Deadline: 30-Jan-2026
The Villa Albertine Creative Grants Program supports transatlantic musical collaboration between France and the United States by funding jointly developed projects by professional musicians and institutions. The program prioritizes original creation, diversity, and underrepresented voices while strengthening long-term cultural exchange through commissions, performances, recordings, and premieres.
Overview
The Villa Albertine Creative Grants Program is a transatlantic cultural funding initiative designed to strengthen musical collaboration, artistic innovation, and cultural exchange between France and the United States. Administered through Albertine Music, the program supports institution-led projects that bring together professional French and American musicians, composers, and cultural organizations to create, present, and disseminate new musical works. The initiative plays a strategic role in expanding the visibility of contemporary and classical music across borders while fostering sustainable artistic partnerships.
Key Objectives of the Program
Advancing Transatlantic Musical Collaboration
The program promotes joint artistic creation by encouraging collaborations between French and American musicians, composers, and cultural institutions.
Supporting Original Musical Creation
Creative Grants fund the development of new works through commissions, arrangements, rehearsals, recordings, performances, and premieres.
Expanding Cultural Exchange and Visibility
The program helps introduce French music to US audiences and American collaborations to French institutions, reinforcing bilateral cultural dialogue.
Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Priority is given to projects that uplift underrepresented composers, emerging creators, women artists, and inclusive artistic practices.
What the Creative Grants Support
Creative Grants provide financial support for institution-led, collaborative music projects, including:
• New music commissions and co-creations
• Arrangements and adaptations of existing works
• Rehearsals and artistic development periods
• Public performances and concert presentations
• Audio or audiovisual recordings
• US premieres of works by French or France-based composers
Funding is awarded to the applying institution and does not go directly to individual artists.
Project Timeline and Duration
All Creative Grant–funded projects must take place within a defined eligibility period:
• Project window: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027
Projects must demonstrate a clear timeline for creation, collaboration, and presentation within this period.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible Applicants
Applications must be submitted by institutions, not individuals. Eligible applicants include:
• American nonprofit organizations
• French nonprofit associations governed under the loi 1901 framework
Applicants must demonstrate formal nonprofit status and represent the participating artists or ensembles.
Eligible Artists and Musicians
Artists included in proposals must:
• Work at a professional level
• Be citizens or long-term legal residents of France or the United States
• Have resided for at least five consecutive years in their respective country
Ineligible Applicants
• Individual artists applying independently
• For-profit organizations
• Projects without confirmed transatlantic collaboration
Selection Priorities and Evaluation Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on:
• Artistic quality and originality
• Strength of French–American collaboration
• Contribution to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Support for underrepresented or emerging artists
• Feasibility and institutional capacity
• Potential for cultural impact and visibility
Why This Program Matters
The Creative Grants Program strengthens cultural diplomacy by enabling sustained artistic exchange between France and the United States. By supporting original musical creation and institutional collaboration, the program:
• Expands international visibility for composers and musicians
• Encourages innovation across jazz, classical, and contemporary traditions
• Addresses historic underrepresentation in cross-border music programming
• Builds long-term partnerships between cultural institutions
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Develop a Joint Artistic Project
French and American artists collaborate to design a project centered on original creation or premiere activity.
Step 2: Secure an Eligible Institutional Applicant
A nonprofit US organization or French loi 1901 association must formally represent the project.
Step 3: Define Project Scope and Timeline
Ensure all activities fall between September 1, 2026, and August 31, 2027.
Step 4: Prepare Application Materials
Applications should clearly outline artistic goals, collaborators, project activities, audience engagement, and diversity considerations.
Step 5: Submit According to Villa Albertine Guidelines
All materials must be submitted through the official Villa Albertine application process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Applying as an individual artist rather than through a nonprofit institution
• Proposing projects outside the eligible timeframe
• Failing to demonstrate genuine French–American collaboration
• Overlooking diversity and inclusion priorities
• Submitting vague project plans without clear outputs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can individual musicians apply directly for Creative Grants?
No. Applications must be submitted by eligible nonprofit institutions.
2. What types of music are eligible?
Projects across jazz and classical traditions, from early music to contemporary creation, are eligible.
3. Are recordings eligible for funding?
Yes. Recordings are eligible when they are part of a broader collaborative artistic project.
4. Can the grant support US premieres?
Yes. Supporting US premieres of works by French or France-based composers is a key priority.
5. Do all artists need to be citizens?
Artists must be citizens or long-term legal residents of France or the United States with at least five consecutive years of residency.
6. Is diversity a required component?
While not mandatory, projects promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, women artists, and underrepresented voices receive priority consideration.
7. Can projects involve multiple institutions?
Yes. Multi-institution collaborations are encouraged when they strengthen artistic and cultural impact.
Conclusion
The Villa Albertine Creative Grants Program offers a powerful platform for nonprofit institutions to support original musical creation and deepen cultural exchange between France and the United States. By prioritizing collaboration, diversity, and innovation, the program reinforces the global relevance of transatlantic music partnerships and ensures that new artistic voices continue to resonate across borders.
For more information, visit Villa Albertine.
