Fluxus Art Projects

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £100,000
• Success Rate: Approximately 10% (20 projects funded from ~200 applications estimated)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £10,000 per project
• Geographic Focus: Franco-British (France and UK only)

Contact Details

• Website: https://fluxusartprojects.com
• Email: isabelle.manci@institut-francais.org.uk, fluxusartp@gmail.com
• Phone: 0207 0731 342
• Application Enquiries: faustine.pallezbeauchamp@institut-francais.org.uk

Overview

Fluxus Art Projects is a Franco-British charity founded in 2010 by the Institut français du Royaume-Uni to support contemporary art exchanges between France and the UK. With annual giving of approximately £100,000, the organization has supported more than 150 exciting and innovative contemporary artists since its inception, including notable names such as Anthea Hamilton, Ryan Gander, Laure Prouvost, Neil Beloufa, Marguerite Humeau, and Lucy Skaer. Operating on a public-private model, Fluxus is supported by major cultural institutions including the Institut français, French Ministry of Culture, British Council, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, and Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The organization's strategic approach emphasizes supporting emerging visual artists and curators at key moments in their international careers, with a particular focus on innovative practices and the production of new artworks. Hélène Nguyen-Ban has served as President since 2022, succeeding Catherine Petitgas who led the organization for over a decade.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Exhibition Support: £2,000 - £10,000 per project

• Supports exhibitions of France-based or French artists in the UK
• Supports exhibitions of UK-based or British artists in France
• Applications submitted online via bi-annual open calls
• Applications must be submitted by host institutions (not artists directly)

Curatorial Research Trips: £2,000 - £10,000 per trip

• Supports curators conducting research trips between France and UK
• Applications submitted directly by curators
• Rolling basis aligned with bi-annual deadlines

Magnetic Residencies: £2,100-£2,500 monthly stipend

• 2-3 month bilateral residency programme
• Includes accommodation, workspace, and curatorial mentoring
• Annual call for applications (May-July submission period)
• Tandem-based pairing of French regions with British nations

Fluxus-CPGA Prize: £15,000

• Awarded annually at Frieze London
• For French or France-based artists exhibiting at the fair
• Shared equally between artist and gallery
• Selection by expert jury (not application-based)

Fluxus Prize at Art Basel Paris: €15,000

• Awarded annually at Art Basel Paris
• For UK-based or British artists exhibiting at the fair
• Shared equally between artist and gallery
• Selection by expert jury (not application-based)

Priority Areas

• Contemporary visual arts with strong artistic ambition
• Emerging artists and curators at pivotal moments in their international careers
• Innovative practices and production of new artworks
• Active and fruitful collaborations between French and UK art sectors
• Professional artists who have already presented work in professional contemporary art venues
• Projects demonstrating cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning

What They Don't Fund

• Projects by or for students (except PhD candidates for Magnetic residencies)
• Joint or collective applications
• For-profit organizations
• Artists applying directly (except for Magnetic residencies; exhibition applications must come from host institutions)
• Projects outside the France-UK bilateral framework
• Commercial galleries or commercial projects

Ready to write a winning application for Fluxus Art Projects?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Chair: Hélène Nguyen-Ban

• Collector, gallerist, and CEO of Docent (a mobile art app)
• Member of Tate's International Council and Asia-Pacific Committee at Centre Pompidou
• Took over as President in 2022, succeeding Catherine Petitgas

Vice-Chairs:

• Véronique Parke (Art historian)
• Anne-Pierre d'Albis (Art historian and member of the artistic committee)

Board of Trustees

The organization benefits from a distinguished board including:

• Lizzie Carey-Thomas (Serpentine Galleries)
• Coline Milliard (Art Basel Executive Editor)
• Eva Langret (Frieze London Director)
• James Lingwood (Curator)

Governance Structure

Fluxus operates with:

• A Board of Directors overseeing organizational strategy
• An Artistic Committee that selects projects
• A Patrons' Circle that contributes almost a third of overall funds through tax-deductible donations
• Nine trustees, none of whom receive remuneration

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Exhibition Support and Curatorial Research Trips:

Applications are submitted online via the Fluxus Art Projects website and operate on a bi-annual cycle with fixed deadlines:

Round 1 (for projects January-June):

• Deadline: Mid-November of previous year (typically November 18, midnight)
• For exhibitions and curatorial trips occurring between January and June

Round 2 (for projects July-December):

• Deadline: Early May (typically May 5, midnight)
• For exhibitions and curatorial trips occurring between July and December

Application Requirements:

• All applications must be in English
• Exhibition applications submitted by host institutions (art centers, museums, cultural institutions, art education organizations, research centers, artist-run spaces, online projects, artist publications)
• Curatorial research trip applications submitted directly by curators
• Confirmation email should be sent to faustine.pallezbeauchamp@institut-francais.org.uk

For Magnetic Residencies:

• Application period: Late May to mid-July (typically May 20 - July 14)
• Selection committee interviews: First half of September
• Public announcement: Mid-October (typically October 17 during Frieze London)
• Requires artistic proposal and motivation statement
• Professional visual artists only (not open to students except PhD candidates)
• Must be based in specific regions/nations eligible for the tandem pairing

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The organization states it is beyond their capacity to respond to everyone individually. Applicants are advised that if they have not received an answer by a specified date (communicated after application), they should consider their application unsuccessful.

