In the field of theatre, street arts, circus and puppetry, the Ministry of Culture develops the regulation of initial and higher education. It supports the creation via a network of labeled places, thanks to the financial support of independent teams and the development of multidisciplinary dissemination networks. It also supports the structuring of professions and employment, and contributes to the development of artistic and cultural education and amateur practices.
spread over the whole territory
theatre, circus, street arts and puppets are supported each year by the Ministry of Culture
attended the 403 performances given by national theatres during the 2020-2021 season (covid period)
Even before the creation of the Ministry of Culture in 1959, France had instigated a vast movement of theatrical decentralization, whose flagship idea – making creation accessible to as many people as possible – would become one of the cardinal missions of the State’s cultural policy. In the field, this movement has resulted in an exceptional network of scenes and equipment. These labeled places strongly structured the theatrical life of the entire territory.
Today, France counts 4 national theatres, including 1 in the regions, 38 national drama centres, 13 national centres for street arts and public spaces, 14 national circus hubs and 7 national puppet centresall essential places of creation in France. A large multidisciplinary network, primarily devoted to dissemination (77 structures labeled national scene, more than 100 scenes of national interest) complements the activity of the places of production to offer a unique set of structures that radiate the performing arts throughout the territory Financed by the State and local authorities, these structures provide missions of general interest of creation, production and distribution to all audiences, even those furthest from the cultural offer.
Vitality in the fields of theatre, circus, street arts and puppetry is based on the complementarity between production/ distribution structures and independent artistic teams. The Ministry of Culture supports more than 600 independent teams each year, through multi-year agreements or project support to produce their show. Followed by the Regional Directors of Cultural Affairs, these teams are essential to the renewal of aesthetics and allow the emergence of new artists. They are supported by the structures of labeled networks that can produce, disseminate and sometimes involve them in their project. Consistent with their creative activity, these companies are engaged in artistic and cultural education and cultural action with the most diverse audiences and can also benefit from residency assistance.
The structuring of the performing arts and the attention to the path of artists - from training to the end of career - are among the major issues of public policy of the Ministry of Culture. Training in performing arts and the professional integration of young artists is an important part of it. Prior to entry into higher schools, preparatory classes, integrated or not, and «second chance» classes are set up in the territories, in order to ensure that all profiles of candidates integrate these training of excellence. Various insertion mechanisms accompany the entry into the professional life of all young artists from these higher schools.
There are 12 graduate schools of drama, present throughout the territory and for five of them linked to national drama centres, one to a national theatre, that of Strasbourg; 3 circus collegesincluding the Centre National des Arts du Cirque in Châlons-en-Champagne; a national school of puppetry arts, located Charleville-Mézières. The Ministry of Culture also funds the FAI-AR, arts training in public space, located in Marseille and unique in Europe. All of these courses are internationally recognized for the quality of the courses taught.
The third and final year of training for students of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mézières is devoted to creation. Discover the solo exercises of the 13th promotion entitled "Solstice", from...
The third and final year of training for students of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mézières is devoted to creation. Discover the solo exercises of the 13th promotion entitled "Solstice", from...
Before the opening of Paris 2024, the Cultural Olympiad illustrates, with brilliance and creativity, the strength of the links between sport and culture. The last episode of our series takes us to the Volcan, the Scène nationale du Havre,...
Before the opening of Paris 2024, the Cultural Olympiad illustrates, with brilliance and creativity, the strength of the links between sport and culture. The last episode of our series takes us to the Volcan, the Scène nationale du Havre,...
With one year to go until the opening of Paris 2024, the Cultural Olympiad intends to change the way we look at disability through the prism of fifteen artistic projects, each one more exciting than the last. On the occasion of the International...
With one year to go until the opening of Paris 2024, the Cultural Olympiad intends to change the way we look at disability through the prism of fifteen artistic projects, each one more exciting than the last. On the occasion of the International...
Artcena and Spring – International Festival of New Circus Forms in Normandy, led by the Plateforme 2 poles Cirque en Normandie La Brèche in Cherbourg and the Cirque-Théâtre...
The SUBS support contemporary creation by hosting thirty artistic teams in residence each season. Theatre, dance, music, circus, visual and digital arts… all the diversity...
