It is again a cry of alarm on the sustainability of its existence that the management of SAS Gaîté Lyrique launches, barely twenty-four hours after the team reinvested the place, occupied for more than five months by young migrants. “Abandoned by the City of Paris, the Gaîté Lyrique is in great danger”titled the press release yesterday of his management and his associates, denouncing the “Voltation of the owner of the building and partner community, despite the resolutions of the municipal council In particular the reassuring that of Carine Rolland, assistant to culture on April 9. “We will provide for any form of compensation if necessary”she then declared. Which no longer seems to be the case.
“However, in the perspective of a revival of the activity, the city of Paris has mandated its Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DAC) to organize and plan, each week, the refinancing methods necessary for the reopening of the place and the preservation of jobs”recalls the Lyrique gaiety. “This management dialogue, started in December 2024, made it possible to identify the severity of losses and to share economic and social risks. Assessed at more than 3 million euros, these losses, integrating direct costs related to the occupation and losses of exploitation of SAS and artistic partners, require additional financial support to aim for the rebalancing of the economic model ”.
Questioned after the release of the Gaîté Lyrique press release, the Paris town hall responds: “In accordance with its commitments, announced during the last Council of Paris, the city sparked, within extremely short deadlines, the payment of the balance of 1.346 million euros for a total budget of 3.159 million euros paid to the Lyrique gaiety in 2025. This payment should allow the Gaîté Lyrique to reopen. »»
A payment of 1.346 million euros which “Corresponds to the usual subsidy”underlines the Gaîté Lyrique. “As a reminder, our annual budget is 9 million euros, funded at 30 % by the city and 70 % by self -financing. The commitment expressed by the city repeatedly went far beyond this subsidy. The town hall knows very well that by renouncing to compensate for part of the losses of exploitation, it puts our institution in danger of death. Everyone knows, including the DAC teams, who have largely worked on this file. »» And his management to recall that “All other occupations have been supported by the city of Paris, which found rehousing solutions, then compensated for part of the operating losses. Why not gaiety? »»
For the time being, Arty-Farty (40 %of the shares), Arte France (20 %), Makesense (20 %), Singa Global (20 %) The founding shareholders of the company that manage the lyric gaiety, are working on a new scenario to avoid the closure of the premises. When the prospect of a judicial safeguard is mentioned, the management prefers not to respond, but technically SAS is close to a bankruptcy.
