Mix’Art Myrys. The City of Toulouse asks the courts to “release the premises” occupied by the collective
By Gabriel Kenedi
Published on
New pass of arms in the tormented history which opposes Toulouse to the famous collective of artists Mix’Art Myrys.
A legal tussle
While the association deplores and disputes the administrative closure, in force since January 2021 – from its premises located at 12, rue Ferdinand Lassale, north of Toulouse, “for security reasons”, Mix’Art Myrys has decided to sue the Metropolis in order to warn the community to carry out the work of bringing the premises into conformity. A process undertaken almost a year ago.
In this case, remember that Toulouse Métropole, owner of the premises since 2018 (2.1 million euros had been spent at the time, editor’s note) had closed the premises of the association for “breaches of the regulations in force for the safety of public establishments (ERP)”. On the background, a deep disagreement existed between the two parties on the amount of work needed to bring this vast warehouse of more than 6,000 m² occupied since 2005 by Mix’art Myrys up to standard.
The metropolis offered 3 million euros. A sum judged by the association, which was based on the studies carried out which budgeted a minimum 7 million euros to secure the premises. Also remember that in the meantime, the Métropole sold the premises to the City in March 2022who wishes now build a school there.
The City asks the justice to release the premises
And it is moreover within the framework of the legal action carried out by Mix’Art Myrys that the community decided to counter-attack, by asking for the “reversal of the procedure”.
According to our information, the City of Toulouse is asking the judge to act the expulsion of the members of Mix’Art Myryswho still occupied part of the premises dedicated to them at 12, rue Ferdinand Lassale.
“The City has actually asked that the premises be freed up to be able to build a school”, agree Nicole Yardeni, deputy mayor of Toulouse in charge of cultural relations, who adds: “It’s not about housing, but about offices. Or, for us, the cultural project is over. That the association itself, which is made up of six members, wishes to remain in the premises, it is undoubtedly a way for them to remain faithful to their DNA…”, comments the elected official, who points ” the balance of power “ maintained by the community.
“Nobody had to Mix’Art Myrys to choose the path he chose. This path has its limits… It could have turned out differently. They would have gotten into the nails of the 3 million euros that were on the table, there would have been no problem. And it’s sincere, ”she says again.
“Who can stand up against the construction of a school? »
“The City wants the judge to act for the expulsion of Mix’Art Myrys”, confirms for his part a spokesperson for the collective of artists, who wishes to remain anonymous.
“We are still occupying the place in very constrained conditions. On respect the administrative closure. There are no workshops, no artists and we are even going to suspend the few events we had done in the parking lot, following a backfire from the prefecture. Only those in charge of the association have access to the premises“, he adds.
The last event organized by Mix’Art Myrys, outdoors in the large parking lot, brought together some 1,500 people at the end of May 2022. “This is proof that the people of Toulouse do not have a short memory”, rejoices this same spokesperson. ” We are entangled in the long time of the legal procedure but we believe that we have a well-constituted file to assert the legitimacy of the procedure, “says this former employee of the collective of artists, whose subsidies have been cut by the City and the Metropolis.
“We will wait for the judge to position himself. We hope to see it a little clearer fairly quickly, but we are bound by the time of justice, ”he adds.
About the project to build a school, this spokesperson for the collegiate church of Mix’Art Myrys has these words: “It’s clever on the part of the town hall and the Metropolis… Who can stand up against the construction of a school? Certainly not Mix’Art. However, Mix’Art reminds us that it was certainly not useful to put this school project in opposition to ours! “.
Towards a move to Ramonville?
While the entire salary team was laid off before the summer, Mix’Art Myrys has been thinking about her future for several months, which could take shape in Ramonville-Saint-Agne, where a move is under consideration. But here again, this project is part of a “long term”.
“For now, this is the only legal tune-up track that Mix’art Myrys could bounce on. The location is identified. Admittedly, it is not as big as the premises that were made available to us in rue Ferdinand-Lassale, but there is real potential. We presented a study to our partners (Region, Department, Sicoval and Ramonville town hall, editor’s note), which was carried out by the Cosma architects’ studio, specializing in bioclimatics. The study therefore integrated all these issues of ecological transition”.
According to Mix’Art Myrys, the installation in the premises of Ramonville-Saint-Agne (whose address remains secret for the moment), would require a budget of works estimated between 4 million and 4.5 million euros.
A stalled cultural project
Waiting for her future to be cleared up at once by the outcome of the legal proceedings and by the realization or not of its installation in the neighboring town of Ramonville, the cultural project of Mix’Art is, so to speak, at a standstill.
“We prefer to be more active than waiting and being patient. Patience, we proved that we had it since we were witnessing the bringing into compliance of our premises since our first illegal and illegitimate occupation… This brought us back to 1995! The challenge has always been that a project like ours has become legalized in Toulouse”, finished the spokesperson for Mix’Art Myrys.
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