What makes you want to live in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes? By Maximilien SOUYRIS & Evan VIALA

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a region in France created by the territorial reform of the French Regions in 2015. It results from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into being on 1 January 2016, after the regional elections in December 2015. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes covers an area of more than 69,711 km² making it the third largest in metropolitan France. Nowadays, with a population of 7,695,264, the region is only second to Île-de-France. We will see in the next paragraphs what makes you want to live in this region.

Firstly, inhabitants from the region appreciate the local food. For example in Auvergne you can find some delicious dishes such as “aligot,” “potée auvergnate,” “tripoux,” whereas in Rhône-Alpes you can find “gratin dauphinoise,” “ravioles,” “bugnes.” There are also different types of mouth-watering cheese that are very famous in France and in other countries (Saint-Nectaire, Cantal, Bleu d'Auvergne, Reblochon, Tomme, Vacherin). In addition, Lyon is known as the culinary capital of France and is famous for its “bouchons” (a particular type of restaurant specific to Lyon) and its 3 stars Michelin-rated “Auberge du Pont de Collonges”, otherwise known as Paul Bocuse’s restaurant. So Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a great culinary region known for its different varieties of food but is also popular for wine. We can mention the Côte-Rôtie, a Syrah wine considered perhaps the finest of the Rhône Valley.

Secondly, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is also well-known for its nature. With 80% of its territory in the mountains, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the largest mountainous region in Europe. The central part of the regional territory is marked by mountain massifs of low altitude with the “Monts du Lyonnais,” “Monts de la Madeleine,” “Monts du Livradois-Forez.” To the east, the region extends over the Alps, with its high mountains dominating deep accessible valleys that allow traffic, especially towards the east. The Mont-Blanc, peaks at 4,809 m, the roof of Western Europe. Furthermore, large lakes are present mainly in the east. The “Chaîne des Puys” is dotted with small lakes like the “Chambon” and “Pavin”. Last but not least, hundreds of forests are good for hunting, biking or hiking.

Next, various amusement parks also make the region attractive. In fact, we find diversified activities for both winter and summer. For example, “Vulcania” and “Le Pal” are visited during summer time whereas during winter ski resorts play an important role. Ski resorts like Super-Besse or Tignes are well known.

In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region everybody can live his passion. There is the possibility of watching high-level sports games, with “Olympique de Lyonnais” and “AS St-Etienne” for football and “ASM Clermont Auvergne” for rugby. Indeed, these teams contribute to the pride of their region. They unite the region and fans of these teams. So the question of living or not in the region is obvious for these fans: they absolutely want to live near their favourite team.

Malakoff Médéric has just published a study which shows that 91% of employees in the region think it is good to live in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. 77% of them believe that their region is dynamic from an economic point of view, compared to 68% at the national level. These studies show a good quality of life in the region and the attractiveness of the region. A large number of factors explain these results. First of all, the region possesses cheap accommodation (compared to Paris!). Another is the living environment for students which is deemed excellent (Grenoble 1st student city, Lyon 4th, Clermont-Ferrand 12th). According to Laurent Wauquiez: "We are one of the most powerful regions in the world as regards higher education and research. Let us be proud of it, it is one of the trump cards of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes”. The last point concerns transport. Every day, 154,000 passengers travel with the TER on nearly 1,630 trains, 420 buses and use 366 stations. These regional public transport routes are an essential link in serving the entire region. Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand also have international airports and Lyon has a high speed train which connects it to Paris in about two hours.

Another reason for wanting to live in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is its highly diverse industry: from manufacturing companies like Michelin or pharmaceutical companies like Solvay, to companies in the service sector focusing on for example digital services or advertising. This variety makes us confident in finding a job.

In conclusion, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is an attractive and dynamic region. It allows many people to find a positive work-life balance. The region offers advantages for people of all ages. As far as we are concerned, we clearly do see our future in the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Does power inevitably corrupt? By Paul ZUBER & Louis MARCHAND

Power is the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. In our civilized world power emanates from politics.

