Last Wednesday, March 10, the National Opera and the Bordeaux University Hospital signed a partnership agreement for 3 years which notably provides for interventions and mediation actions with hospitalized audiences and the provision of spaces at the Grand-Théâtre for the CHU (see press release below).
CHU DE BORDEAUX AND OPERA NATIONAL DE BORDEAUX SIGN A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR 3 YEARS
On March 10, 2021 at the Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux was signed the first partnership agreement between the CHU (University Hospital Center) of Bordeaux and the Opéra National de Bordeaux, for a period of 3 years. If specific joint actions have been carried out in collaboration by the two structures in recent years, this signature marks their desire to go even further. And to formalize their commitments, in a context of a prolonged health crisis, making the development of artistic and cultural projects even more necessary, likely to bring comfort to fragile and isolated people. Among the structuring axes of this partnership: interventions and mediation actions of the ONB with patients hospitalized or in long-term care, provision of spaces at the Grand-Théâtre for the CHU, or even reinforced support of the CHU with artists .
THE AFFIRMATION OF HISTORICAL LINKS AND A COMMON WILL TO ACT ON METROPOLITAN TERRITORY DURING THE CRISIS
This partnership agreement signed on March 10, 2021 by Yann Bubien (Director General of the CHU) and Dimitri Boutleux (President of the ONB) is an opportunity to develop new projects and strengthen the links between the two institutions. First and foremost, historical links: it is a Bordeaux specificity, the Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux is the property of the Bordeaux University Hospital, the use of which is transferred to the City of Bordeaux. The Bordeaux University Hospital and the ONB are also institutions which participate, in their respective fields of activity, in the dynamism of the same territory. The ONB is the leading employer of live performances and the CHU the leading employer in the health sector in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. For many years, united by a desire to pool their resources, the Bordeaux University Hospital and the ONB have carried out numerous joint projects, and have spontaneously implemented the first actions from the first confinement in March 2020, convinced that the culture represents a precious comfort and helps to break isolation: – Musical interlude from the ONB in support of patients and hospital staff at the CHU (courtyard of the Saint-André Hospital in Bordeaux) on April 10, 2020; – Concert for the Fête de la Musique on June 22, 2020; – Reception at the Grand-Théâtre for adolescents taken in charge by the Jean Abadie Center during the last summer exhibition of the ONB; -… The Bordeaux University Hospital also supported the ONB in the resumption of its shows when the reopening of the rooms was authorized in September 2020: systematic PCR tests for the artists on the stage on stage (not masked), etc.
STRUCTURING AXES AND NEW FEATURES OF THIS AGREEMENT
Signed for 3 years, it commits the two structures to:
• Make ONB material resources available to the CHU. For example: the welcoming ceremonies for CHU interns will be organized in the foyers of the Grand-Théâtre (the first will be held on May 3, 2021 at the Boireau salon to welcome the new class, a second in November 2021); recordings and recordings of ONB shows will be provided to the CHU for dissemination to hospital staff (via an intranet platform) and to the public hospitalized directly in their room via Radio CHU, etc.
• Bring ONB know-how to disabled audiences and promote the development of mediation proposals around these shows For example: shows by ONB artists will be organized within the premises of CHU establishments (eg : June 23, 2021 on the occasion of the Fête de la Musique); as well as regular visits to the Grand-Théâtre for patients and hospital staff. The latter will also be able to have access to rehearsal times as well as moments of meetings with artists (interventions from April). The CHU’s priority services are those which welcome patients for long periods of time and those which welcome young patients.
• Bring the know-how of the CHU to the ONB, particularly in the face of the health crisis. For example: the CHU’s advisory role on health protocols; appointment of a correspondent likely to answer questions from the ONB and the artists during the crisis; setting up of rapid testing systems for lyrical artists, etc. ******
“In the hospital, culture represents an extremely precious space for sharing and discovery for our patients and for our professionals. We are very attached to it and the signing of this agreement consolidates already very rich exchanges. We will be able to welcome the Opéra National de Bordeaux for events in the heart of our hospital, in our departments up to the bedside. And our patients and professionals will have the opportunity to visit our magnificent opera house. »YANN BUBIEN – Director General of Bordeaux University Hospital
“The CHU and the Opera have a long common history, and the health crisis has all the more strengthened the natural links that pre-existed between our two structures. Pooling our resources quickly became obvious. From the first confinement, the ONB and its artists wanted to give their full support to hospital staff, particularly mobilized during the health crisis, while also offering a little comfort to patients and isolated people. The concert that started this rapprochement took place on April 7, under my direction, in the cloister of the Saint-André Hospital. And, in September 2020, we were able to give an exceptional Traviata to our audience, largely thanks to the support of the CHU. Coming from a family of doctors, I am also, in a personal capacity, particularly proud today to consolidate, by signing this agreement, the links between the Opera and the CHU. »MARC MINKOWSKI – General Director of the Opéra National de Bordeaux
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