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AUSTRALIA FRANCE FOUNDATION
Introduction
What is the Australia France Foundation?
The Australia France Foundation is a public trust fund established in 1989 as the major element of Australia’s official contribution to the celebration of the Bicentenary of the French Revolution and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
The AFF was established both to provide a long-term means of strengthening links between Australia and France, and to promote knowledge of Australia in France across the broadest possible range of activities, including the arts, science and technology, Australian studies and sport.
The Foundation is administered through the Australian Embassy in Paris.
What are the aims of the AFF?
The AFF aims to provide a long term means of strengthening the cultural, academic, scientific and technological links between France and Australia, and to improve knowledge and understanding of Australia in France, by encouraging exchange in a wide range of fields. The AFF is a program under the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, designed to project a positive image of Australia internationally. It is expected that most projects will take place in France.
What is the financial status of the AFF?
The Foundation was established with an initial contribution of $A1.1 million by the Australian Government. The Foundation has an annual budget of A$53 000 drawn from the interest on this investment. The Foundation welcomes capital contribution and /or sponsorship of particular activities to augment its budget.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for the development of the Australia France Foundation.
What kind of activities are supported by the Foundation?
• Building links between Australia and France
• Broadening knowledge of Australia in France.
Links
The Foundation aims to foster links between Australian and French institutions and individuals in the broadest possible range of activities, such as science, technology, visual and performing arts, media, literature, design and architecture – indeed, in any field which could contribute to the purpose of the Foundation.
Applications under this program will be assessed on the basis of the following guidelines:
• the project will be of a substantial benefit to Australia;
• the exchange is likely to contribute to the development of ongoing contact between individuals or institutions in the particular field;
• whenever possible the proposal will broaden or extend contact with other relevant organisations or individuals in addition to any host organization.
In assessing applications, priority will be given to those individuals and organisations that are establishing a link for the first time, and to those projects demonstrating either a training component or the transfer of technology.
Only under exceptional circumstances will applications be accepted for programs already in progress, or for which funding would be available from another source.
Applicants should have language skills appropriate to the requirements of their proposal. In submitting a request for funding, applicants should be mindful that the Foundation seeks to support as many appropriate projects as possible from a limited budget of A$53 000. Generally speaking, most grants are between A$2 000 - $8 000.
Knowledge
This program is designed to improve awareness of Australia in any of the fields already indicated. It can include the provision of assistance for:
• Translations particularly in areas where few translations exist (such as non-fiction and drama). Proposals for translations will however need to demonstrate commitment from a publisher;
• Resource collections such as provision of materials in specialist areas relating to Australia;
• Exhibitions;
• Performing arts such as readings or master classes by prominent visiting Australian artists.
What kind of projects has the Australia France Foundation funded in the past?
The AFF has supported a broad range of projects, such as:
• The annual Australian Film Festival ‘Les Rencontres Internationales de Cinema des Antipodes’
• Funding for Slava and Leonard Grigoryan to perform at Les Invalides 2008
• « The Revenge of genres. Contemporary art from Australia » - an exhibition involving 22 artists living or working in Australia and responding to the notion of genres at the Cité Internationale des Arts 2008
• Funding for the contemporary art collective The Kingpins to perform at Playback at the Musee d’Art Contemporain de la Ville de Paris 2007
• contributing to the Australian Indigenous Art Commission of 10 monumental installations by 8 Indigenous Australian artists at the Musée du Quai Branly, June 2006
• Support for the Australian Dance Theatre’s performance of ‘Held’ at the Théâtre de la Ville in 2007 and 2005
• Funding the participation of Australian writers at the Comedie du Livre writers’ festival in Montpellier, May 2006
The AFF has also extended assistance towards several exhibitions at the Australian Embassy including the current exhibition ‘The Building as Muse – the creative collaboration of Max Dupain and Harry Seidler’ (January – April 2008)
What is the funding application procedure?
Under both the above programs applicants are required to:
• complete an application form;
• provide a detailed budget;
• provide a copy of the invitation from any host organisation, setting out details of the assistance the host is providing (where appropriate);
• provide references;
• submit a written report within one month of the conclusion of the project;
• acknowledge AFF assistance in all promotional material;
• undertake to abide by terms and conditions of the proposal as agreed between the applicant and the AFF.
To assist in assessing applications under these programs the AFF may, where it considers it desirable, contact the nominated referees or other experts in the concerned field.
Given the nature of the AFF, it is essential that proposals submitted be for work in a defined area and preferably limited period of time, and have an evident benefit to the bilateral relationship between Australia and France.
In response to an application, an offer may be made for alternative timing, duration, type or amount of funding. The applicant is not required to accept such alternatives.
Applications for funding under the AFF are assessed by a Committee from the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section, which makes recommendations to the Australian Ambassador on funding support. The decision of the AFF, which will be conveyed to applicants by the Director of the Foundation, will in all cases be final.
All enquires and funding applications should be addressed to:
Australia France Foundation
Australian Embassy
4, rue Jean Rey
75015 Paris
FRANCE
Tel +33 (0)1 40 59 34 61
Fax +33 (0)1 40 59 33 10
Or
Australia France Foundation
Australian Embassy Paris
Locked Bag 40
Kingston ACT 2604
AUSTRALIA
Does the AFF have any other role?
In association with the Public Affairs Section at the Australian Embassy in Paris, the Foundation promotes the appreciation and understanding of Australia in France by facilitating Australian participation in exhibitions, festivals, concerts, fairs and seminars. The Public Affairs Section provides advice to visiting Australian arts practitioners and administrators and access to relevant sections of the French administration and media to maximise publicity for Australian cultural product.
The AFF also seeks to promote awareness of Australian excellence in scientific, technological and medical research.
What is the Sadlier Stokes scholarship?
This is an annual scholarship awarded to a young person from Villers-Bretonneux, Bullecourt, Hendecourt, Fromelles or Le Hamel in the Somme region, where Australians fought during the First World War.
The value of the scholarship is €3,000.
(Last revised: 23 October 2006)