Corruption is dishonest or unethical conduct by a person in a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit. Corruption may include bribery and embezzlement. Corruption is sometimes a rationing and prioritizing system in response to shortages, and seems inevitable. In a world of shortages of resources, it is “human nature” to get something easily and to avoid hardships.

As people can be corrupted, so can political systems; political systems rely on people. No political system is immune from corruption as long as people are corruptible. However, it may be possible to craft a system that has sufficient accountability and transparency to quickly expose and eradicate corruption, but that's the best we can do.

Some political leaders try to get power by any means possible; corruption is often the easiest means. It is impossible for all politicians to work free of corruption. This is because cupidity, envy, or the hunger for power will get the better of some people. Politicians aren't vetted for corruption the way police officers are (and even a few police officers mess up and become corrupt).

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Humans cannot handle power without some degree of corruption, because they have a sinful nature. Wherever one finds power, someone willing to corrupt a functioning system is not far away. Political systems hold a lot of power and some people cannot be trusted with power. However, it is impossible to tell which people are more susceptible to corruption than others, so political systems will always be vulnerable.

Since 1995 Transparency International has published the Corruption Perceptions Index, annually ranking countries "by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys." The CPI generally defines corruption as "the misuse of public power for private benefit." As it shown on the table, all countries are not free of corruption.

The countries are marked out of 100. The closer you are to 100 the less corrupt the country is. In the first place are Denmark and New Zealand with 90, France is 23^rd with 69, and the most corrupt countries are North Korea (12), South Sudan (11) and Somalia (10). It shows that, generally, the wealthier you are, the less corrupt you are.

Spain is a country lead by the “Partido Popular” (PP) which is a Conservative and Christian Democrat party. It is often associated with corruption. The corruption in Spain lead up to the economic crisis in 2008 and had many consequences. Unemployment hits a quarter of the active Spanish population and 29% of Spaniards now find themselves in poverty. That is why fewer people are voting for the PP, and more for “Podemos” (“We can”). The party was founded in March 2014 in the aftermath of the 15-M Movement protests, led by Pablo Iglesias, against inequality and corruption. Podemos is a left wing populist party.

In Romania corruption is also very common despite the fact that many Romanians are against it. Corruption has given rise to protests, calling for the dissolution of Sorin Grindeanu’s government which had passed a decree to soften the anti-corruption legislation. This decree, published on 1^st February 2017, significantly reduced the penalties for abuse of power and introduced a minimum threshold of 200,000 lei which is the equivalent of €44,000 euros, to initiate proceedings in most corruption cases. His detractors feared that the PSD leader would use it to settle his legal problems. Since January 31^st, Liviu Dragnea (a politician) has been tried for paying people for fictitious jobs. The damage is estimated at €24,000 which, if the decree is maintained, would enable him to escape from legal proceedings. Beyond that, this decree also raised fears that the fight against corruption in Romania would be reduced.

In recent years, the degree of corruption has exploded in many countries. The Tunisian parliament approved on the 22^nd February 2017 an anti-corruption law, six years after the uprising against the dictatorship of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, widely marked by anti-corruption slogans. Since then, the phenomenon got worse and Youssef Chaed's government has made the fight against corruption one of its priorities.

Corruption is inevitable. People with power will always have pressure put on them and bribery is difficult to resist. Corruption compromises democracy. No country is immune from corruption and no political system either. Nevertheless, we can hope for a future with less corruption. More and more people are fighting against it. Politicians should know that with great power comes great responsibility.

In France, tolerance of corruption is becoming thinner. The general public wants its elected representatives to be above suspicion. And is corruption a problem in AURA? Here is a link to an article by franceinfo dated 21/02/17 which would tend to indicate that we are not spared the problem: click HERE!

What should the priorities of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes be? By Thibaut LAMAISON & Mateo DEFIX

As President François Hollande said, the territorial reform, based on democracy, solidarity and efficacy, stems from the will to modernize France and to make it stronger. The aim of creating larger regions is to make local authorities more efficient and so administrative procedures simpler and cost effective. We shall list what we consider the priorities of the new AURA region to be.

