AOCA – Appui aux opérateurs culturels en Afrique 2027

AOCA is a programme of the Institut français that supports cultural operators and artists based on the African continent by supporting creative projects, touring and dissemination initiatives, as well as events taking place in Africa that contribute to strengthening cultural ecosystems and fostering international cooperation. The programme supports projects that reinforce international cultural dynamics across the African continent and encourage collaboration between African artists and cultural operators, the French cultural network abroad, and French cultural stakeholders. This scheme is open to the following project holders for projects taking place between March and December 2027: • African cultural institutions or organisations based in Africa carrying out a creative project, a touring or dissemination project, or organising an international event taking place in Africa. • The French cultural network abroad (Embassies' Cultural Services, Instituts français, Alliances Françaises, and binational cultural centres). Projects that are not led by the French cultural network abroad must be accompanied by a letter of support issued by a member of the French cultural network abroad (Embassies' Cultural Services, Instituts français, Alliances Françaises, or binational cultural centres). The programme covers the following disciplines: Visual Arts, Digital Creation, Photography, Music, Theatre, Dance, Street Arts, Circus, and Puppetry. AOCA supports the following types of projects: • Regional touring. AOCA may support tours and travelling exhibitions by African artists across the African continent. * Tours must include at least 5 performances in a minimum of 3 African countries (excluding the applicant's country of residence), and at least 3 performances must be organised in partnership with an Institut français or an Alliance Française. * Travelling exhibitions must include at least 3 venues in a minimum of 3 African countries (excluding the applicant's country of residence), and at least 3 related activities must be organised in partnership with an Institut français or an Alliance Française (such as exhibitions, conferences, training workshops, etc.). • Events. AOCA may support two types of events: * Festivals, biennials, or similar events featuring artists or companies from at least 3 African countries (excluding the applicant's country of residence). * Festivals, biennials, or similar events featuring at least 2 French artists or companies and at least 2 African artists or companies. • Creation and artistic collaboration. AOCA may support two types of projects: * Creative projects bringing together artists from at least 3 African countries (excluding the applicant's country of residence). * Artistic collaboration or co-production projects between an African artistic team and one or more French artists, companies, or cultural organisations. The selection criteria are set out in the regulations governing grants awarded by the Institut français (Section 2 – AOCA Grant Guidelines, Sheet 2). Particular attention will be paid to: Particular attention will be paid to projects highlighting younger generations, emerging artistic scenes, and new artistic practices in the field of contemporary African creation. Applicants are also encouraged to adopt an environmentally responsible approach in the implementation of their projects, for example by allowing longer engagement periods at each tour stop, combining performances with audience discussions, workshops, training sessions, or other complementary activities. As part of France's feminist diplomacy, the Institut français encourages institutions within the French cultural network and their partner organisations to actively address these issues. Applicants are therefore requested to describe their policy promoting gender equality. Particular attention will be paid to projects that take gender issues into account: projects led by women cultural operators, projects highlighting women artists, and projects promoting gender diversity and equality. Applicants may use artificial intelligence tools to improve the drafting and presentation of applications. However, they remain responsible for ensuring that their proposals retain their originality and distinctive identity. Application deadline: 30 October 2026 (11:59 p.m. CET) Selection committee: February 2027