Call for Entries: Theatre & New Forms Grants (US)

This initiative aims to foster artistic exchanges in the contemporary field between France and the United States by financing tours and collaborative projects related to the performing arts.

This grant is designed to supports tours in the United States by France-based companies or artists from Africa, the West Indies, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, that receive support from French institutions.

Discover the selected France-based artists, who will partner with American institutions and/or artists on projects in the United States between May 2024 and August 2025.

Types of Grants

• Touring Grants
  • This grant funds tours, series, or presentations of large-scale productions of French productions in the U.S. and presentations of U.S. productions at major international festivals in France.
  • A tour must include at least two different U.S. venues that are financially involved.
  • A series consists of a minimum of seven consecutive performances in the same venue OR of multiple works by the same choreographer that form a thematic focus.
  • A large-scale production involves a minimum of 10 performers on stage and can be considered even if presented by only one presenter.
• Creative Grants
  • This grant supports creations and commissions envisioned collaboratively by France- and US-based artists, including:
    • U.S. productions of text-based projects by contemporary French or Francophone playwrights translated into English (classical French theater is not eligible).
    • U.S. productions that involve a France-based director collaborating with a US-based company on a contemporary theater, puppetry, circus, or street theater production.

Funding Information

• Creative and Touring Grants support up to 50% of project costs, covering expenses such as housing, per diem, travel, visa fees, and equipment rentals related to the production, with the following limits:
  • $20,000 maximum for Creative Grants
  • $15,000 maximum for Touring Grants
  • Grants cannot cover operating and front-of-the-house expenses of the presenting organization.
  • The budget must include artist fees.

Eligibility Criteria

• These grants are intended for presenting organizations. Applications from dance companies will be considered only in exceptional cases.
• For Both Grants:
  • Applicants must demonstrate a clear artistic and financial commitment towards the project.
  • Only non-profit organizations are eligible. Individual artists are not eligible to apply.
  • U.S. applicants must demonstrate their 501(c)(3) status granted by the IRS.
  • French organizations must provide proof of nonprofit status.
  • Projects must involve active collaboration between artists and organizations from both countries:
    • American applicants must present a project that involves France-based artists supported by French cultural institutions.
    • French applicants must present a project that involves US-based artists supported by US cultural institutions.
    • Projects must take place between May 1st, 2025, and August 31st, 2026.
• Artistic Criteria:
  • The focus is on contemporary and innovative projects; classical French repertory theater is not eligible.
  • Priority will be given to projects that involve artists whose work has never or rarely been seen in the partner country and Villa Albertine residents.
  • Projects should involve artists whose work reflects the diversity of the French and/or U.S. contemporary artistic scene.
• For Touring Grants:
  • Priority will be given to projects presented sequentially at a minimum of two distinct
  • venues within the United States (applicants must provide letters of commitment).
  • For a series or large-scale productions, the applications can be considered for a
  • single venue.
  • Projects presented in the U.S. must be performed in English or with English
  • subtitles. Projects performed in French without subtitles are not eligible.
  • When performed in France, productions including texts in English must include
  • French subtitles or simultaneous translation.

Application Requirements

• The application consists of narrative questions and supplemental materials, including:
  • Artistic project details
  • A detailed budget
  • Proof of nonprofit status
  • Outreach activities
  • A communication plan
  • Additional documents such as letters of engagement from presenting partners and related project texts.

For more information, visit Villa Albertine.