France 7.1.2

In the most recent analyses and budgetary documents published by the Ministry of Culture and the Department for Studies, Foresight and Statistics (DEPS, Département des études, de la prospective et des statistiques), State cultural expenditure implemented at territorial level through the Ministry of Culture—including decentralised services (DRAC) and national public operators—is estimated at approximately €3.8–4.5 billion in 2023–2024, depending on whether gross or consolidated expenditure is considered (Ministry of Culture, Effort financier de l’État dans le domaine de la culture et de la communication, Budgetary Annex to the Finance Bill 2025; Ministry of Culture (DEPS), Chiffres clés, statistiques de la culture et de la communication, 2025).

Recent territorial analyses indicate that Île-de-France continues to account for a disproportionately large share of State cultural expenditure. Earlier analyses by the General Inspectorate of Cultural Affairs (IGAC, Inspection générale des affaires culturelles) estimated that the region received around 66% of State cultural intervention credits in the early 2010s. More recent Ministry of Culture territorial expenditure data suggest that this structural concentration has persisted, although no directly comparable updated percentage has been published. (IGAC, 2014; Ministry of Culture (DEPS), Chiffres clés, statistiques de la culture et de la communication, 2025).

This enduring concentration largely reflects the location in Paris of the Ministry’s central administration, major national cultural institutions and numerous public cultural operators with nationwide responsibilities. At the same time, successive decentralisation policies have strengthened the role of the Regional Directorates of Cultural Affairs (DRAC), expanded territorial contractual arrangements and reinforced support for regional cultural ecosystems (see chapter 1.2). These developments have contributed to a gradual diversification of State cultural expenditure across the country, although significant territorial disparities remain (Ministry of Culture, Chiffres clés de la culture et de la communication 2024; DEPS, 2024).

Table 6. Public cultural expenditure by level of government, 2024

Note: * At the date of expenditure

Sources: Ministry of Culture, Effort financier de l’État dans le domaine de la culture et de la communication, Budgetary Annex to the Finance Bill 2025; Ministry of Culture (DEPS), Tableau de bord des dépenses culturelles des collectivités territoriales (2026). Figures compiled from official budgetary and statistical data.