Performing Arts
The French Cultural Services in Chicago promotes and supports bilateral projects involving French theater, dance, music and circus in the Midwest. Its programs are funded largely through the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CulturesFrance (French Council for the Arts), the Ministry of Culture and Communication, and French and American private partners through the foundation FACE (French American Cultural Exchange).
It offers advice, support and networking opportunities to French companies, performers and musicians to perform in the Midwest
It acts as a liaison between the French and American performing art scenes.
It organizes professional visits to France for performing arts presenters.
It offers a variety of cultural or educational grants and residencies.
If you have a project, applications may be submitted through the Chicago Cultural Service before August 15 of each year (unless otherwise indicated) for the following year. For more information, contact us.
PROGRAMS :
Etant Donnés Fund for the Performing Arts
The French-American Fund for the Performing Arts is dedicated to encouraging French-American cooperation in theater in the United States and in France. It offers financial support in the form of grants to American nonprofit institutions producing or presenting theater projects either of contemporary French playwrights or with French theater professionals. New productions of classical repertory are only eligible if they involve collaboration with a French director/playwright/other professionals. It offers financial support in the form of grants to French nonprofit institutions presenting substantial collaborative projects involving American theater professionals or presenting American productions of the work of contemporary French authors.
Annual Application Deadline : February 1st.
French American Fund for Contemporary Music
The French American Fund for Contemporary Music supports contemporary music projects – commissions, residencies, performances, tours, and master classes – that foster cultural exchange between France and the United States.
The Fund awards grants to nonprofit institutions celebrating the work of living composers in both countries. Collaborations combining new French and American works are especially encouraged.
Annual Application Deadline : February 1st.
The French-American Jazz Exchange
The French-American Jazz Exchange supports collaborative projects that unite French and American jazz artists. Collaborations with musicians who champion world, electronic, contemporary classical, or other genres are welcome. Projects may include (but are not limited to) composition, touring, recording, and audience-development activities. Public performance is required, with the understanding that jazz speaks to diverse populations and experiencing music together bridges differences.
Annual Application Deadline : October 15th.
Fused French-US Exchange in Dance
The French-US Exchange in Dance program melds the French and American dance communities by fostering dialogue and exchange, consolidating professional relationships and spawning choreographic innovation. This program introduces choreographers and performers whose works have not yet - or rarely - been seen in the partner country. It offers grants to U.S. and French non-profit presenting institutions willing to pledge to a new bilateral dance project with possibilities for residencies, commissions, and/or touring the work of at least one choreographer/performer from the partner country. Co-productions between presenters are encouraged.
Annual Application Deadline : February 1st.
