France's Académie des beaux-arts protests against severe budget cuts in the culture sector, which threaten museums, theatres, and festivals. The cuts amount to €150 million from the Ministry of Culture and €2.2 billion from local councils, leading to potential job losses and program freezes. The academy warns of the long-term economic benefits of cultural investment and the risks to democracy. Protests, including the movement 'Debout pour la culture', have gained support from notable figures in the arts. Teljes cikk (Euronews.com)