Contours

About the Open Call

The Regional Department for Cultural affairs of the Île-de-France region, the TRAM network, and the Cité internationale des arts have developed Contours, a research-based residency programme aimed at curators and/or art critics working and residing outside of France and its overseas departments, within the European Union. Initiated in 2024, the aim of this programme is to support research and to facilitate mobility and encounters with the French artistic and curatorial art scene, while also supporting projects that can benefit from the community environment provided by the Cité internationale des arts. The partners are committed to supporting the curators by offering them dedicated support related to their research and providing them with professional networking opportunities in the Île-de-France region. Following this call for applications and the reunion of a jury, two curators and/or art critics will be selected. The residency From November 3rd of 2025 to January 28th of 2026 , two curators/and or art critics will be welcomed and supported in the framework of a research-based residency programme. A final report will be required at the end of the residency. The curators and/or art critics will be welcomed in live-in studios located on the Marais site of the Cité internationale des arts, a residency center that provides an opportunity to meet and engage in dialogue with over 300 artists and creators from the art world of all generations, nationalities and disciplines. The Cité internationale is also a member of the TRAM network, an association of spaces involved in the production and dissemination of contemporary art in the Île-de-France region, and its programme of open studios, exhibitions, installations, festivals and meetings is mostly activated on the Marais site. With a surface area ranging from 25 to 40m², the live-in studios are organized for research and daily life. They are composed of a working space, a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom space. A live-in studio can accommodate up to two adults and a child up to 10 years old. Additional charges apply for accompanying persons and visitors. Unfortunately, the proposed residency conditions do not meet the current standards of accessibility for people with disabilities, and we are working on this for the future. For any request concerning the accessibility of the spaces of the Cité internationale des arts, we are at your disposal. DRAC Île-de-France The Regional Direction of Cultural Affairs of Île-de-France implements the Ministry of Culture’s policy across the entire Île-de-France region. This territory, with its many facets and strong dynamics, falls under the mission of the DRAC Île-de-France, which aims to bring culture closer to all residents in both urban and rural areas by supporting various sectors of creation and heritage. The Visual Arts Department, within the Regional Service of Creation, supports six art centers labeled as of national interest, a Regional Contemporary Art Fund (FRAC), and contemporary art dissemination spaces grouped under the TRAM network. It also provides support to artists through individual creation grants, studio installation aid, artistic commission programmes, and artist residency programmes. For this project, it partners with the Cité internationale des arts in collaboration with the TRAM network to promote international exchanges, facilitate networking between contemporary art professionals, host foreign curators in the region, and enhance the visibility of the Île-de-France art scene. TRAM Network TRAM is an association that has been bringing together spaces dedicated to the production and dissemination of contemporary art in Île-de-France since 1981. Today, with 35 members, it showcases the vitality and richness of artistic creation in the region. These include art centers, museums, art schools, artist collectives, foundations, FRAC (regional contemporary art collections), which carry out complementary actions such as production, dissemination, collection, teaching, mediation, publishing, and amateur practices, among others. TRAM’s missions are aimed at both the general public and visual arts professionals. The network facilitates access to contemporary art through walking tours – RandoTram – and bus tours – TaxiTram – inviting curious visitors of all ages to discover the programs of member art spaces across Île-de-France. These visits offer opportunities to meet artists, curators, and professional teams at the venues. TRAM is also committed to promoting its members’ events and initiatives. The network serves as a resource for member organizations, encouraging the sharing of information and experiences while supporting exemplary professional practices. In addition, the network plays an active role in structuring the visual arts sector in Île-de-France. The expertise and skills developed by its members are shared with all cultural stakeholders in the region – including artists, local cultural services, elected officials, and spaces for artistic creation and dissemination – through professional days, informational webinars, exchange sessions, and by providing professional resources on its website. The association will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2026 – a chance to reaffirm its vital and unifying role in the Île-de-France visual arts scene. Cité internationale des arts The Cité internationale des arts is an artists’ residency centre that brings together artists in the heart of Paris and allows them to implement a creative or research project in all disciplines. For periods of two months to a year, in the Marais or in Montmartre, the Cité internationale des arts allows artists to work in an environment conducive to creation and open to meetings with professionals from the cultural milieu. Artists in residence benefit from customised support from the Cité internationale des arts team and the opportunity to meet and exchange with more than 300 artists and art professionals of all generations, nationalities, and disciplines. In collaboration with its many partners, the Cité internationale des arts calls for applications on specific themes and/or projects several times a year.

What is Offered

Professional support, networking opportunities, and encounters organized by the programme's partners. A live-in studio at the Cité internationale des arts in the Marais district, which consists of a single furnished space for both living and working. A monthly living stipend of €1000 net of taxes. Coverage of research fees and international round-trip travel to and from Paris airports, as well as travel insurance and visa fees (subject to a cap and upon presentation of proofs of payment).

Requirements

The programme has no age limit and is open to curators and/or art critics of all nationalities who live outside of France, within the European Union, and can justify at least five years of experience in curatorial practices (minimum of two exhibitions curated and two publications in referenced art media), looking to immerse themselves within the artistic community of the Cité internationale des arts and the Parisian art scene. Collective applications are eligible.

How to Apply

All practical details and information are available below (please review these carefully before submitting your application). If you are unable to access the online registration form, please contact the Residency Department of the Cité internationale des arts at this email address: admissions@citedesartsparis.fr How to apply ? Eligibility and selection criteria The programme has no age limit and is open to curators and/or art critics of all nationalities who live outside of France, within the European Union, and can justify at least five years of experience in curatorial practices (minimum of two exhibitions curated and two publications in referenced art media), looking to immerse themselves within the artistic community of the Cité internationale des arts and the Parisian art scene. Collective applications are eligible and will result in the allocation of one live-in studio, the payment of one monthly stipend, one research and travel allowance. The applications will be examined by a jury composed of representatives of the partners of the programme. In addition to assessing the professional background, the members of the jury will pay particular attention to the relevance of the application and the research project presented, the argumentation of the added value of the prospect of a research-based residency in the Île-de-France region and at the Cité internationale des arts, the proposed research and work programme and the contacts or partnerships already established with a view to developing the residency research project. Application documents The application form is available HERE. To submit your application, a Google account is required. If you do not have one, please create one HERE. If you are unable to access the application form, you can contact the residency department of the Cité internationale des arts at this address : admissions@citedesartsparis.fr Once your application is finalized, you will not be able to modify it. Please fill out the form as thoroughly as possible. When filling out the form, you will be required to upload the following documents: • A detailed resume (4 pages maximum), in French or English • A portfolio presenting recent curatorial projects (15 pages maximum), in French or English • A note of intent (maximum 3 pages), in French or English, in which you explain the reasons behind your approach and your interest in joining the residency programme. Please explain why your current research justifies the need for this residency in the Île-de-France region and at the Cité internationale des arts, from the perspectives of your research, your trajectory and your professional network (maximum 3 pages). Recommendation letters can be shared and are optional. Collective applications give rise to a single application in the name of all curators, for a common project.