FACE Contemporary Theater

Overview

The pandemic along with a series of recent socio-economic challenges have deeply affect the world, including cultural institutions and artistic exchanges, in many ways. Today, more than ever, Villa Albertine, the French Embassy and FACE Foundation are proud to encourage, promote and support artistic performances and creations.   

 Created in 1999, FACE Contemporary Theater fosters French-American artistic collaborations in Contemporary Theater, Circus, Puppetry, & Street Theater allocating grants to French or American nonprofit institutions. 

Since 2017, the program has expanded beyond artists based in France and the United States to include projects by artists from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East performing in the United States, as long as their work is co-produced by French cultural institutions. In this age of global mobility, the goal is to support artists with varied backgrounds and influences, in order to promote a multiplicity of voices and foster a rich intercultural dialogue. 

Since its creation, FACE Contemporary Theater has distributed $3.2 million to 300 projects that reflect the cultural and artistic diversity of the French and American contemporary scenes. 

Sponsors & Partners

FACE Contemporary Theater receives funding from the Ford Foundation, Institut français, French Ministry of Culture, & private donors. 

Grants Criteria

In 2023, FACE Contemporary Theater supports the production and the presentation of Contemporary Theater / Circus / Puppetry / Street Theater projects between May 2023 & December 2023. 

Note: French or France-based artists interested in exploratory residency in the United States can check the residency program developed by Villa Albertine here. 

Eligibility

Please note: No grants are awarded to individual artists.

• Projects involving artists whose work has rarely been seen in the partner country;

• Only non-profit organizations are eligible. American organizations must demonstrate their 501(c)(3) status granted by the IRS. French organizations must provide proof of equivalent nonprofit status for eligibility;

• American organizations must present a project that involves French or France-based artists, or a project by artists from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East as long as their work is co-produced by French cultural organizations;

• French organizations must present a project that involves at least one American dance artist or U.S based artist;

• The organization (presenter, university…) must show a clear financial and artistic commitment towards the project;

• Companies may submit applications to FACE Contemporary Theater only if they have identified one or several presenting partners who have indicated in writing their willingness to participate in the collaboration, as well as their financial commitment to the project;

• Productions of classical French repertory theater are not eligible through this program;

• FACE Contemporary Theater doesn’t support publications;

• When performed in the United States, productions including texts in French or other foreign languages must be performed with English titles or simultaneous translation.

• When performed in France, productions including texts in English must be performed with French titles or simultaneous translation.

• FACE Contemporary Theater grant support up to 50% of the expenses related to the artistic project such as artists’ fees, housing, per-diem, travel, visa expenses, equipment rentals related to the production, but cannot exceed the amount $20,000;

• FACE Contemporary Theater does not cover the operating and front of the house expenses of the presenting organization.

Calendar & Application

THE 2023 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS IS NOW CLOSED.

Contact

Nicole Birmann Bloom
Program Officer, Performing Arts
nicole.birmann-bloom@villa-albertine.org