Public transport

Transport is one of the regional council’s responsibilities. Today, the Rhône-Alpes area is already well developed as far as the High Speed Train is concerned. However, improving transport in the Auvergne, the western part of the region, should be a priority as it is basically a landlocked part of France and distant from Lyon, the regional capital and other cities.

For several years, Auvergne has been asking for a High Speed Train (the TGV: Train à Grande Vitesse) link between Clermont-Ferrand, the main urban centre, and Paris. But, the State considers the cost too high. Without the TGV, how can the Auvergne attract tourists, students and new businesses? How can Auvergne catch up Rhône-Alpes? Improving public transport (especially rail) networks between Auvergne (Clermont-Ferrand) and Rhône-Alpes (Lyon) would create closer ties between them, a feeling of belonging to the same region (which is far from being the case). It takes more than two hours to travel between the two urban centres, even by train (which, in addition, is costly). AURA will only become a European-scale region if all of its territory becomes easily accessible…

Developing multimodal stations should also be a priority to enable people to travel easily through the region but also through the country and the world. These stations are able to bring together various transport services (trains, planes, buses, a bicycle-sharing system, etc.). A recent example is the station in Grenoble which has been recently improved in order to include a tramway and bikes.

Local airports are also essential to the local economy. For instance, Aulnat airport in Clermont-Ferrand needs modernizing, with improved and increased links to Lyon and other European hubs.

Very High Speed (Fibre) internet connection and telephony

Over the next two years, the Regional Council intends to improve internet connections for research and learning centres, businesses, and the general public. This is a priority because it is going to give us a real advantage over other regions, putting Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on a par with Île-de-France. The aim is to become the first region in France to have all of its territory connected thanks to a €5 billion investment by the Region. In order to achieve this priority, 32 isolated places totally deprived of mobile links will be covered in the near future. Internet is the primary tool for trade and innovation; improving Wi-Fi will be very expensive but, in the world we live in, it is a necessary investment.

Employment

In 2015, 624,000 people were unemployed in AURA (8% of the population). This is a scandal, and job creation must become a top priority of the new region! There are several projects which are supported by the Region, especially in some economic sectors specific to the region.

One such is the Plan PME 3000: 3000 small or medium-sized companies will be helped with subsidies and advice; this is a good thing as these firms are the motor of the regional economy and not easily outsourced abroad.

Another priority is to develop the Forest/Wood sector. Indeed, forests cover 35% of the AURA territory, which is the most mountainous territory of France. This sector employs 50,000 people in 15,000 firms. It is a real environmental, social and economic stake for the region which will help financially this sector to develop marketing and technical projects and so create new jobs.

The agri-food sector is likely to provide new jobs too. It will do so by developing the existing structures, especially in organic agriculture, and by finding new markets. The AURA region has excellent products, such as cheeses for instance.

Finally, the Region can rely on multi-national companies such as Michelin. A new project called “Campus Entreprises” has as an objective to create a training centre for industrial jobs in local companies. The aim is to hire 300 people every year in maintenance and production activities.

Job centres too are making efforts to find jobs for people through job dating, forums and open days in firms. In ski stations, new seasonal jobs have been created.

All these initiatives are a good start, but more needs to be done and AURA has to lead the way in partnership with local companies.

Tourism

AURA is the second more touristic region of France, thanks to its mountains, volcanos, historic buildings, etc. However, the tourism infrastructure needs to be developed further. The Panoramique des Dômes train is a good example to follow. The region needs to be promoted more abroad and so the Regional Council should support initiatives like the inscription of the Chaîne des Puys & Faille de Limagne on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The Region could take greater advantage of the foreign students living in the regional universities (Lyon, Grenoble, Clermont-Ferrand) to help promote the region; the families of the foreign students (from China for instance) could be offered a fair-priced tourist package that could include visits to Lyon and the touristic spots of the Auvergne (like the thermal resorts and the volcanoes).

