The Gaîté-Lyrique, drained after three months of occupation, is still fighting for its survival.

Thanks to Elon Musk, the Gaîté-Lyrique in Paris ( ^3rd arrondissement) crossed the Atlantic for free. On February 28, on his social network X, the tempestuous American billionaire seized on the highly publicized occupation of the cultural center by 250 young migrants, on December 10, 2024 , to establish it as the embodiment of a "suicidal empathy" that would lead civilization to "game over . " In other words, to save the world, you can't save everyone. A global advertising spot for a cultural establishment that didn't ask for anything. Because it believes it's a humanitarian duty—the Gaîté-Lyrique will welcome up to 450 refugees gathered by the Belleville Park Youth Collective—but has no choice but to close up shop. The evacuation by the Police Prefecture on March 18th did not change anything; the place was too worn out and the hole in its treasury too gaping to allow it to reopen to the public.

Now, sordid padlocks block the doors of the Gaîté-Lyrique, which remains inoperable. Inside, a vast void and a still-groggy general manager, Juliette Donadieu, fighting for the survival of a venue dedicated to digital arts and contemporary creation. Three months of occupation, seven months of closure, €3 million in operating losses, but a (very) gradual resumption of activity since June 4 – two concerts organized and a program of events outside the venue – which has allowed the venue to avoid being put into dry dock.

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