On Tuesday, July the 29th, 2025, Sylvanès Abbey welcomed Rachida Dati, French Minister of Culture, as part of a visit dedicated to Centres culturels de rencontre (CCR), a decentralized state label governed by Decree No. 0207-434 of March 28, 2017, as amended.
This visit enabled the Minister to reaffirm her commitment to these unique cultural sites, described by Michel Wolkowitski, Director General of Sylvanès Abbey and Vice-President of the ACCR (Association des Centres culturels de rencontre), as “fortresses of humanity”: “Places that have turned their ancient heritage into monuments of the 21st century, full of life, brimming with creativity and radiating outwards!”
On her arrival, the Minister was able to see the progress of the renovation work at the abbey, guided by architect Pierre Dufour from the firm Antoine Dufour Architectes, and praise the expertise of the Aveyron companies involved: “A project that combines modernization and low carbon impact, and a building that blends in very well with the landscape,” she said.
The visit continued inside the abbey, where Rachida Dati was able to attend the singing workshops in progress, taking the time to talk to the choir directors and trainees present.
In her speech, she paid tribute to the remarkable work carried out for nearly 50 years by the abbey's cultural actors, to its International Festival and to the many training, artistic education and cultural mediation activities carried out throughout the year.
In response to the concerns of the CCRs, which have suffered significant budget cuts over the past two years, the Minister announced measures in their favor:
- The renewal, by the end of the year and for three years, of a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the ACCR, which has been running this network since 1973.
- The reaffirmation of the excellence of the CCR label, which she described as a “label of the future,” rich in history and diversity.
- Clear priorities: to enhance the visibility of the label, promote its role in geopolitical dynamics (at national and international level), and contribute to social cohesion through cultural development in rural areas.
“This is what I want to promote for these cultural meeting centers, which are unique places and which the Abbey of Sylvanès embodies so admirably,” said Minister Rachida Dati.