Villa Albertine launches new ‘Arts in the Age of AI’ Residency Program 

Paris, February 8, 2025 — At the AI Action Summit in Paris (February 6–11, 2025), French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati announced the launch of “Arts in the Age of AI”, a new residency program by Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education in the United States. This initiative, funded by Franco-American patron and technology leader Fidji Simo, will host eight artists or culture professionals who incorporate artificial intelligence into their work, in the United States.  

A call for applications opens this Monday, February 10 to select future residents, who will be announced in June. Following the selection process, Villa Albertine will welcome four creators each year in the United States in 2026 and 2027, for two-month research and exploration residencies. The creators will receive individualized artistic and professional guidance, tapping into the full AI ecosystem, including tech companies, universities, research centers, and cultural institutions. They will carry out their residencies in the location most relevant to their research project among the 10 cities where Villa Albertine has chapters: New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C. These residencies are not limited to French or Francophone artists but are also open to any creator, researcher, or cultural professional supported by a French partner. 

“Artificial intelligence opens up unprecedented horizons for artists across all disciplines and will be a key aspect of the relationship between France and the United States in arts and education. As our nations seek to harness the inherent potential of this new medium, France can offer a balance, bringing fast-paced innovation and a deep respect for artists, and their rights. With our new ‘Arts in the Age of AI’ residencies, Villa Albertine offers artists a unique opportunity to seize this new creative tool and innovate.”

— Mohamed Bouabdallah 

“Artists play a critical role in helping us navigate societal change, using creative expression to shape our understanding of the world. As we enter a new era of global innovation, we’re also entering the golden age of creativity as artists and creators who master AI tools will be able to express themselves in new and enhanced ways. I’m proud to support Villa Albertine in empowering artists and fostering creativity. And, as a proud citizen of two nations leading the way in AI, I’m excited to strengthen the connection between these two countries, and between art and technology.”

— Fidji Simo 

Born and raised in Sète, France, Simo is CEO and Chair of Instacart, the North American leader in online grocery; Board Member at OpenAI and Shopify, and former Head of Facebook at Meta, where she spent a decade. With more than 15 years of experience leading some of the world’s most innovative companies, Simo brings a unique understanding of the role technology can play in shifting culture around the world to this residency program. An artist herself, she also brings a passion for the intersection of creativity, artistry, and technology. From conception to funding, Simo’s patronage will bring this unique opportunity to life for eight residents over the next two years. 

A Strengthened Commitment to Creation in the AI Era 

This program marks a new chapter in Villa Albertine’s exploration of the dialogue between art and artificial intelligence. Since 2021, it has supported innovative creators in their research in the United States, such as filmmaker Simon Bouisson, who explored AI-assisted screenwriting in California, and artist Justine Emard, whose work is showcased during the cultural weekend of the AI Summit and who will join the MIT Media Lab in Boston to connect neuroscience, AI, and digital creation. In May 2024, the event “Art in the Age of AI” laid the groundwork for a French-American reflection on AI in creation, bringing together key players at Villa Albertine’s headquarters, including OpenAI, Google, Ecole Polytechnique, the French Copyright Office, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the French National Museum of Archaeology. Additionally, Villa Albertine furthers this dialogue through its magazine, States, whose third issue features influential voices in the transatlantic AI debate, such as Anne Bouverot, special envoy on AI for the French President Emmanuel Macron, Mark Sureman, president of the Mozilla Foundation, author Alain Damasio, and Linda Powell, president of the SAG-AFTRA union. 

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About Fidji Simo

Fidji Simo is the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Instacart. She is a consumer technology industry veteran who has spent more than 15 years leading the operations, strategy and product development for some of the world’s leading businesses. Prior to joining Instacart, Simo spent 10 years at Facebook, where she was the Head of Facebook. She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors at OpenAI and Shopify. Simo founded the Metrodora Institute, a multidisciplinary medical clinic and research foundation dedicated to the care and cure of complex chronic conditions, and serves as President of the Metrodora Foundation. Simo holds a Master of Management from HEC Paris and spent the last year of her Masters program at UCLA Anderson School of Business. She grew up in Sète, France, and now lives in California with her husband and daughter.