French Culture Budget to Increase by 5% in 2017

French President François Hollande announced a 5% increase in the culture budget for 2017 during a visit to Arles for the groundbreaking of the new École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie. The building will face the Frank Gehry-designed tower for the Luma Foundation, whose construction site Hollande also visited. The budget increase follows cuts of 4% in 2013 and 2% in 2014 after Hollande took office. Prime Minister Manuel Valls helped reverse the trend, leading to a 2.7% increase in 2016, bringing the budget to €7.3 billion. Hollande stated the increase aims to compensate for reduced local government spending and stimulate further investment, with 60 agreements signed to guarantee three years of funding. In Italy, the culture budget for 2016 was €2.1 billion, less than a third of France's. Minister Dario Franceschini announced increases of 8% for 2016 and 10% for 2017, translating to €150 million and €170 million respectively.