The legal framework governing the visual arts and crafts in France combines cultural legislation, public procurement rules and public policy instruments designed to support artistic creation and its dissemination. It reflects a long-standing tradition of public intervention in favour of contemporary creation, while also recognising the cultural, economic and heritage value of artistic craftsmanship.
A central instrument of this framework is the 1% for art scheme (1% artistique), established in 1951. Under this mechanism, a proportion of the cost of constructing, extending or substantially renovating certain public buildings must be devoted to the commissioning or acquisition of a contemporary work of art integrated into the architectural project. The scheme applies to a wide range of public buildings commissioned by the State and, under certain conditions, by territorial authorities, and has become one of the principal mechanisms supporting the integration of contemporary art into public space.
The legal framework governing the scheme is currently defined by Decree No. 2002-677 of 29 April 2002, as subsequently amended, which sets out the procedures for commissioning artworks as part of public construction projects. Because these commissions are financed with public funds, they are subject to the general principles of French public procurement law, including transparency, equal treatment of candidates and the use of expert selection procedures, while preserving the artistic nature of the commissioning process.
Public support for the visual arts is further guided by the Charter for Public Service Missions in Contemporary Art Institutions (1998), which defines the respective responsibilities of the State, territorial authorities and publicly funded institutions in supporting artistic creation, dissemination and public access. It provides the policy framework for institutions such as the Fonds régionaux d’art contemporain (FRACs), a nationwide network of publicly funded Regional Collections of Contemporary Art established to acquire, preserve and exhibit contemporary artworks throughout France, as well as contemporary art centres and other publicly supported visual arts organisations (see chapter 3.4).
The legal framework also encompasses the métiers d’art (art crafts), recognised in France as professional activities combining artistic creation with traditional craftsmanship. Public policies seek to safeguard and transmit specialised know-how through vocational training, apprenticeship, heritage conservation and international promotion. In this field, the Ministry of Culture works alongside the Institut pour les savoir-faire français (formerly the Institut national des métiers d’art, INMA), which promotes French craftsmanship, supports professional development and contributes to the recognition of exceptional artisanal skills.
Recent regulatory developments have mainly concerned the rules governing the use of public funds to commission artworks. Since 2019, these rules have been consolidated in the Code de la commande publique (Public Procurement Code), the French legal code governing contracts concluded by public authorities for works, goods and services. It therefore applies when the State, a local authority or another public body commissions an artist to create a work for a public building or space.
The framework requires public authorities to organise transparent and fair selection procedures, while allowing artistic criteria, professional expertise and the originality of the proposed work to play a central role in the choice of the artist. In parallel, contemporary art has increasingly been incorporated into public construction, urban redevelopment and heritage restoration projects, particularly through commissions linked to schools, hospitals, transport infrastructure and renovated public spaces.
Overall, French legislation on the visual arts and crafts combines public commissioning, cultural policy and public procurement law within a coherent framework designed to encourage artistic creation, safeguard traditional know-how and promote public access to contemporary art. The legal framework has remained broadly stable in recent years, with changes focusing primarily on the consolidation of public procurement rules and the continued use of public commissioning as a key instrument for supporting artistic creation and integrating contemporary art into the built environment.
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