Created in 1982 as a joint initiative between the French government and the regions as part of Act I of the decentralisation policies, the Regional Contemporary Art Funds (Frac) are a unique cultural model, recognised both in France and abroad.
Their mission is clear: to build a collection of contemporary art in each region, make it accessible to as many people as possible, and support artists at every stage of their career. Their expertise has been recognised with the award of the ‘Frac’ label, which has been enshrined in the Law on Freedom of Creation, Architecture and Heritage (LCAP) since 2016.
Today, 22 Frac are spread across the country (21 in mainland France and 1 in Réunion), with a threefold objective: to collect, disseminate and transmit. The Frac are public facilities, at the crossroads of creation, education and cultural democracy. They place contemporary art at the heart of local life, building bridges between artists and citizens. Flexible, mobile and responsive, they form a network that is unique in the world, capable of acting on both a local and international scale.
FRAC IN FIGURES
- 22 FRACs in France, including 21 in mainland France
- Over 2 million visitors per year An average of 660 exhibitions per year, 75% of which are held outside the FRAC
- More than 3,500 outreach activities per year
- More than 57,000 works in the collections
- More than 6,000 artists represented, 51% of whom are from the French scene
- 350 employees
