Art & Design Archives - Villa Albertine

Overview

In partnership with the Mobilier National, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, and the Institut français, Oui Design! immersion grants aim to support emerging French artisans looking to develop their professional profiles in the American craft and design market. The goal of this program is to help French artisans become familiar with the New York landscape to evaluate existing opportunities for their own businesses.

The program consists of a 10-day immersive stay in New York, during the ICFF fair and the NYCxDESIGN Festival in May 2025. The program will feature group visits and meetings as well as personalized discussions with architecture and interior design agencies, thanks to an unprecedented partnership with The Invisible Collection. Finally, a presentation at Villa Albertine will also help to showcase and promote the work of the professionals and highlight their expertise in the field.

Learn more about the 2024 Oui Design! laureates here.

The program will:

Showcase the work of French craft and design companies that have a presence in New York, through meetings and visits with the directors of these studios and workshops.
Facilitate meetings with key American professionals in the field (interior design agencies, architects, directors of galleries and fairs, etc.).
Offer insights into new trends and the preferences of American clientele.
Promote the expertise and work of French participants to potential clients while engaging in personalized meetings.
Highlight the professional expertise of participants through an event at Villa Albertine for a select audience.

The detailed lineup of visits and appointments will be shared at a later time and adapted according to the specialization of the program’s laureates.

Villa Albertine will cover round-trip economy airfare between Paris and New York, accommodation, a daily allowance for meals and transportation for a period of 10 days, and a contribution towards the cost of transporting materials (samples, presentation items, etc.).

This program benefits from the financial support and guidance of Mobilier National, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation and the Institut français.

Selection Criteria:

The program is open to candidates meeting the following criteria:

Any craftsperson over 21 and under 45 years of age, as of January 1, 2025, whose professional activity focuses on craft and design.
Possess French nationality or have been working in France for at least five years.
Have been working professionally for at least three years.
Have a good command of English.

Applicants must provide the following materials in English on the application platform:

A cover letter for this immersive stay, mentioning any pre-existing links with the United States or a desire to develop and grow in the US market.
A short biography (1500 characters).
A portfolio of their work.
A two-minute video introducing themselves and demonstrating fluency in English.
A copy of a valid passport (four months beyond the date of return from New York).
Proof of a SIRET number.

Applications will be evaluated by an independent jury of professionals from the craft and design market based on the quality of the applicant’s background and their interest in applying. Candidates are invited to submit their applications using this form, through which they can elaborate on their background, past and current projects, and their motivation for joining the program.

Timeline:

Launch of calls for applications: December 18, 2024
Application deadline: February 23, 2025, at 11:59pm (Paris time)
Jury selection: February 2025
Announcement of results: March 2025

If you have any questions about your application, please contact Zoé Appy, Program Officer, Craft & Design, at zoe.appy@villa-albertine.org.

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