Call for Applications: 2024 Etant donnés Grants 

With the exclusive sponsorship of AXA, and in partnership with Institut français, ADAGP, and the Ministère de la Culture.

For 30 years, the Etant donnés program has focused on introducing living French and American visual artists whose works have rarely, if ever, been shown in the United States or in France. It also aims to strengthen ties between France and the US in the field of contemporary art by fostering active collaborations and encouraging long-lasting partnerships between French and American visual artists, collectives, curators, and cultural institutions.

The program supports the discovery of emerging talents, while also sustaining interest in established artists, with high priority given to solo shows, co-productions and new commissions. 

In 2024, two calls for applications are open:  

1) Creative grants for projects in the US and France 

2) Curatorial fellowships for American curators

1) Creative Grants for Projects in the US & France

Guidelines

These grants provide financial support to American and French nonprofit institutions (museums, art centers, etc.) wishing to organize exhibitions featuring living French or France-based artists and American artists, respectively. 

The aim is to encourage the international development of American and French contemporary art institutions, to support the French art scene and introduce American artists to French audiences, to renew and diversify the possibilities for artistic exchange between France and the United States. 

Priority is given to coproductions, new commissions, or all types of projects creating new connections or partnerships between institutions, living artists and curators from both sides. 

Eligibility 

Artistic field: Visual Arts

The project must fall within the field of visual arts in its broadest sense (including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, performance, video, installation, etc.).   

Funding areas include solo and collective exhibitions, as well as commission works for festivals, biennials, triennials, and permanent installations. In the case of group exhibitions, the jury will pay attention to the importance given to the work and number of pieces of the artist involved in the application.  

For American institutions: artists involved must be French nationals OR have lived in France for more than 5 years, and their artworks should be produced in relation with a French institution.  

For French institutions: artists involved must be American citizens living AND working in the U.S.  

The Committee will favor creations commissioned for the exhibition, including the presence of the artist, rather than supporting the shipping of previous artworks. 

Pre-show travel by the curator to France or to the United States may be included in the project budget, as long as the main part of the grant is allocated to the implementation of the project in the exhibition’s country. Grants may not exceed 50% of the expenses related to the production of the project, with a cap of $30,000 for a solo exhibition or for a commission for a Festival, a Biennial or a Triennial, and $15,000 for one artist participating in a collective exhibition. 

Etant donnés DOES NOT cover the operating and front of the house expenses of the presenting organization. 

Applicants must provide:  

– The SIRET code (France) or the W-9 form (U.S.) of the institution; 

– a completed application form with the required information (including a detailed estimated budget – template attached to the application form);

– a clear description of the project for which the grant is being requested; 

– a PDF with a short resume of the artist(s) + Portfolio with exhibition stills, video/sound links;

(Size of the file: 5MB max – No “wetransfer”, “dropbox”, etc.)  

Calendar and Application 

THE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS IS NOW OPEN. 

Application Deadline:  March 20, 2024, at 11.59pm (ET) 

Results to be announced:  End of April 2024 

For projects taking place between: September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2026 

The final decision is made by an independent committee composed of French and American curators and directors of art institutions.  

Apply here

2) Curatorial Fellowships

Guidelines

These fellowships offer funding to American curators wishing to conduct research on the French visual art scene. They are intended to expand the opportunities of American curators; to encourage in-depth explorations of French cultural resources; and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge among artists, professionals, researchers, and institutions.  

Villa Albertine partners for the second time with ICI | Independent Curators International to offer grants of $3,000 each to US-based curators from within ICI’s network and beyond. The grants are intended to contribute to covering the costs of transportation, lodging, per diems, insurance, and any expenses related to the research trip.  

Candidates are encouraged to connect with art professionals and other researchers as well as with institutions, universities, art schools, or private and public archives in preparation for future exhibitions or collaborations.  

In collaboration with professionals in France, Villa Albertine’s team will also provide its assistance to the selected curators to enhance their networks and direct them towards venues, artists, and directors of institutions that could be of interest for their research. 

Eligibility

Artistic field:  Visual Arts

The project must fall within the field of visual arts in the broadest sense (painting, sculpture, drawing, video, photography, performance, installations, etc.).

The candidates must: 

• Be US citizens or legal residents of the United States for at least five years; 
• Be affiliated with institutions or be freelance curators working in the field of contemporary art. Please note that applications are open to ICI’s network of 140+ curatorial intensive alumni, and to any other curators if their research would significantly benefit from the opportunity; 
• Have a minimum of three years of research experience or provide evidence of significant professional practice; 
• Have a clearly defined curatorial research project with a French partner organization or individuals; 
• Commit to making the curatorial trip between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025.  

There is no age limit to participate. 

Priority will be given to curatorial fellows planning to present the results of the research in one way or another in the US via an exhibition, publication, talk, lecture, screening, performance, etc. 

Applicants affiliated with institutions must obtain authorization from their institution to travel for the proposed research. 

Maximum grant amount for each curatorial fellowship: $3,000. 

The selection criteria include:  

• Strength of the research objectives and relevance to the field;  
• Established need for support;  
• Feasibility of the proposed research.  

Applicants must provide: 

• A PDF document containing a short resume and a letter clearly detailing the research project for which the grant is requested, including specific objectives of the curatorial fellowship, subject, methods, schedule, research goals, and an overview of pre-existing contacts;  
• A completed application form including a detailed estimated budget.

Calendar and Application 

THE 2024 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS IS NOW OPEN.

Application Deadline:                         March 20, 2024, at 11.59pm (ET) 

Results to be announced:                 End of April 2024 

For projects taking place between:   September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025.

The final decision is made by an independent committee composed of French and American curators and directors of art institutions.  

Apply here

Contacts

For any questions regarding the program or the application process, please contact:  

Olivier Le Falher  
Program Officer, Visual Arts, Design, Architecture  
olivier.lefalher@villa-albertine.org