Institut français x Cité internationale des arts Residency Programme 2026

Overview

The Institut français and Cité internationale des arts jointly offer an annual residency programme hosting approximately 70 laureates per year from around the world. The programme is open to artists and cultural professionals of all nationalities and disciplines who have resided outside France for at least five years and wish to develop a research and creative project in Paris.

Residency Location & Duration

Laureates are hosted at the Cité internationale des arts on the Marais site (18 rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, Paris 4th arrondissement) in furnished, Wi-Fi-equipped individual studio apartments comprising a workspace, sleeping area, bathroom, and kitchenette. The full residency runs from April 2027 to April 2028.

Eligible Disciplines

• Architecture, Landscape, Urban Planning
• Visual Arts / Photography
• Cinema (animation, fiction, creative documentary, video art)
• Digital Creation (digital arts, video games, VR)
• Art Criticism and Exhibition Curating
• Dance, Performance
• Design, Graphic Design
• Gastronomy
• Literature (fiction, essay, children's literature, graphic novels)
• Crafts
• Fashion
• Music (classical, contemporary, popular & jazz)
• Photography
• Theatre

Eligibility Requirements

• Open to artists and cultural professionals of all nationalities, with no age limit
• Must have resided outside French territory on a permanent basis for at least 5 years
• Must be supported by one or more associated partners (direct applications by artists are not accepted)
• Must be engaged in a recognized professional practice
• Must be free of all professional obligations for the entire duration of the residency
• Must demonstrate autonomy and have professional-level command of French and/or English
• Must be available for the full residency window, April 2027 to April 2028

Associated Partner Requirements

Applicants cannot apply independently; applications must be submitted by an associated partner that guarantees financial and professional support. Eligible partner structures include the French cultural network abroad (Instituts français, Alliances Françaises, embassy cultural services) and cultural/artistic organizations based in France or abroad (art centers, associations, galleries, museums, artist studios, theatres, concert halls, production companies, labels, research institutes, libraries, publishing houses, and similar bodies). Priority is given to projects involving at least one cultural/artistic organization based in Île-de-France.

Benefits

• Monthly costs of individual studio apartment covered by Institut français
• Residency stipend: minimum €1,100 per month, paid by associated partner to the artist
• International travel for the artist, covered by the associated partner
• Insurance (health, repatriation, liability) for the artist, covered by the associated partner
• Visa fees, if necessary, covered by the associated partner
• Paid access (subject to availability and programming) to auditorium, three exhibition spaces, eight rehearsal studios, and collective workshops for screen-printing, engraving, and ceramics
• Accompanying person: up to two adults and one child under 11 may join in the studio apartment

Costs & Fees

No direct application fee is charged. The artist is responsible for the cost of additional services at the Cité internationale des arts. Monthly rates (2026, subject to slight change in 2027 and 2028): Accompanying person €181/month; Child pricing not fully stated in provided text.