Imaginales - An interview with Stéphanie Nicot [ENG]

‘We will continue together to read, to communicate and to create opportunities for beautiful and stimulating encounters.’
An interview with Stéphanie Nicot.

Retrouvez la version traduite par Jocelyne Bourbonnière de l'interview de Stéphanie Nicot du 19 juillet 2022.

Actusf : We have just heard that you have been ousted from your position as Artistic Director after twenty years with Les Imaginales. Can you tell us what happened? Can you talk about the subject of your disagreement with the city of Épinal?

Stéphanie Nicot : Télérama magazine published an article on May 24, 2022 about the rumour of my removal from my position. Stéphane Wieser, the Director of Culture and Heritage for the City of Épinal told the journalist: ‘I swear that it is not the case.’
Yet a few weeks ago, he published a call for tenders in Actualitté, a literary magazine, looking for a replacement.
This crisis that has only recently become public actually started a while back with the Marsan affair. Apprised of the problem, Stéphane Wieser chose to let the situation fester 1. This problem went on for quite a few years. I and many others tried to get Mr Wieser to do something but he refused to get involved. He did not react even when the problem became public and the victims took action. The shocking silence and lack of reaction by the City of Épinal led me to publish a post on my Facebook page in support of the victims 2 through personal conviction but also because of a need to spell out the values of the Festival. I received a telephone call from an elected city official who referred to my ‘duty of confidentiality’, obviously to try and silence me, even though I am not a city employee.

SN En dédicace © ED

Actusf : You told us at the beginning of the year that you had met with the Mayor to talk about the future of the festival…

Stéphanie Nicot : Yes, I met the new mayor, who was elected in 2020, two months after the 2021 edition of the Festival held in mid-October because of the COVID pandemic. I had asked for a significant raise and a change in my contract. At the start of the festival back in 2002, I was paid 17,500€ for what amounted to a part-time position. In 2021, I was paid 19,500€ for a full-time position. I would like to add here that I was forced by the City in 2013 to change my work status to self-employed, which is greatly disadvantageous as the employer does not make any social contributions under this status, plus it meant the City no longer needed to give me either a short-term or a long-term work contract. The agreement I had with the City provided for fines (10%) or a reduction in my last payment if the sponsors or partners did not pay the money they had promised. It required as well that I be in ‘constant cooperation with Mr Stéphane Wieser’. Furthermore, the City wanted me to agree to not work anywhere else but les Imaginales without their authorization, and did not provide for an allowance on termination of contract if they should decide to do without my services.
Even though I knew that promises only bind those who believe them, I found the Mayor open to discussion. He did ask me however a question which I found strange regarding the so-called ‘radicalisation’ of some women in the world of SciFi and Fantasy literature, like Betty Piccioli and Silène Edgar, bent on ‘destroying’ the festival, according to certain sources (no need to look very far for them). In actual point of fact, these two writers who had been volunteering their services to moderate the speed-dating publishing workshop, were only trying to protect women writers from the sexist behaviour of certain publishers and had decided to speak publicly about the problem created by Stéphane Wieser’s inaction.
In the course of this meeting, I also apprised the Mayor of other issues which are rarely addressed, such as the unpleasantness created by petty cutbacks like no longer covering the cost of the breakfast of the travelling companions 3 of festival guests – a tiny bonus; refusing to increase the amount of the meal coupons which has not been raised for many years in spite of my many requests to that effect – their number was even reduced for one of the moderators of the writer-publisher meetings as a sort of ‘punishment’ (this happened to my partner, a definite sign of hostility on the part of the Director). Also, the drink coupons for the moderators and the interpreters became very rare. The Director of Culture gave us a grand total of five tickets for the whole of the festival! For hot drinks only. I also pointed out that he took over some of my responsibilities in my area of expertise such as the selection of comics writers and illustrators (which explains the very small number of women guests in that category). I stated very clearly at that meeting that I wanted total freedom in guest selection and programming.

Actusf : What were the consequences of that meeting?

