Each student, from 3rd to 5th year and up to two years after obtaining their DNSAP, benefits from a professional life support scheme. This programme is supported by Sisley. Under the name ‘Via Futura’, and in conjunction with various professional players, this scheme comprises a number of actions:
THEMED WORKSHOPS
Students and recent graduates are offered around twenty 1.5-hour themed workshops, which enable them to tackle a particular subject in a way that combines presentation and discussion. Topics covered include: ‘Creating a portfolio’, ‘Residencies’, ‘The status of artist-author’, ‘Creating an artists’ collective’, etc.
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
Each student is offered a one-to-one meeting with a qualified professional to help with any problems they may encounter during their training (creating a SIRET number, changing tax status, tax and social security declarations, etc.). It is also open to young artist graduates with new questions. Other one-to-one meetings are available to discuss portfolios, communication and advice on responding to calls for projects.
PROFESSIONAL VISITS
Professional visits are organised to well-known contemporary art venues outside the School. These provide an opportunity to meet potential future contacts as well as to present different professions and their implications. These meetings may coincide with visits to exhibitions and discussions with artists, curators, etc.
FLASH PRO
A fortnightly professional newsletter is designed and distributed to all students and recent graduates. It features a number of calls for projects, providing information on prizes, grants, residencies and job offers available to young artists. Flash pro is accompanied by a diary listing the closing dates for the calls for applications sent out in the newsletter.
CRUSH
An annual presentation of the work of volunteer 4th and 5th year students in the Cour vitrée, aimed at art professionals (curators, critics, galleries, etc.) by appointment for around ten days in March, is supported by Rubis Mécénat. To help the students in this exercise, two or three renowned curators are hired to accompany them in the presentation of their work. Specific professional workshops are organised to support students in their contacts with professionals.
CONVIVIAL GET-TOGETHERS
A ‘Café-atelier’ is offered as part of the artistic practice workshops, designed as a convivial group meeting (3 workshops per year). It consists of students from two or three workshops getting together with the workshop leaders to talk about their professional development.