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not published, Fluxus supports approximately 20 exhibition and curatorial projects annually through their bi-annual calls, with around 12 exhibitions per year in France of UK artists' work. For Magnetic residencies, 10 artists are selected for the third edition (5 UK-based, 5 France-based).

Reapplication Policy

The organization does not provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants. There is no publicly stated restriction on reapplication in subsequent funding rounds, suggesting unsuccessful applicants may reapply. With bi-annual calls, organizations could potentially apply multiple times per year for different projects.

Application Success Factors

What Fluxus Values

Artistic Ambition: Selection criteria emphasize “artistic ambition within a professional practice rooted in contemporary visual arts.” Projects should demonstrate clear artistic vision and professional standards.

Innovation: Fluxus explicitly states it will “prioritize innovative practices and the production of new artworks.” Applications should highlight what is groundbreaking or experimental about the proposed project.

Cross-Cultural Relevance: Projects must demonstrate “active and fruitful collaborations between the art sectors in France and the United Kingdom.” The bilateral exchange should be meaningful and well-conceived.

Professional Standing: Applicants must be “professional artists working in the field of visual arts who have already presented their work in several professional venues identified by contemporary art networks.” Track record matters.

Contextual Fit: For Magnetic residencies specifically, "relevance of the proposal to the residency's context and focus" is a key criterion. Research the host institution thoroughly.

Examples of Funded Projects

Recent funded artists include:

• Jeremy Deller at FRAC Bretagne
• Zoe Williams at Fræme Marseille
• Tarek Lakhrissi at Flatland Projects
• Josèfa Ntjam at the Barbican
• Hamish Fulton, Joanna Piotrowska, Rebecca Warren, Rebecca Bellantoni & Rowdy SS, Roger Ackling, Liliane Lijn, and many others

The organization has also supported curatorial research trips by French curators Olivier Zeitoun and Flora Fettah.

Strategic Advice

Emphasize the “First Time” Factor: Fluxus specifically notes that “through Fluxus Art Projects, we are able to support around 12 exhibitions a year in France of work by UK artists, most of whom are showing their work in a French institution or arts space for the first time.” If this is a first showing in the partner country, highlight this prominently.

Demonstrate Institutional Quality: The host institution matters. Fluxus has supported projects at prestigious venues like the Barbican, FRAC Bretagne, and Serpentine Galleries. Institutional credibility strengthens applications.

Focus on Emerging Artists at Pivotal Moments: The stated mission is to support artists “at a key moment in their international career.” Applications should articulate why this particular moment and this particular cross-channel opportunity is strategically important for the artist's development.

Show Mutual Learning: The organization's mission statement emphasizes “collaboration, exchange, and mutual learning.” Applications should demonstrate how both the French and UK sides will benefit from the exchange.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Applications must come from institutions, not artists - Ensure the host organization (not the artist) submits exhibition proposals; only curators and Magnetic residency applicants apply directly
• Emphasize innovation and new work - Fluxus explicitly prioritizes innovative practices and new artistic production; proposals should highlight creative ambition
• Make the bilateral exchange meaningful - This isn't just about showing work abroad; demonstrate real cross-cultural collaboration and mutual benefit between French and UK art sectors
• Target emerging artists at career-defining moments - Fluxus focuses on supporting artists at pivotal points in their international careers, often their first institutional showing in the partner country
• Professional track record required - Artists must have already exhibited in professional contemporary art venues; this is not for early-career or student work (except PhD candidates)
• Plan ahead for bi-annual deadlines - With only two application windows per year (November and May), timing is critical; projects must fit within the six-month windows
• No individual feedback provided - Be prepared for a yes/no outcome with no detailed commentary; use this as motivation to make applications as strong as possible from the start

References

1. Fluxus Art Projects official website. Available at: https://fluxusartprojects.com

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales. “FLUXUS ART PROJECTS - Charity 1115982.” Register of Charities. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4024469

1. British Council France. “Fluxus Arts Project: a Franco-British fund for contemporary arts.” Available at: https://www.britishcouncil.fr/en/arts/emerging-artists/fluxus

1. Institut français du Royaume-Uni. “Fluxus Art Projects Open Call 2025.” Available at: https://www.institut-francais.org.uk/fluxus-art-projects-open-call-2025/

1. ArtReview. “Fluxus Art Projects announces 2023 laureates.” Available at: https://artreview.com/fluxus-art-projects-announces-2023-laureates/

1. Institut français. “Hélène Nguyen-Ban, President of the Franco-British Fluxus Art Projects Fund.” Available at: https://www.institutfrancais.com/en/magazine/interview/helene-nguyen-ban-president-of-the-franco-british-fluxus-art-projects-fund

1. Creative Scotland. “Fluxus Art Projects announces Magnetic 3 Laureates.” Available at: https://www.creativescotland.com/news-stories/latest-news/archive/2024/10/fluxus-art-projects-announces-magnetic-3-laureates

1. Institut français du Royaume-Uni. “Announcement of the FLUXUS-CPGA Prize at Frieze London and FLUXUS Prize at Art Basel Paris.” Available at: https://www.institut-francais.org.uk/announcement-of-the-fluxus-cpga-prize-at-frieze-london-and-fluxus-prize-at-art-basel-paris/

1. Cove Park. “Magnetic 2 Residencies.” Available at: https://covepark.org/open-call-for-applications-magnetic-2-residencies/