Romainville, France — There is a multi-sensorial installation work somewhere between a garden and an exhibition space offering the impression of a walk through a forest, embroidered works on the theme of migration, a series of sculptures echoing the 17 known and exploited rare earth elements and an alternative history of the greater Paris metropolitan region since medieval times through images, sketches and stories. These are among the works by seven visual artists who benefitted from a 25,000 euro grant from the regional government of the Ile-de-France, the greater Paris region. The exhibition, featuring young, emerging talents working in Paris and the Paris region is being held for the fifth time. 

The grants are awarded from the regional funds for emerging artists whose French acronym is FoRTE. The grants aim to make Paris and the Paris region attractive once again to young French and international artists. A worthy goal given that Paris has been a hotbed of artistic creation for centuries with the artists of Montmartre and Montparnasse coming to mind. A collective show of the art works by the visual artist FoRTE grant winners is being held in the Frac art center of the greater Paris region in Romainville featuring paintings, installation works, sculptures and collages by the awardees. 

Created in 2017 by the greater Paris region, the FoRTE grants are open to artists of all nationalities whose only obligation is to create their work in Paris or the greater Paris region and be accompanied by a professional entity. The program gives the emerging artists, age 18 to 30, the financial and material means to create a first work in the visual arts, cinema, music or the theatrical arts. FoRTE is endowed with one million euros each year and the winners benefit from a grant of 2500 euros each month for 10 months. Since its inception, over 200 visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, choreographers and stage directors have received the support of FoRTE. Calling all candidates. Applications for the 7th session of FoRTE are open until December 15th. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette. https://www.iledefrance.fr/aides-services. forte@iledefrance.fr Exhibition until December 16th and free of charge at the Frac, 43 Rue de la Commune de Paris, 93230 Romainville, Tel » + 33 (0) 1 76 21 13 33. https://www.fraciledefrance.com/