Plein-Jeu à Saint-Séverin

 

The association Plein-Jeu à Séverin has decided to switch to free pricing for its major concerts. Discover why!

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THE PLACE OF THE ORGAN IN FRANCE

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In France, culturally or by prejudice, the organ is often considered a different kind of instrument. However, organists are musicians just like pianists or violinists: their talent is nurtured by very earthly needs, their rent must be paid every month, and their work deserves fair compensation.

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The organ concert is sometimes seen as an activity "automatically" linked to a religious service, whether paid or voluntary, but stemming from personal conviction. This is not the case: accompanying a religious service is a job—governed by a collective agreement for the diocese of Paris—while a recital is a completely different task, requiring sometimes dozens of hours of preparatory work. Hosting musicians also incurs significant costs related to transportation and accommodation.

 

Therefore, Plein-Jeu at Saint-Séverin is committed to welcoming and properly compensating the students who intensively prepare for these concerts, which are sometimes their first major platform. Similarly, the association pays professional organists a declared and decent fee. All of this comes at a cost.

 

 

THE PLACE OF CULTURE IN FRANCE

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Moreover, and contrary to a message currently being spread, culture and live performances are not a "product" like any other. They are a common good, a fundamental aspect of what makes a nation. No one questions the profitability of the police, schools, or the justice system: why should we do so for culture? This pursuit of profitability would naturally favor either more "mainstream" shows or an increase in ticket prices, reducing both the diversity of offerings and accessibility to culture for all.

 

 

THE POSITION OF PLEIN-JEU À SAINT-SÉVERIN

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Based on these convictions, Plein-Jeu at Saint-Séverin aims to offer a demanding program open to as many people as possible, where artists are properly compensated while raising public awareness of the associated costs. Two types of pricing are therefore being implemented for the new 2025-26 season:

• Concerts-tremplins and auditions of invited conservatoires, where emerging artists are only compensated for their expenses: free participation, subject to availability.

• Major concerts: free pricing, subject to availability.

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This latter pricing invites spectators to freely contribute to the concert expenses according to their means, their adherence to the association's values, etc., while requiring a minimum contribution of 5 euros, aimed at making the public aware of the cost of the performance. Based on the past season, an average contribution of around 15 euros per spectator allows the association to achieve financial balance, to which members, donors, and patrons also contribute. It should be noted that the role of the association's volunteers is crucial: without them, who give their time and energy out of conviction and love for art, no concert would showcase the magnificent organ of Saint-Séverin.

 

Finally, and always with the aim of helping our audience grow, carefully written concert programs to accompany the listening experience of both novices and connoisseurs are distributed free of charge for the entire season.

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