A commission formed by the Lithuanian Institute of Culture and the French Institute of Culture in Paris selected 128 projects, which were allocated 2 million. 427 thousand The amount of EUR.
Among the supported projects was the performance “Meat Factory” of the apartment dance theater “Okarukas”, whose director, choreographer, head of this theater Inga Fontez, better known to the cultural community as Sakurako.
But how 15min says I.Fontez-Sakurako, head of the dance theater “Okarukas”, although her team’s work was selected for the program of events, and 8,000 was allocated for the performance in Paris. EUR financing, but she plans to return the money in the near future, because, according to her, such an amount does not cover all the necessary travel and performance expenses, not to mention royalties for the creators themselves.
“We are honored because we were selected and it would be an honor for us to represent Lithuania in France, but how much can you work for your money?” I.Fontez-Sakurako asked rhetorically.
Instead of the necessary financing – one third of the required amount
I.Fontez-Sakurako planned to present the dance performance “Meat Factory” created in 2023 based on the novel “Masha, or Postfascism” by writer Jaroslav Melnik in Paris with his team. According to her, this work of a Lithuanian writer of Ukrainian origin is extremely relevant today and might have a great resonance.
This work by a Lithuanian writer of Ukrainian origin is extremely relevant today and might have a great resonance.
“This is a dystopian novel that talks regarding how society can become dehumanized if certain fascist forces take over. It is obvious that, looking at our current time, this novel published a decade ago is extremely relevant today”, said I.Fontez-Sakurako, emphasizing that this work is published not only in Lithuanian, but also in Ukrainian and French, and the author’s work well known to French readers.
According to the artist, following submitting this piece’s application for the Lithuanian season in France, the experts selected it and allocated funding.
“We were very happy regarding that, because the total number of applications was huge, and the funded projects were not that many,” said the manager of the dance theater. However, her joy did not last long, because following seeing that 8 thousand was allocated for the presentation of the project. euros, the artist said she was very disappointed.
Photo by Arvydas Gudas/A moment from the dance performance “Meat Factory”
“This project should be presented in Paris, where the team of eleven people planned to spend a week, because time is needed for preparation, rehearsals, two days of performances and return. Not only that, it is also necessary to take the scenography of the play to Paris. So you don’t need to do a lot of calculations to understand that such sums are obviously too small for the implementation of the project”, said I.Fontez-Sakurako, noting that when submitting an application to the Lithuanian Institute of Culture, the amount they requested was almost 20,000. Eur. And the total budget of the project is 28 thousand. Eur.
According to the director of the dance theater, according to the laws of the Republic of Lithuania, the amount of daily allowance per person in France is set at EUR 69. So, following calculating the weekly allowance for a team of eleven people, more than 5,000 is already generated. Eur.
According to I.Fontez-Sakurak, adding the expenses of the round trip and the overnight stay in Paris, the total amount already exceeds 8 thousand. euros. And this, according to her, is the minimum of what is simply necessary.
“And we’re not even talking regarding royalties for artists, for their weekly work,” emphasized I.Fontez-Sakurako.
Photo by Arvydas Gudas/A moment from the dance performance “Meat Factory”
The manager of the theater emphasized that in order to participate in this project and expect funding, it was necessary to have partners in France. According to her, they found partners in Paris on their own, who promised to provide a hall for rehearsals and performances for free.
“In this case, there is great support from our partners, because we don’t have to pay for a week’s rental of premises,” noted the manager of the dance theater.
Summarizing her experience, I.Fontez-Sakurako was surprised at how, when organizing the presentation events of the Lithuanian cultural season in France, funding is inadequately distributed, if the allocated funds are not enough for even the most basic needs of artists.
According to her, following receiving the allocated funding and calculating all the expected costs, she tried to find partners who might contribute financially to the show in Paris, but these efforts were fruitless.
Pauliaus Peleckis/BNS photo/Presentation of Lithuania’s season in France
According to I.Fontez-Sakurak, seeing no real financial possibilities to implement this project and not intending to work for free, she plans to return the assigned 8,000. amount of euros and refuse to participate in the events of the Lithuanian culture season in France.
“When submitting applications, we always calculate the real amounts for which the projects can be implemented, but during my five years of work I made sure that you always get a third of the already minimal amount. At first you try to put up with it, but eventually you reach a limit when you simply can’t stand working for free or even going into debt,” emphasized the manager of the dance theater “Okarukas”, resenting this kind of flawed financing practice rooted in the cultural sector.
Everything according to the rules of the competition
15min following asking representatives of the Lithuanian Institute of Culture to comment on this situation, the editors received a written response from the commissioner of the Lithuanian season in France, dr. Virginijas Vitkienes.
Here is the response she sent:
“In the application submitted in October 2023, the dance theater “Okarukas” asked for 12,077 euros to finance their project. By the decision of the application selection committee, the theater was awarded the Season mark and 8,000 euros in funding.
Pauliaus Peleckis/BNS photo/Virginija Vitkienė
As in other cases, according to the rules of the competition, the inviting partner – a theater in France – undertook to cover other agreed costs necessary for the implementation of the project. The most common model is when the Lithuanian Institute of Culture covers travel and logistics costs, and other costs are covered by the host organization.
A maximum of 70% might be allocated to the implementation of projects according to the tender rules. funds needed for project implementation. The remaining part of the project estimate must be financed by both countries preparing the project with their own resources,” reads the answer provided by the Lithuanian Institute of Culture.
After asking whether there are more project promoters who, like the dance theater “Okarukas”, plan to return the funds allocated to them, according to V. Vitkienė, the Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library also refused two planned projects due to insufficient funding.
According to her, “all returned funds will be used for the needs of the Lithuanian cultural season in France”.
From September 12 to December 12, Lithuanian culture season events will be held in more than 30 cities in France. About 130 French and Lithuanian cultural organizations will present partnership projects here.
The program includes almost 300 events, with the participation of more than 500 artists, performers, and experts.
More than half a million spectators and visitors are expected at the events.
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2024-04-24 23:20:34
