The Gaîté Lyrique Theater in Paris is on the brink of bankruptcy after being occupied for over a month by over 300 homeless migrants.
The occupation, which began on December 10, was initially linked to a free conference on “Reinventing the Welcome for Refugees in France,” attended by 250 African migrants. These individuals refused to leave the theatre after the event and were soon joined by another 50 migrants seeking shelter from the cold winter weather.
Since then, the Gaîté Lyrique Theatre has been forced to cancel all performances until January 24, resulting in losses in the hundreds of thousands of euros.
The institution, which relies on ticket sales for 70% of its income, is now struggling to cover the salaries of its staff, which includes over 60 employees.
Despite the financial toll, the theatre has expressed its unwillingness to force the migrants onto the streets amid winter, calling for assistance from the French Government and local authorities to find adequate shelter for them. In a statement, the theatre said, “It is unthinkable to throw these people out onto the street in the middle of winter.”
The Paris City Hall has also expressed its support for the migrants, with the city government stating that “dry evictions” will not be implemented in this case. The city emphasized the need for suitable accommodation and social responses to address the emergency housing situation.
A banner displayed in the theatre reads: “Housing emergency, isolated minors on the streets!” The migrant collective claims that the majority of the individuals are minors, who are entitled to shelter and care under French law. However, reports suggest that most of the migrants are adults who had registered with French social services.
French media have faced challenges in gaining access to the occupied theatre, with the migrant representatives limiting press interactions and directing inquiries to the theatre.
The Gaîté Lyrique has confirmed that the closure of the venue was a decision made in cooperation with the migrants, who were allowed to stay as a temporary refuge.
