The ministry is now headed by Franck Riester after Françoise Nyssen left the government
French minister of culture Franck Riester. Photo: Alain Apaydin/ABACAPRESS.COM/ТАСС/The Art Newspaper Russia
French president Emmanuel Macron has appointed Franck Riester as minister of culture. Riester is a fifth minister of culture in six years. He replaces Françoise Nyssen who took up the post in May 2017, the Art Newspaper Russia writes.
Before joining Macron’s coalition, Franck Riester was a member the party Les Republicains, the former centre-right Union for a Popular Movement.
Riester is an expert in music and broadcasting rather than fine arts. He earlier advocated for reforms in the public broadcasting sector and called to set up a “French BBC”.
In his inauguration speech earlier this week, Riester praised a number of Nyssen’s initiatives, among them a new culture pass that allows 18-year-old French citizens to download an app with a credit of €500 and spend the sum on cultural events. He also praised the project Culture in Your Neighbourhood. As part of the project, a Picasso work will be loaned to Coulommiers Museum in Seine-et-Marne.
Nyssen called on the European Parliament to reform copyright legislation: “In Europe, cultural and creative industries represent 4.2% of European GDP. We cannot accept that creators have no control over how their work is used.”
Nyssen wrote on Twitter: “I pass you [Riester] the torch, reassured to know this ministry in good hands. And with the pride of having been able to take on major battles at the Ministry of Culture in the general interest [of the public].” She added that serving “those who are fighting cultural segregation” has always been her priority.