Fisheye n°69 - Crimes and news items

At the beginning of 2025, what is striking is the endangerment of festivals and places that defend photography. Many of them live in precariousness that the major reductions in subsidies from local authorities and the State will only exacerbate. How can we not cry out against those who castigate culture indiscriminately, like the president of the Pays de la Loire region, Christelle Morançais, who is sinking inexorably into her error? The elected official targeted the cultural institutions that support creation by eliminating almost all subsidies in her territory. Obviously, we must know how to rationalize public money, but not to the detriment of creation. We are weakening our common future and what will make sense tomorrow. Photography within culture is even more in danger. Our institutions, with rare exceptions, are fragile. On the eve of the 200th anniversary of photography, which we will celebrate in 2026, it is high time that we recognize the creative and vital momentum of the image in France. The more pessimistic version would be to ask who wants to kill photography. Enough to set the scene for a beautiful news story, if only someone still has to take the photo.