Webography:

www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr

www.elysee.fr

www.pole-emploi.fr

www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com

The “aura” of liberated companies… By Alice DE FOUCHIER

Unemployment is a problem that is getting worse and our region, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, has not been spared… Can we create more jobs and can those jobs be productive, long-term and fulfilling? We need to encourage the setting up of efficient businesses that are innovative in both their product/service and their management methods…

Good news: new types of businesses have been and are being developed and, as a result, employees, managers and business leaders are happier and healthier. Let me describe one such type of business: the “liberated company.”

The precursor of the liberated company was created by Bill Gore and his wife in 1958 in the United States (Gore-Tex). They were disappointed by the very hierarchical organization of ordinary companies. They started to think about a new type of organization in which employees would have greater responsibilities and autonomy. In France, François Zobrist was probably the first to be inspired by Gore’s management methods when he launched his firm, FAVI, in 1972.

The purpose of liberated companies is to put an end to Taylorism. Employees are trusted. In fact, they make decisions which they consider to be the best without asking their superiors or going through time-consuming procedures. This type of management was not very well-known; it was only in 2009 that two researchers became interested in this new concept. They marketed it with the name of “liberated companies” in a book-manifesto entitled: Freedom, Inc. which is nowadays a management best-seller.

There isn’t only one way to become a liberated company. Each company has its own history, so it will adapt to liberated company methods differently. Freedom, Inc. suggests different ways to change a company. Nevertheless, there are a few basic steps to follow.

First, managers and employees must adopt a common vision for their company, agree to share the values of kindness, respect and trust, and determine each person’s workspace and responsibilities.

Then, the company has to:

• empower employees (if you give more freedom to your employees, they are more fulfilled and therefore more productive);
• get the employees to write down and then apply work procedures;
• allow self-checking by employees (this is less stressful than being inspected and encourages them to do their best);
• only keep the most important indicators for reports (in order to save time);
• encourage the leader to act as guide (backup) for the employees, checking that the vision of the company is adhered to.

The liberated companies concept can be applied to all types of businesses. An example is PerfHomme, a French recruitment, consulting and Human Resources company based in Clermont-Ferrand. It has eleven employees. In 2012, it decided to become a liberated company and it took six months to successfully apply the concept.

The principles can also be applied to very big companies. For example, Michelin began its shift in 2000. It has taken a very long time, because of the sheer size of the company and because it has implemented the methods during several experimental phases. Change also takes time because it has to be understood and accepted by the managers and workers; this is slow in a very large firm.

There are difficulties in running a liberated company. One is the risk that the company manager who implemented the concept retires and his/her successor does not share the same vision. For example, Harley Davidson was in crisis in 1980 and, in order to keep the business running, the head of the company reorganized (successfully) the entire business model. Last year, the boss retired; his successor doesn't have the same management style and the employees have started to leave the company… Another risk is in regards to middle management. It is complicated for managers to change from a leadership role to a counselling one. A minority of employees also reject the changes because they do not like to take on responsibilities.

In our new and bigger region, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, we must encourage liberated companies and new management methods in order to fight dehumanization in the workplace and in society at large. In AURA, we should pioneer new businesses and better ways of running them. If young people are going to stay in AURA, they don't just need jobs, they need good jobs!

In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, what are the possible economic, social and political consequences of concentrating power in Lyon? By Maximilien PIASTRA

A white elephant? The never-used Conseil Régional d'Auvergne building

In France a region is the most recent territorial level of power. It also has the biggest significance on the French national scale and needless to say that it is a primordial one since January 1^st 2016, 13 regions have replaced the 22 that had existed up to then. The new regions were born from the territorial reform initiated under French President François Hollande. The objective of such concentration was first to give them a “European size” so as to elaborate territorial strategies afterwards. This merger will, it is hoped, enable to generate savings in the long run. Lastly, the aim is also to give the 13 regions more autonomy (from the French State) so that they can integrate the social European sphere better.