Stéphanie Nicot : I worked in a very deleterious atmosphere over the past few years, but the situation worsened during the preparation of the 2022 edition. I was the victim of downright abuse. When the Director of Culture stated that ‘he had re-affirmed his trust in me over the past year’, he was being very cynical. I only need to say here that none of my requests for modification of the unfair clauses in my agreement with the City were ever taken into account. Moreover, the document outlining the agreement with the City of Épinal was only signed by the Mayor on April 26, 2022 for an event taking place in May and requiring several months of preparation. I worked without a contract and without pay for six months until I became so infuriated about a situation which could only be viewed as moral abuse, that I threatened the City to voice my complaints to the Centre National du Livre (concerned with the financial compensation of writers and other players in the field) and the press regarding this disgraceful treatment. That is how far I had to go to get the first payment deposited into my bank account on May 20th, two days after the start of the Festival! Who could have imagined I would be treated that way after twenty years at the head of the festival? If that is how Stéphane Wieser ‘re-affirmed his trust in me’, it speaks volumes about his management approach and his views on human relations at work! He could not have treated me like this without the approval of his hierarchy.
I also blame him for having censored my programme, declaring that some topics were too controversial (he said the order came from the Mayor). He removed the word ‘discrimination’ from the topic of one panel (too controversial). He then nixed another panel entitled ‘Equality between men and women: what possible futures?’ (too controversial). What was most upsetting about this decision was the fact that the topic of this panel had been suggested to me by the Institut Commercial de Nancy - Business School, because this issue is currently considered a major one in human resources management, the legislation having become much more stringent for businesses. The idea behind this panel was to discuss and confront the points of view of researchers in social sciences studying the reality of the work place with those of SciFi and Fantasy writers of who have dealt with that question in their writings. Seriously, who else but a misogynist would consider equality between men and women in France in 2022 a controversial subject? Moreover, Stéphane Wieser added to the programme, in both the printed and Internet versions, an IME panel (les Imaginales Maçonniques et Ésotériques, the Freemason association holding a separate event at the same time as the main convention) without any connection with SciFi or Fantasy literature entitled: ‘The radicalness of Islam or radical Islam?’. Yet the City of Épinal did not consider that too controversial?
What with the cancellation of panels, the arbitrary changes of titles, moderators and guests, the situation became intolerable. Indeed, I often had to try and find a spot for people I only knew by name. In one instance, a moderator picked by the Director himself never showed up and had to be replaced at short notice. There was also the very bad management of the visa problems of a Nigerian Afrofuturist journalist and writer, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim 4.

Actusf : What were the reasons behind those numerous changes?

Stéphanie Nicot : Unfortunately, it’s become rather obvious to me: the City has undertaken a reactionary ideological shift. The elected officials still talk about ‘openness’, ‘values’, ‘freedom’, and ‘inclusiveness’ but those are only words for them. Their actions reflect their political orientation: they have refused to protect women victims of sexist violence, they have censured panels on equality between men and women, on the working conditions of writers or on discrimination in fiction! Without forgetting the panel with an Islamophobic title which had nothing to do with SciFi or Fantasy in the electoral context we are all familiar with...
Let us not also forget that the Director of Culture and Heritage of the City of Épinal also co-signed in 2021 an IME document stating that the ‘prefix trans- is quite popular nowadays what with transnational, transgender, trans-identity and transexuality’ 5. Another charming way of ‘re-affirming his trust’?
Stéphane Wieser condemned the controversies made public in May 2022 on social networks but conveniently forgot to mention that his programming decisions and acts of censure sparked the scandal! That was when everything I had been enduring over the past few years was finally made public.
At the festival, several writers and participants wore a red and black bracelet bearing the sarcastic name ‘ImaRginales’. The city reacted very negatively to this apparently, forgetting that festival goers bring a significant financial contribution to the city every year. They only wanted to show their concern in a simple and polite way. At the award ceremony, the public stood up and boycotted the speech by the IME representative, shocked that our Muslim fellow-countrymen and -women had been considered ‘radicalised’. One had to be totally unaware of the situation to view this as an organised plot. The radicalised official talked about ‘dictatorship by the minority’ to an empty room, a choice of words that would have been more appropriate for an editorial in Valeurs actuelles (a right-leaning financial newspaper) than for the description of a vision of an inclusive democracy!
Alas, I received a letter from the Mayor on June 20th, informing me that he wanted to fight against extremism and populism and that he was going to publish a call for tenders to find someone to replace me as Artistic Director of the Festival. This year’s edition saw more books sold than all previous editions so my brutal ousting has nothing to do with my skills that have been recognized far and wide. No, I am being ousted for ideological, sexist, and LGBT-phobic reasons among others. The City of Épinal is offering 25,000€ for the position of Literary Director (I was earning less than 20,000€). This leads me to believe that I will be replaced by a man, someone who is more flexible and ideologically compatible. One thing is sure: this spells the end of the liberty and diversity that made this festival so charming and attractive and for which I have been responsible in spite of the numerous recent pitfalls. Several Paris publishers called me last week to extend their support to me and one drew a parallel between the situation in Épinal and the efforts being made to bring a part of the world of French publishing to heel 6.
City officials see extremists and populists everywhere. This brings to mind the parable of the mote and the beam. They are the intolerant ones. The best proof of this are all the messages of support I have received from writers, and editors of every political hue. Under my management, les Imaginales was a festival that was open to everyone. Future editions will be closed to anything the least bit controversial.

