The cooperative residence project of the French National Furniture Management Center opens recruitment for Chinese designers and craftsmen.

![image.png] (https://imgs.the9c.com/2023/1010/190eb3dbfc4054c7d0dbac0e753b9eb5.png)

The French Embassy in Beijing cooperates with the French National Furniture Management Center (Mobilier national) to provide a three-month research stay in France for Chinese craftsmen or designers working in the field of contemporary art. With the support of the French Academy of Art, the candidates will carry out a research project in France in 2024 and learn more about the French National Furniture Management Hall.

On October 6, 2023, the recruitment of resident programs for Chinese craftsmen or designers created in the field of contemporary art was officially launched. The applicant's practice in China must be related to handicrafts and expects to carry out his research project through his presence in France in 2024.

The selection committee will be composed of representatives of resident project organizers and partners, as well as professionals in the field of Chinese design and handicrafts, who will be announced in the future. The candidates will have the opportunity to enter the workshops of the National Furniture Management Center and receive professional guidance during the research process. This stay will enable the candidates to obtain professional technical and artistic support in France, meet peer experts, and carry out technical exchanges between the two countries in this field.

The project, announced by the President of the French Republic during his state visit in April this year, aims to promote exchanges and cooperation between China and France in the field of arts and crafts. The project is also in line with the new strategic plan for the craft industry developed by the French Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of economy (the handicraft industry is the future industry as well as the arts industry) in order to promote the development of French institutions and French-specific handicrafts. The project is a cross-residency program, and a French artist will come to China in 2024 to learn about Chinese handicrafts and various workshops.

gain an in-depth understanding of a residence in the French craft industry

During their stay in France, candidates can visit the handicraft workshops and workshops of the French National Furniture Management Hall, learn about various technologies, meet with professionals and get guidance, so as to develop and complete their own projects.

The candidates will first go to learn about the French National Furniture Management Hall, as well as the various venues under its jurisdiction dedicated to the craft industry and its many activities. Two artisanal workshops, Gobland and Bowe, specialize in tapestry, while Savonari focuses on carpets, and the workshops of Le Pionvelle and Alanson are famous for lace production (ARC), which promotes French creativity and contemporary design. The seven restoration workshops are divided into different professional categories such as wood, metal and textiles. The French National Furniture Management Hall has a dyeing workshop, so it is also an excellent place for artistic creation around color, the digital color classification system N.I.M.E.S. More than 20000 wool colors are listed, which can be a valuable tool for working around colors.

Artists participating in the residency project will also visit iconic museums in France to fully experience the diversity of French handicrafts and craftsmanship, as well as visits outside Paris.

During their stay, the artist will also establish contacts with key figures in the field, including craftsmen, artists, art institutions and museum curators, heritage curators.

Various activities and meetings will bring resident artists a complete and diverse understanding of French handicrafts and help them complete their own projects.

The French Embassy in Beijing and the French National Furniture Management Hall hope to promote the exchange of craft industries between China and France through the project.

time node

• start-up project solicitation: October 6, 2023

• submission of project applications: due on November 8, 2023

• hold a selection meeting and announce the finalists: December 2023

• date of residence: three months, April to June or July to September 2024

• download the French and Chinese versions of the residency project solicitation documents from the French Culture official website: https://faguowenhua.com/zh/event/appel-a-projets-2024/*

• understand the process strategy of the French Ministry of Culture: https://www.culture.gouv.fr/Thematiques/Metiers-d-art/Les-metiers-d-art-en-France/La-politique-en-faveur-des-metiers-d-art*

• official website of the French National Furniture Management Center: https://www.mobiliernational.culture.gouv.fr/*