Visual arts

The plastic arts

Under the authority of the Regional Director of Cultural Affairs, the Visual Arts Advisor implements State policy at the regional level - Ministry of Culture - in the field of the most current creation clearly inscribed in the field of contemporary art. Its missions operate on three registers:

• support for dissemination and support for creation, including support for artists; 140 private and public aid for artists
• the public order
• the training.

The counsellor examines grant applications, monitors the activity of art centres and assesses and diagnoses these structures.

These actors, in accordance with the terms of reference of the missions and tasks of the art centres and institutions of contemporary art (see the circularImplement a multi-annual arts and culture project that results in monitoring and evaluation. Fonds régional d'art contemporain Nord - Pas-de-Calais, located in Dunkirk, and the Picardie Regional Contemporary Art Fund, based in Amiens, have three missions:

• constitute a collection of contemporary art
• to develop artistic life through a policy of diffusion and a substantial number of loans
• in line with its partnerships, develop public awareness programmes throughout the year and contribute, through its resources and experience, to qualify regional arts education policy.

Finally, they provide technical advice or support to regional projects, contribute to the development of a living and supportive network of initiatives and stimulate operations aimed at promoting contemporary creation. Each year between six and eight grants are granted for one-off projects.

The consultant provides expertise, information and advice to creators in order to facilitate their professional, artistic and economic integration. The DRAC allocates two types of aid to plastic artists and designers based in Hauts-de-France:

Individual support for creation aims to foster artistic research in all areas of contemporary creation. It is not intended for the exhibition or the publication of a catalogue or monograph. The amount of the allowance is calculated according to the nature of the project and the expenses necessary for its realization and may not exceed 8000 €.

Installation and equipment purchase allowance  allows artists to improve the layout of their current studio that they own or rent or the acquisition of equipment necessary for the practice of their artistic activity in all areas of the visual arts. This allowance may not exceed 50% of the total amount of the work or the purchase of equipment.

The Counsellor is the rapporteur of these requests to the regional working groups which meet once a year for instruction.

It also gives technical opinions on the aid schemes implemented by the Centre National des Arts Plastiques to designers and plastic artists and professionals:

• research grants for the development of a project in France or abroad

• Exceptional allowance for artists with financial difficulties

• aid to publishers, aid to galleries for an artist’s first exhibition, aid to the first catalogue....

Finally, it coordinates the opinions of the various advisers of the Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs (live entertainment and audiovisual cinema) on the projects submitted under the procedure for examining the Device for Multimedia Artistic Creation: the DICRéAM

The public order

The national public order is the expression of the will of the State, associated with multiple partners, (local authorities, public institutions or private partners), to participate in the development of the national heritage while contributing to the enrichment of the living environment or the requalification of public spaces, the revaluation of the practices of the inhabitants and the dynamisation of the territorial policies.

The Visual Arts Advisor animates and coordinates the regional public order process in accordance with the national procedure and in liaison with the Direction générale de la création artistique (DGCA), they report on the implementation of programmes and ensure that artistic excellence, cultural impact and the involvement of local stakeholders are properly matched.

• The 1% artistic is a device which consists in devoting a financing of 1% of the construction cost to the commission or acquisition of one or more works of art specifically designed for the building in question.

Within an artistic committee, the DRAC relays the development of programs and ensures compliance with legislation.

Arts education

In consultation with the Permanent Mission for Inspection, Advice and Evaluation of Arts Education, the service of the visual arts accompanies the functioning of the network of art schools under tutelage of the Ministry of culture and communication and encourages the partnerships of contents and collaborations between these three institutions and the National Studio of Contemporary Arts - Le Fresnoy.

Networking of higher education institutions is one of the essential links in regional artistic life.

Today, in accordance with the recommendations of the L.M.D reform and the accreditation of diplomas granted by theAgency for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (AERES). Related to the National Council for Higher Education and Research – CNESER, these schools deliver masters in the field of art, communication and design:

- Cambrai College of Art and Communication

- École régionale supérieure d’art Nord – Pas-de-Calais Dunkerque – Tourcoing

- University of Art and Design in Valenciennes

- Amiens College of Art and Design