France/ 8.1 Direct and indirect support to artists  

8.1.1 Special artists funds

Public Commissions

Government Commissions have been set up for music, drama and the visual arts. The "1% for Arts" commission, established in 1951, is a special body created for visual artists based on the principle that 1% of the total amount spent on the construction, renovation or extension of a public building must be reserved for a contemporary art work specially conceived for the building in question. This obligation now applies to both local and state governments.

Between 1983 and 2004, over 1 400 visual arts works were commissioned (in addition to the works supported under the "1% for arts" rule), and some 60 commissions were earmarked for music works each year.

The National Fund for Contemporary Art (Fonds national d'art contemporain, FNAC), set up in 1976, provides funding for the acquisition, distribution and conservation of contemporary works in the fields of visual arts, photography, video and design. Acquisition policies are guided by three key objectives: to discover new young artists, to purchase outstanding works of artists who have attained maturity in their work, and to represent international art movements.

The Regional Funds for Contemporary Art (Fonds régionaux d'art contemporain, FRAC), set up in 1982 within the context of devolution policies, is now present in 23 régions. Intended for the purchase of contemporary art works, these funds ensure regular publishing activity and educational initiatives and affirm the role of local and regional authorities in the field of contemporary art. Since their creation, the FRAC's have set up rich and diverse collections of over 1 500 works, produced by 3 000 artists.

Sector Specific Measures in Support of Creativity

The different sector specific funds supporting creativity and creators are provided either by grants from the Ministry of Culture and Communication budget or by taxes which are redistributed via public bodies. For example, state government support to the cinema industry and audiovisual programmes is administrated by the National Film Centre.

Funds are made available to:

• theatre, live entertainment, music and dance (including aid to drama and choreographic companies, circus arts, major jazz and improvised music bands and groups, etc.);
• visual arts: support for visual artists, graphic designers, designers and craft workers, enabling them to complete a specific project, to benefit from research visits and to participate in artists residences;
• literary creation: the National Book Centre, a public body under the supervision of the Directorate of Books and Readership, allocated 281 grants to authors and publishers in 2001 (total of 2.27 euros million); and
• cinema and audio-visual: state support goes to the film industry creators of audio-visual programmes.

The Contemporary Arts Centres (institutions generally holding association status) are developing research and experimentation activities via policies embracing exhibitions, publications, critical research, training, the commissioning and production of works, and artist reception facilities. There are presently 32 art centres spread throughout 16 régions of which four are specialised in photography. The Constitution of the Contemporary Arts Centres calls for an agreement between the state government, the région concerned, other local and regional authorities (when relevant), and the association. There are two of these centres in Paris - the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume and the Centre national de la photographie.

The "Contemporary Creativity Centre", which is devoted to young creators and which reinforces the visibility of the arts in France, was created in January 2002 in Palais de Tokyo, occupying 20 000 m² of floor space (of which 5 000 m² are open to the public).

A specific unemployment insurance scheme for artists, composers and performers and technicians classed as intermittents de spectacle (workers in the entertainment industry without steady employment) has been in existence since 1965. This scheme, which guarantees minimum living standards for professionals, thus contributing to the vitality of artistic production, is currently subject to criticism as a result of structural shortcomings.

Since 1977, a specific social insurance scheme has been operating for authors (writers, composers and authors of musical works, authors of works for cinema or television, authors of software, choreographers, photographers, etc.) and "artist-authors" in the graphic and visual arts (visual artists, graphic designers, etc.) which, although they are self-employed workers, provides them with social insurance cover under the same conditions as salaried workers.

Subject to the decision of a special committee, certain municipalities (such as Paris), the Ministry of Culture and Communication and its regional directorates (DRAC) provide a number of residencies for artists.