Naïma Ramalingom has been appointed as the new director of the Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs (Drac) in the Centre-Val de Loire region, succeeding Christine Diacon, who took on the role in 2022. The appointment was announced by Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard through a decree dated 2 September 2026, and Ramalingom will begin her tenure on 28 September 2026 for a four-year term. Ramalingom is a second-grade administrator of the State, which is a senior civil service rank in France. She has previously served as sub-prefect of Avallon in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region and worked as an advisor on budget, taxation, investment, and patronage in the cabinet of former Culture Minister Rachida Dati. She has also studied at Sciences Po, the National School of Administration, and HEC business school, which are prestigious French institutions for higher education and public administration. Christine Diacon, who previously held the position, oversaw the relocation of the Drac to the Coligny administrative complex in Orléans by the end of 2024. The Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs (Drac) Centre-Val de Loire is a decentralized service operating under the Ministry of Culture. It has 116 positions across several locations and functions under the authority of the regional prefect, as well as the departmental prefects for specific responsibilities. This structure allows the Drac to implement national cultural policies at the regional and departmental levels. The regional director of cultural affairs is responsible for implementing state cultural policy within the region and its departments. This includes the preservation and promotion of heritage, supporting architectural development, fostering artistic creation and dissemination, advancing books and reading, promoting cultural education, and encouraging the transmission of knowledge. The role also involves supporting cultural diversity, expanding access to cultural activities, developing the cultural economy and industries, and promoting the French language and other languages spoken in France. Ramalingom’s appointment comes at a time when the cultural sector is facing evolving challenges and opportunities. Her background in administration and her experience in cultural and economic policy are expected to play a key role in shaping the direction of cultural initiatives in the Centre-Val de Loire region over the next four years.