FUSED: French U.S. Exchange in Dance

Overview

Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, is pleased to announce the 2025 call for applications for FUSED, its program supporting contemporary dance.  

This call for application applies to projects taking place between May 1st, 2025, and August 31st, 2026.

Since its inception in 2004, FUSED fosters collaborative initiatives between France- and U.S.- based artists in contemporary dance by allocating grants to nonprofit venues. Over the past twenty years, FUSED has provided more than $2 million dollars to 222 projects, showcasing the cultural and artistic diversity of contemporary scenes in France and the United States. 

In 2024, the program expanded its scope by offering the opportunity for a French organization to host a U.S. artist-in-residence for a collaborative project with a French artist. 

This year, the grant is expanding to support large format works that are emblematic of the French contemporary scene.  

The Albertine Grants FUSED are made possible thanks to the support of the French Ministry of Culture and the Institut français, and the generous support of Denise Littlefield Sobel. 

For more information on the projects selected last year, please click HERE. 

Learn more about the eligibility and application requirements below.

Two Types of Grants

TOURING GRANTS

This grant supports tours, series, or presentations of large-scale productions of French productions in the U.S. and presentations of U.S. productions at major international festivals in France.  

• A tour must include at least two different U.S. venues that are financially involved. 
• A series consists of a minimum of seven consecutive performances in the same venue OR of multiple works by the same choreographer that form a thematic focus. 
• A large-scale production involves a minimum of 10 performers on stage and can be considered even if presented by only one presenter. 

CREATIVE GRANTS

This grant supports the development of French-American productions in contemporary dance including:  

• Dance productions featuring France-based choreographers collaborating with U.S.-based dance companies. 
• Dance productions involving the collaboration between a France-based company and a U.S.-based choreographer. 
• Dance residencies involving an artist from France and from the U.S. 

Please note that French or France-based artists seeking an exploratory/research residency in the United States are encouraged to apply to the 2026 Villa Albertine residency program.  

Eligibility Criteria

These grants are intended for presenting organizations. Applications from dance companies will be considered only in exceptional cases. 

FOR BOTH GRANTS

Applicants must demonstrate a clear artistic and financial commitment towards the project. 

Only nonprofit organizations are eligible. Individual artists are not eligible to apply.   

• U.S. applicants must demonstrate their 501(c)(3) status granted by the IRS. 
• French organizations must provide proof of nonprofit status. 

Projects must involve active collaboration between artists and organizations from both two countries : 

• American applicants must present a project that involves France-based artists or a performance that is co-produced by a major French cultural institution. 
• French applicants must present a project that involves a U.S.-based choreographer (for touring grants) or a collaboration between U.S.- and France- based artists (including a light designer, a sound engineer, or a dramaturge) (for creative grants). 

Projects must take place between May 1st, 2025, and August 31st, 2026.  

Artistic Criteria:  

• The focus is on contemporary and innovative projects.  
• Priority will be given to projects that involve artists whose work has rarely been seen in the partner country. 
• Projects should involve artists whose work reflects the diversity of the French and/or U.S. contemporary artistic scene. 

FOR TOURING GRANTS

Priority will be given to projects presented sequentially at a minimum of two distinct venues within the United States (applicants must provide letters of commitment). 

For a series or large-scale productions, the application can be considered for a single venue. 

Funding Details

Creative and Touring Grants support up to 50% of project costs, covering expenses such as housing, per diem, travel, visa fees, and equipment rentals related to the production, with the following limits:  

• $20,000 maximum for Creative Grants  
• $15,000 maximum for Touring Grants  
• Grants cannot cover operating and front-of-the-house expenses of the presenting organization. 
• Grants cannot support publications, the production or presentation of dance films, or teaching residences. 
• The budget must include artist fees.  

Calendar & Application

THE 2025 FUSED APPLICATION IS OPEN
For projects taking place between September 1, 2025 & August 31, 2026.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2025
Results will be announced end of April 2025

Partners & Sponsors

In 2024, FUSED receives funding from:

Institut français
French Ministry of Culture
Private Donors

Contact

Louise Dodet | Program Officer
performingarts@albertinefoundation.org