Avignon Festival Artists Protest Macron Over Budget Cuts

On Sunday, nine artists from theater, dance, circus, and performance, surrounded by about forty creators, read a text addressed to President Emmanuel Macron in front of 2,000 spectators in the Cour d'honneur of the Palais des Papes. The protest, held during the Festival d'Avignon, denounced budget cuts that they say threaten the arts. The artists called for urgent action, stating that the cuts force them to cry out. The event highlights growing tension between the French cultural sector and the government over funding reductions.