Life on the 5th floor
Historic studios for creation and collaboration
At the crossroads of disciplines and cultures
Joining the Fondation des États-Unis means far more than gaining access to a studio or workspace in Paris. It means becoming part of a community of artists and intellectuals in which collaboration, exchange, and shared experience are at the heart of everyday life. The residency offers a unique living environment conducive to reflection, experimentation, and creative freedom, while encouraging encounters between artists from diverse disciplines.
Living at the FEU as an artist in residence means evolving within a dynamic and stimulating environment. Artists on the 5th floor benefit from workspaces tailored to their practice and from a context that fosters artistic innovation. Residents also have the opportunity to present their work in the FEU’s prestigious venues, where dialogue between artists and audiences is built over time through concerts, exhibitions, and performances.
Yearly program overview
Beginning of the year
The year begins in October with a dinner bringing together the Fondation des États-Unis team, the artists in residence, and a number of alumni. This moment of exchange provides an opportunity to present projects, answer questions, and meet the administrative team.
Throughout the year
The Culture team supports artists in the development of both individual and collective projects. Through cultural partnerships and specific FEU initiatives, artists may be invited to present their work as part of the FEU’s institutional programming.
Highlights of the residency
Scholarship recipients are guaranteed the opportunity to develop an individual project within the framework of the 5th Floor Scholar Series. Other artists in residence commit to participating in at least one project led by the FEU during the year. The FEU supports all artistic proposals and actively encourages collaborative initiatives among residents of the 5th floor.
End of the year
The residency year concludes with a convivial dinner bringing together the artists in residence, the FEU team, and the year’s collaborators. This shared moment provides an opportunity to celebrate the projects carried out, reflect on the experiences lived, and strengthen bonds within the community.
FAQ
-
At the conclusion of the application phase, shortlisted artists are invited to a final online interview with the Culture team of the Fondation des États-Unis. This exchange provides an opportunity to answer candidates’ questions and to present the administrative arrangements of the residency.
Once admitted, each artist is put in contact with the Cultural Program Manager in order to prepare their stay, address practical questions, and connect with artists currently in residence, who share their experience of life on the 5th floor.
The Fondation offers studios ranging from 10 to 30 square meters, with either private or shared bathroom facilities, as well as a shared kitchen located on the 5th floor and in the FEU common areas.
Studio allocation is determined according to the artistic discipline, materials and technical requirements, scholarship status, and whether the residency is a first stay or a renewal. -
Artists may apply for an additional year on the 5th floor. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee that evaluates the quality of the proposed project, the artist’s level of engagement during the previous year, professionalism, and involvement in the life of the Fondation des États-Unis.
Artists whose residency is renewed are invited to propose a larger-scale project, encouraging the participation of other artists in residence.
-
Cultural outings
Several times each semester, the Fondation des États-Unis organizes group outings with the Culture team, such as exhibition visits, concerts, performances, or cultural events. These moments allow artists to discover the Parisian cultural scene and to develop their professional network.
Off-site opportunities
The Culture team is committed to seeking opportunities for off-site presentations, with the aim, whenever possible, of offering one dedicated opportunity for visual artists and one for musicians. While such opportunities cannot be guaranteed, the FEU makes every effort to provide artists with expanded professional visibility.
-
The Grand Salon and the Balcony
Artists in residence may be invited to present their work in the emblematic spaces of the Fondation des États-Unis, notably the Grand Salon and the Balcony, depending on the nature of the projects and the annual program.
Depending on the project, the FEU may also make other spaces within its building and across the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris campus available. -
If you have any questions about the residency or how to apply, please write to : apply@fondationdesetatsunis.org
“It is with immense gratitude that I thankthe Fondation des États-Unis who made possible an extraordinary and transformative year as a Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Scholar studying in Paris. As a professional violinist, it has been mygoal to live in Paris to explore my interests in French culture and language, strengthen my musicalconnections, and to develop new skills in concert curation and art installation that will translate tomy professional and personal life. I am incredibly grateful for the life-changing impact through themission of the FEU that created connections for a lifetime. Putting into practice the values ofcultural diplomacy through music and interdisciplinary collaboration are ones that I will promote forthe rest of my career.”
