Heritage restoration companies denounce a bill that could have serious consequences for the sector

By requesting a restriction of access to public calls for tenders, bill no. 4955 statutorily favors Conservators-Restorers to be the only ones legally able to respond to public calls for tenders. At the same time, it excludes ALL heritage restoration companies - starting with companies in the furniture trades - from these calls for tenders by positioning them as 2nd-tier performers.

• Thousands of craft businesses impacted. The following are directly concerned: cabinetmakers, upholsterers, marquetry workers, framers, gilders, painting restorers, musical instrument makers, construction professionals specializing in heritage, stained glass artists, painters on wood, or even bookbinders, saddlers, building companies specializing in the restoration of heritage, this concerns companies in all fields of activity... and represents thousands of companies and employees, contributors to maintaining and enhancing the Heritage in France.
• To compensate for the lack of consultation, UNAMA will challenge the State for the organization of General States in 2023. This proposal has not been the subject of any prior information, nor of consultation with the companies - of which an overwhelming majority are craft businesses - neither with their relays or representatives. It even appears that all the parties involved in the State, ministries or departments, peripheral institutions of the State were only informed once the bill had been tabled! To overcome this lack of consultation, 20 years after the enactment of the Heritage Law, a review of lessons learned, perspectives and a guideline involving ALL players in Public Heritage are a necessity and an emergency. As soon as the new or the new Minister of Culture is appointed, UNAMA will challenge him to organize in 2023 General States of the Heritage Economy bringing together the State, its Directions, the Territorial Collectivities, the Institutions and ALL the actors of the Heritage value chain considered as one of the main economic resources of our Country.
• Faced with the fear of economic consequences, UNAMA is mobilizing. UNAMA regrets that the craft businesses which also deserve recognition, protection and economic support have been forgotten and fears that this text, supported by a closed approach and a certain inter-self, ultimately only aims to restrict , or even closing access to heritage and restoration work to operators who are not dubbed. Consequently, UNAMA will mobilize and inform the companies and all the institutions concerned of the precise aims of a misleading text so that they have a right to DIALOGUE and NEGOTIATION before any legislation.