Eva Nguyen Binh, president of the Institut Français, in Paris, on March 7, 2024. STÉPHANE GEUFROI/OUEST FRANCE/MAXPPP
After being appointed to lead the Institut Français in 2021, Eva Nguyen Binh was reappointed for a second term in 2024. While the subsidy granted to the public institution, which is tasked with implementing France's external cultural policy under the foreign affairs and culture ministries, was cut by 5.5% for 2025, its objectives and performance contract was renewed on Friday, July 18. Its president spoke to Le Monde about the challenges faced by cultural diplomacy efforts in a time of geopolitical tensions.
Does this cut in your subsidy force you to revisit your priorities?
I cannot say it did not affect us. But the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which provides us with this public service subsidy, did everything it could to protect us, so I am not complaining. We have a budget of €45 million and managed to absorb this 5.5% cut by working on our margins and building on the reorganization of the Institut that has been underway since I arrived. However, I am staying vigilant because we have no visibility for 2026. There will come a point when choices will be tough to make.
In this context, does the Institut Français have to justify its actions?