Until January 1^st, these regions have had to find a new name for themselves. Concerning our region, it was not that difficult: AURA, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, was born. It is undeniable that the big Rhône-Alpes was more powerful and perhaps more efficient than our dear old Auvergne. Some people think that the merger will undoubtedly boost the Auvergne. Others, more skeptical, reckon that this reform will only worsen the inequalities and will only have positive consequences for the former Rhône-Alpes region.

Whether the merger is a boon or a bane remains to be seen. Even though it is a bit early to calculate the consequences, my work will first focus on the economic consequences of this territorial subdivision. Then I will analyze what the repercussions of concentrating powers in Lyon (which has become the regional capital) will be on the Auvergne. To finish, we will study the political consequences it might also have.

As regards the economic aspect, one may already start forming an opinion about such merger. Indeed, as far as I am concerned it is significant to specify what the differences are between the wealth of both ex-regions. The population of AURA is 7,634,000. Its area is 69,711 km². There are 300,000 students (13% of the national total). GDP (gross domestic product) is €230 billion/annum, which is 12% of the GNP (gross national product).

As regards the choice of the capital for AURA, Lyon was the obvious choice. Indeed, economically speaking, Lyon is a major center for banking, as well as for the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The city contains a significant software industry with a particular focus on video games, and in recent years has fostered a growing start-up sector. The headquarters of Interpol, Euro news, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer are in Lyon. Lyon was ranked 19th globally and second in France for innovation in 2014. It ranked second in France and 39th globally in Mercer's 2015 livability rankings.

The Auvergne can boast some major companies too. The Michelin Company, for one, is trying to make the most of the new territorial arrangement. The French tyre manufacturer is based in Clermont-Ferrand (in the Auvergne). It is one of the three largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Goodyear and Bridgestone. Michelin also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Tigar, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal (in North America) tyre brands. Michelin is known too for its Green travel guides, its roadmaps, the Red guide with the Michelin stars awarded to restaurants, and for its Bibendum company mascot/logo, colloquially known as the “Michelin Man”.  It is a publicly traded company with market shares amounting to $23,555 billion (the world tyre market is worth $180 billion). The Michelin Company has 111,700 workers and 6,000 researchers. It is in a position to multiply regional partnerships, for example the IFPEN (Institut Français du Pétrole et Energies Nouvelles) project (based in Solaize): the transformation of waste into SBR (styrene butadiene rubber), a substitute for oil.

The multinational company, which is obviously already well integrated in the globalized economy, will gain market shares thanks to the new region. I think Michelin will be able to boost not just the Auvergne but the whole of AURA.

It seems to me that the new region will undoubtedly favour the development of small and medium-sized companies from the Auvergne too. They will find it easier to integrate the European distribution circuit even the worldwide one.

Another example of a major company is Limagrain based near Clermont-Ferrand. It is an international agricultural co-operative group, specialized in field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products. Founded and managed by French farmers, Limagrain is the 4th largest seed company in the world (Vilmorin & Cie), the European leader for flours (Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients), the 2nd largest French baker, and the 3rd largest French pastry maker (Jacquet-Brossard).

The Group makes annual sales of €2.5 billion, with outlets in 55 countries, and has a 10,000-strong workforce (including more than 2,000 researchers). In Auvergne, the co-operative has 2,000 farm members. It conducts its business within the framework of a global, sustainable vision of agriculture and agribusiness based on innovation and regulation of agricultural markets.

Development remains one of the most important aims of regional partnerships. An example of efficient collaboration is the marriage between two French building federations (one from the Auvergne, the other from Rhône-Alpes): the FBB (Fédération Française du Bâtiment AURA) was launched in January 2017. Its headquarters are located in Villeurbanne (in the suburbs of Lyon). The FFB AURA includes 67,780 building companies (135,780 employees, 13% of the French building industry).

Another aim is to be better able to compete with other big European regions such as the German Länder. According to Jean Jack Queyranne, former (Socialist) President of Rhône-Alpes, the new region ranks 7th economically speaking on the European level. To link a region that was already very dynamic to another which was less dynamic can only boost the Auvergne. However, when one compares the budgets of some of the European regions, one notices the relative weakness of the French regions; for example, AURA has a €2 billion budget, whereas Bade Württemberg has one that is worth €42 billion!

