Florian Sitbon, 49 years old, a stage director from the independent theater world and a defender of hip-hop culture, now embodies culture at the Paris City Hall. His appointment as deputy mayor in charge of culture, cultural sovereignty, and free media aligns with the direction of an executive led by Emmanuel Grégoire, seeking an artistic policy that is both autonomous and popular. This grassroots artist profile breaks with his more institutional predecessors.
Florian Sitbon trained at the National Higher Conservatory of Dramatic Art (Nomadic Stage Director Unit). In 1997, he founded the Florian Sitbon Company, which became the Darius Company in 2016. He has worked with masters like Piotr Fomenko in Moscow, Peter Mussbach in Aix-en-Provence, Jacques Lassalle, and Bernard Sobel. A graduate of the State Diploma for Theater Teachers after stints at the National Theater of Strasbourg and the Cours Florent, he founded the Theater Training Studio in Vitry-sur-Seine in 2006. He also collaborates with Binôme Theater and Science.
Elected Paris councilor in June 2020 on the “Paris in Common – Ecology for Paris” list (PS), Florian Sitbon represents the 15th arrondissement, chairs the majority group, and sits on the 3rd standing committee, responsible for public spaces, transportation, and security. He is actively involved in granting subsidies to social centers and supporting the associative sector. In November 2025, he supported a resolution from the Department of Cultural Affairs (DAC) allocating €44,000 to seven hip-hop projects. He describes hip-hop as “a global popular culture” and a vector of diverse creation.
His scope covers culture, “cultural sovereignty,” defined as the independence of artists and institutions in the face of economic concentrations and national decisions, as well as free media, aiming to support pluralism and independent editorial voices. The City Hall relies on the DAC, which oversees libraries, conservatories, fine arts workshops, municipal museums, and support for theaters or festivals.
The 2026 preliminary budget for Culture amounts to €252 million. Operating expenses reach €183 million, up by one million, including €110 million in direct subsidies and about €20 million for artistic education. Investments total €64 million. The centrist and MoDem opposition denounces an “artificial” increase, attributing it to budget transfers, and highlights a €6.7 million decrease in investments.
Florian Sitbon succeeds Carine Rolland (2020-2026), in charge of culture and the “quarter-hour city,” Christophe Girard (2001-2012 and 2018-2020), known for his role in creating Nuit Blanche and resignation amidst the Matzneff affair, and Bruno Julliard (2012-2018), in charge of culture and youth. Less experienced in administrative management compared to these profiles from ministerial offices or major organizations, he stands out for his background rooted in independent creation.
