believed was for transgender musicians.
Instead, the far right advocates focusing on France's built heritage, such as chateaux and monuments, and promoting medieval theme parks like Puy du Fou. Critics argue this approach glorifies a mythical past while denigrating the present, threatening France's global soft power and cultural diversity.