Let us now study the possible social consequences of the merger. Lyon has become more powerful as it is now the regional capital of a bigger region. Clermont-Ferrand has lost its status of regional capital (of the Auvergne). Will Aurillac, Grenoble, Chambéry, Saint-Etienne and other important urban centers within Départements, lose out to Lyon?

The rural areas, notably those furthest away from Lyon, must develop new modes of life and economic activities, for instance in the sharing economy which aims at developing more convivial social relations and fairer ways to produce and consume goods and services via cooperatives, associations or foundations. The management of these rural territories must from now on be based on a principle of solidarity and social utility. As an example, one can refer to wise management of the upland areas in both the Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes; they have to organize tourist activities whilst protecting biodiversity and maintaining agricultural activity.

I wonder if the merger will help solve the social problems which affect all the municipalities including Lyon (which has the greatest homelessness, poverty and ghettoization problems). The CCAS (Centres Communaux d’Actions Sociales, i.e. local social welfare centers) cope with social problems at the communes level, and the Départements (there are 12 in AURA) manage the RSA (Revenu de Solidarité Active i.e. welfare payments); perhaps there should be a greater role for the new Région as regards dealing with social issues?

The merger entails costs, namely for moving (some) of the regional administrative services to Lyon, but, according to Jean-Jack Queyranne, the new Région will receive ten to twelve times less State aid than other big European regions.

Pôle Emploi (that manages the job centers) now have their regional headquarters in Lyon (the one for the Auvergne has been closed down). This is an example of how decision powers are being concentrated in Lyon.

However, I think that the merger and the consequent concentration of powers in Lyon will not have any direct impact on social issues (for the better).

After examining the different social aspects of the merger, I am now going to focus on the possible political (administrative) consequences. I think that it is in this domain where the concentration of powers in Lyon is the most important. The regional political power has really been transferred to Lyon. The headquarters of the Conseil Régional (the Regional Council) is at the Hôtel de Région in Lyon. 204 regional councilors were elected in December 2016, and the new Conseil Régional started work on January 5th 2017. Since that day, the majority is held by a right-wing party. The President is Laurent Wauquiez, aged 41. He was born in Lyon, is a former Minister and elected representative of the Haute-Loire Département to the Assemblée Nationale. His predecessor in Rhône-Alpes was Jean-Jack Queyranne and in Auvergne was René Souchon.

The setting up in Lyon of the new AURA Conseil Régional has had consequences on former regional councils. The regional executives and the main departments (town and country planning, economic development, waste management, regional transport, etc.) have been transferred to Lyon. In each ex-region, some auxiliary services have remained. A new building, intended to house the Auvergne Conseil Régional, built in Montferrand at a cost of €75 million, is now virtually empty. From now on, the main regional decision-making will be made in Lyon.

The AURA region has a website address (auvergnerhonealpes.eu) launched on December 30^th 2016 which I have browsed. It informs citizens about their new community, the territory, etc.

I think that it is much too soon to draw a complete economic, social and political balance sheet of the concentration of powers in Lyon. Only time will tell if the AURA region and the concentration of powers in Lyon are going to be efficient (more efficient than the former regional set-up).

Working on this topic has made me aware of its importance; I will keep track of what goes on in my region, since, as a young person, it is my future which is at stake…

Bibliography:

• Les territoires ruraux depuis-et au-delà- de l’Acte III de la décentralisation by Prof. Claude Deves, p.75
• Acteurs de l’économie, 17/01/2017
• http://www.vie-publique.fr/
• INSEE, 2014
• http://www.lagazettedescommunes.com/themes/reforme-territoriale/
• www.lyon-entreprises.com
• R.Piastra préparation concours, droit constitutionnel, droit administratif, DUNOD, 2016
• http://acteursdeleconomie.latribune.fr/
• http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/
• http://www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/
• https://www2.deloitte.com/fr/fr/pages/secteur-public/articles/fusion-regions.html
• http://www.lepoint.fr/regionales-2015/regionales-2015-pourquoi-fusionner-des-regions-21-09-2015-1966591_2592.php

