At the foot of the Montmartre hill, the Halle Saint-Pierre is dying. The Baltard-style building -built in 1868- has been reinvented throughout Parisian history. Market first, then school, garage, municipal cleaning service, the hall became in 1995 a small museum dedicated to outsider art. The only one in Paris. But its future is uncertain. Between budget cuts, low wages and work that is long overdue, the building in rue Ronsard, property of the city whose management has been entrusted to an association, will be at the heart of discussion during the Paris Council scheduled for July.
Monday, at the town hall of the 18th was held the borough council. The LR adviser and member of the board of directors of the Halle Saint-Pierre, Rudolph Granier announced that he would present, during the Paris council, an amendment to restore the annual subsidy of the small museum of 440,000 euros. A budget seriously cut by 60,000 euros in two years. “It is a real call for help from the employees. They declare that they can no longer work under such conditions. This drop in subsidies inevitably leads to a reduction in the cost of producing exhibitions and therefore risk-taking, which is nevertheless necessary in this area, to present confidential artists, ”he explained to Parisian .
The assistant to the Culture of the city of Paris, Carine Rolland, she deplores “a deficit on the artistic programming, with only one exhibition per year.” But nevertheless underlines “the importance of this place in the 18th century, in Paris and in France, where it is the only one devoted to the presentation of art brut.” And the city ensures “to continue its support for the Halle Saint-Pierre in order to once again densify its activity and strengthen its local roots and its actions towards all audiences.”
Still at Le Parisien, a Halle employee said he felt threatened: “What are the City’s intentions towards us? Is it against us or is it more of a global policy aimed at alternative cultural venues? Especially since the place requires a lot of work. In summer, under the glass roof, without air conditioning, temperatures can easily reach 45 to 50 degrees according to Émile Meunier, elected official (EELV) in the 18th arrondissement, councilor of Paris and also a member of the board of directors of the Halle Saint-Pierre . In winter there is no heating. But the town hall of Paris remains very evasive about a renovation project. “We will study the financing and the implementation of a multi-year investment plan to carry out those which are incumbent on the City”, says Carine Rolland. Still according to Le Parisien, attendance at the place is on the rise, especially since the publication of an Instagram story by an influencer whose audience has risen to 7 million views.
