Thread by @gaetanbruel

The first 6 months of #VillaAlbertine, France's new cultural organization in the US that is reinventing artists' residencies – A Thread⤵️
[1/20]

Last fall, France brought a new model for a cultural institution to the global table. In order to match the vastness & diversity of a continent-country, but also to adapt to the changing needs of creators, @villa_albertine wanted to achieve two unprecedented goals: [2/20]

welcoming its residents WHEREVER they need to go across the US and providing them with all ressources they need for a tailor-made exploratory residency. In brief, it is no longer the resident who adapts to the Villa, but @villa_albertine that adapts to the resident. [3/20]

By inviting artists & thinkers to go beyond the walls of residency, to explore and get immersed, to get inspired by but also inspire those who cross their paths, @villa_albertine aims to create a new creative transatlantic community. [4/20]

Over the last 6 months, based on that (somehow unreasonable) model, we've welcomed 40 residents in 15 cities (including in @villa_albertine SF📸), and are waiting for 50 more until the end of the year. In the meantime, we launched our first call for application… [5/20]

and prepared for our first nationwide event, #NightofIdeas, bringing +300 speakers to 19 different US cities in May, and asking them one question: Where Are We Going? Full program here: villa-albertine.org/events/night-i…. [6/20]

Needless to say, the whole team has been hard at work these past 6 months🙏 It's not easy to build a new cultural institution from the ground up! but we received extraordinary support from FACE, @Fondation_BS, @IFParis, @FordFoundation, @LeCNC, @explora_art & many others [7/20]

@villa_albertine was born out of the conviction that, in a world in crisis, creators not only need support, but can help us understand and solve major contemporary challenges. From Nicolas Floc'h's exploration of the human impact on the color of the Mississippi River… [8/20]

to Maboula Soumahoro's deep dive into translation and the complexity & depth of Black subjectivities to Alain Damasio's research into our dependence on tech & Céline Tricart's focus on making museums accessible through XR… [9/20]

our residents are engaging with some of the most urgent topics of our time. But @villa_albertine is more than a residency institution: our 15 professional programs are supporting French & francophone creators as well as American institutions & curators. [10/20]

A particular mention here to Albertine cinemathèque, our beloved program bringing independent French films to a network of already 700 US schools & universities to develop love for and empowerment through cinema on campuses villa-albertine.org/professionals/… [11/20]

We provide workshops in NY for podcast creators (#SoundsofNewYork), in LA for screenwriters (call open until April 29), or help finding a publisher in the US. There's also the Villa Albertine online magazine, which will expand soon to a podcast series and a paper review. [12/20]

@villa_albertine also offers many professional ressources to develop cultural projects between France & the US, including grants & analysis. Find more on villa-albertine.org/professionals.
🚨 Top 3 of my fav "resources" contents we produced so far: [13/20]

(1) A Map of the Visual Art sector in the US, identifying 374 organisations, 37 major events & 25 higher ed institutions, to guide French professionals with their projects in the US. The map is non-exhaustive & improved every month! villa-albertine.org/professionals/… [14/20]

(We also made Maps for Music, Performing Arts, XR, Video Game, Animated Film sectors in the US. More to come. All available on villa-albertine.org) [15/20]

(2) Trends in translation for 2022, with a great overview of the 313 titles translated from French into English and slated for publication in the US this year: villa-albertine.org/professionals/… [16/20]

(3) And the Danse Film Catalogue, providing US arts centers, festivals & universities with a unique tool to discover new works, new choreographers & dancers from France and Africa, and present them. villa-albertine.org/professionals/… [17/20]

#Events We have welcomed French cultural leaders to our NY headquarters — within the next month, we'll host @MuseeOrsay President Christophe Leribault, @MNGBS President Hervé Lemoine, @MuseeLouvre President Laurence des Cars, & @CentrePompidou President Laurent Le Bon. [18/20]

Across the US, from Marfa, TX to Alaska, @villa_albertine has initiated numerous partnerships with American institutions that will give creators & cultural leaders a primary role in renewing French-American ties and rethinking our contemporary challenges. [19/20]

I couldn't be happier about our first 6 months and look forward to what we can do in the next 6 and beyond. Stay tuned! #MoreToCome #FilmsontheGreen #AlbertineFestival... [20/20]