The importance of cultural activity in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes by Floriska POTTIER

European integration is not only a matter for the member states at state level, but also for the regions that make up the EU. Since their creation in 2015, the new regions of France (much larger than the regions they replaced) have seized the opportunity to create new identities and acquire greater European-wide visibility. The “Régions” have thus been working hard on their policy regarding cultural issues…

I consider that the cultural policy of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) “Région”, for one, will bring it positive notoriety within Europe. In this article, I will describe a cultural project that could be beneficial to all the geographical areas of this great and beautiful part of Europe…

The former regions

Auvergne, mostly rural, is part of the Massif Central and has four “Départements”: Allier, Cantal, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme. Auvergne's gross domestic product (GDP) was €34 billion in 2015. The main city is Clermont-Ferrand.^⑨

Rhône-Alpes, in the south-east, is made up of: Ain, Ardèche, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Rhône, Savoie and Haute-Savoie. The gross domestic product (GDP) of Rhône-Alpes was €200 billion euros in 2015. The main city is Lyon.^⑪

AURA

The new Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) region was created by territorial reform in 2015. It combines the former regions of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. It is thus made up of 12 “Départements”. It covers 69,711 km² and has a population of 7,757,595. The capital is Lyon. With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of €240 billion, AURA is the second most powerful economic region of France (Ile-de-France is first), and the 8^th European economic region. It contributes 11.4% of national wealth. The economy of AURA is dynamic but it is also diversified: although it is above all tertiary, it is one of the most industrialized regions in France (18% of the region’s jobs), with some fifteen competitiveness clusters (there are a further twenty regional competitiveness clusters, but they need to be modernized).^⑩⑫

Culture in AURA

Music, cinema, literature, digital arts... The "Région" supports creators, regardless of their areas of performance. Particularly active is the 7th Art: film. The “Région” subsidizes the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, the Annecy Animated Film Festival and the Lyon Light Festival. Thanks to centers of excellence (documentary, animated film, etc.), cutting edge infrastructures (Pixel, the Zeniths of Cournon-d'Auvergne and Lyon, the Halle Tony Garnier, among others), and its varied landscapes and cultural heritage sites, AURA is the dream place for many directors. The “Région” also supports numerous festivals, concert and exhibition venues, etc., all over its territory.^⑬⑭

Cultural events in Auvergne

Of the 308 cultural events identified in 2011, 159 (58%) received financial support from the Auvergne regional council. The festivals, of very high quality, encompassed a wide variety of themes, places and territories and were at the heart of cultural exchanges at national, European and international levels. Seven festivals were (and are still) considered emblematic: the Festival of World Cultures of Gannat, the International Street Theatre Festival in Aurillac, the Festival of La Chaise-Dieu, the Country Festival in Craponne-sur-Arzon, the Renaissance Festival in Puy-en-Velay, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and Europavox in Clermont-Ferrand. In 2011, music was the most popular genre in the region with 108 festivals, 35% of all cultural events. 41 of the 108 music festivals were for Classical music. A large number of music festivals were in the Clermont-Ferrand area (27% of all festivals) and the Pays du Velay (10%). The Haute-Loire department had the largest number of music festivals with 22 festivals in all. Many festivals also took place in rural and mountain areas. Most of these cultural events still exist in 2017.^①

Cultural events in Rhône-Alpes

The Rhône-Alpes area (formally the second largest French “Région”) has a rich and diversified cultural heritage. Cinema was invented in Lyon in the 19th century; there are major exhibitions, museums, internationally renowned festivals, sporting events, and World Heritage sites to explore. There are 200 museums, 300 MJC (leisure and cultural centers), 500 cinemas, five national drama centers, five national theatres, a theater for young audiences unique in Europe, nearly two hundred professional companies, more than two hundred festivals and the first national opera of France. Rhône-Alpes is the best equipped area in France. It has a quarter of the live shows, and attracts more than 13 million spectators each year. There are events throughout the year: the Critérium du Dauphiné in April, the Nuits sonores in Lyon in May, the Jazz Festival in Vienne at the start of the summer, the Biennale of dance and contemporary art of Lyon in the autumn, the Lyon Festival of Lights in early December, etc.^⑮

What next for culture in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes?