Robin Hobb aux Imaginales 2018 - Lionel Davoust à l'interprétariat © ED

Actusf : What is your reaction to the wave of support you received during the festival and in the social networks?

Stéphanie Nicot : Almost all of the professionals in the field of SciFi and Fantasy – the authors, the editors, the staff and the festival goers – were very upset about the way I was treated and the abuse I was subjected to and have assured me publicly of their solidarity. Robin Hobb herself, one of the best-selling fantasy writers in the world, an iconic and regular guest of the festival since 2003 (she was here by my side in 2018) gave me her incredibly warm support. I also have the support of Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman, among others. During the festival, several people also gave me their verbal support. The enthusiastic applause from the public and the guests touched me deeply as well as the many incredible birthday gifts from friends and members of staff!
I am ending my career at les Imaginales on a very positive note. I am taking this opportunity to pay tribute to all the people who have contributed to its success. I am very proud of our accomplishments and nobody can take these wonderful memories from us, the close ties developed between people from different countries, the many friendships and projects that arose from Les Imaginales. The decision to restrict the festival, to break it is just terrible…
But a festival which chooses to protect a sexist bully, which imposes a panel with an Islamophobic title and does not react to public LGBT-phobic attacks against its Artistic Director and the guest of honour of the Festival 7 cannot but worry festival-goers, the great majority of whom are open to the world and others.

I am very distressed to learn that Stephanie Nicot, the long time direcor for @imaginales has been set aside. The mayor of Epinal believes that the festival cannot 'evolve' without changes at the top. Well, I suppose that I, too, am something that Imaginales can get rid of.

— Robin Hobb (@robinhobb) July 14, 2022

Actusf : What will become of the festival now?

Stéphanie Nicot : What made les Imaginales a success is not lost, but it will no longer be happening in Épinal. I would be surprised if other more welcoming cities did not give us the opportunity to get together once again 8. Many writers and festival goers have talked about l’Ouest hurlant in Rennes. The first edition in May 2022 had outstanding reviews. And there are other promising projects in the air. One thing is sure: as professionals in the field and aficionados of SciFi and Fantasy, we will not let ourselves be restricted by hatred and fear of one another. That would be the very opposite of our values and what we stand for. We will continue together to read, to communicate and create opportunities for beautiful and stimulating encounters!

Actusf : And you, what are your plans for the future?

Stéphanie Nicot : I am very relieved to have gained back my freedom of expression and action. I went to Greece on a ten-day vacation in June and went back to work immediately after I returned. I have two articles due in July as well as an essay and an anthology for the end of this year (for ActuSF). I will continue directing an imprint at Scrineo in adult SciFi (space opera & planet opera). The publication of Les Oubliés de l’Amas by Floriane Soulas and Le Dixième vaisseau by Pierre Bordage made me want to discover new writers and new books in the genre. I have also been offered several writing projects and interesting assignments (one in particular is very tempting) and I am also available to tackle a new project in events planning – something I really enjoy – as long as I am respected, decently paid and guaranteed programming freedom.

Propos traduits par © Jocelyne Bourbonnière

1. Imaginales 2021 - Pour en finir avec le sexisme dans l’édition ! par Silène Edgar

2. #metoo dans l’édition : Ensemble, mettons fin au harcèlement et aux agressions sexuelles !

3. Except for my partner, a volunteer at the Festival until 2021

4. His visa had been held back at the French embassy in Washington. That sort of problem is normally solved quickly by reaching out to the Foreign Affairs Minister and/or the Minister for Culture, but they need to be informed before they can intervene!

5. In 2013, José Gulino, speaking as the Grand Master of the Grand Orient de France (the largest Masonic organisation in France and the oldest one in Europe), stated publicly that allowing same-sex marriage was a definite progress towards equal rights for everybody. In Épinal, the IME (Imaginales maçonniques et ésotériques) seem to have opted for a different tack…

6. L'arrivée d'Isabelle Saporta chez Fayard entraîne une vague de départs

7. This was clearly an attack against David Bry and Le Garçon et la ville qui ne souriait plus (Pocket, 2020).

8. I will never forget that although the reactionary officials of the City have always hated what I represent, a great number of citizens of the beautiful City of Épinal have given me and continue to give me a warm welcome and are very supportive to this day, publicly for those who are not afraid of backlash. I thank them from the bottom of my heart!