In January 2016, Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes merged into one large region. The cultural domain is now a shared responsibility of the local authorities and the State. This is good for the arts, because regional politicians will be able to act more on cultural policy, which is a major factor for the development and notoriety of the region.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has, as seen, a great variety and number of artistic creations and cultural projects that contribute to its development and promotion. AURA attracts visitors from all over France and abroad thanks to the high quality of its cultural events. It will be necessary, however, to federate, cooperate and mutualize efforts. The new Region has decided that the main thrust of its cultural policy will be to foster creation and to ensure territorial equity with a special focus on artistic teams, contemporary dance, circus and digital arts. In these times of economic gloom, culture is a real factor in stimulating attractiveness and employment. An ambitious cultural policy is therefore also a collegial way of encouraging all forms of initiatives and ambitions carried by artistic and cultural enterprises. To this end, the AURA “Région” has set up funds for culture, such as the SCAN Fund (Support Fund for Digital Artistic Creation).^⑯

An idea for a cultural project: a travelling festival

My idea is a travelling multi-arts festival. It is a project that is feasible (and affordable for all involved) and would please the public. Artists (actors, magicians, comics, comedians, singers, dancers, etc.) would go on the road to perform for both urban and rural populations of all ages, all over AURA. The use of new (digital) technologies must be at the heart of the project because they have so much creative potential. The festival has to be eco-friendly too, so the artists would travel in electric cars or by train and they would use equipment provided in situ (each town or village would contribute according to its means). Promotion would be via the social networks, TV, newspaper adverts, etc.

The citizens of AURA would enjoy a region-wide festival, and by sharing in a common cultural event, a stronger sense of belonging to the same “Région” would be encouraged.

Conclusion

Cultural activity in AURA is important because it can help us transform gently, enriching us intellectually; it shows us that it is possible to reinvent oneself, that there are different paths to happiness. Also, through encouraging cultural activity, the AURA regional council will encourage a sense of belonging and its population to open up to the world. Moreover, cultural activity attracts visitors and therefore boosts the regional economy and creates jobs. A strong region (economically speaking, with a united population) will become competitive at a European level and so contribute to keeping the EU a viable proposition...

Sources

①http://www.letransfo.fr/uploads/2015/04/atlas-culturel-AUVERGNE-COMPLET.pdf

②http://acteursdeleconomie.latribune.fr/territoire/attractivite/2015-02-27/rhone-alpes-auvergne-quelles-consequences-sur-la-culture.html

③http://www.syndeac.org/action-syndicale/communiques/politique-publique-de-culture/

④https://cultureveille.fr/

⑤https://www.entreprendre-culture-auvergnerhonealpes.fr/

⑥http://www.la-nacre.org/

⑦http://www.lesinrocks.com/2011/07/22/livres/billet-pourquoi-la-culture-est-indispensable-1112062/

⑧http://www.petit-bulletin.fr/grenoble/infos-article-55292-Politique+culturelle+++la+region+cultive+le+flou.html

⑨http://www.webtimemedias.com/article/une-nouvelle-carte-de-france-13-grandes-regions-20141218-55700

⑩https://www.ambition-eco2021.auvergnerhonealpes.eu/sites/default/files/chiffres_cles_auvergne_rhone-alpes_2016_-_lpft.pdf

⑪http://www.lyon-metropole.cci.fr/upload/docs/application/pdf/2015-01/chiffres_cles_rhone-alpes_2014-2015.pdf

⑫http://www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/45-le-panorama-economique.htm

⑬https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auvergne-Rh%C3%B4ne-Alpes

⑭http://www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/26-temps-libre-loisirs.htm

⑮http://www.objectif-culture.com/spip.php?page=rubrique&id_rubrique=123

⑯http://www.plateforme-spectacle-vivant.com/