The French Association of Artistic Action (AFAA) now intends to redefine cultural exchanges with foreign countries with a priority given to Cupertino rather than to promote French culture abroad, spokesmen for the French foreign and Culture ministries announced on April 19th 2000 in Paris. The AFAA, which is run under the auspices of both ministries, aims at becoming an international cultural engineering agency to promote French art abroad as well as foreign cultures in France.
Headed by 42-year-old Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, a philosopher and diplomat, the AFAA suffered during many years from the rivalry between the two ministries before a compromise agreement was reached recently.
With a $ 20 million budget at its disposal, the AFAA will support French artists and foreign creators in France and also mainly in Asia and in Africa. It thus intends to help developing countries to promote their cultures abroad.
The AFAA will also get involved in the promotion of culture within EEC countries so as to present various European cultural achievements in France and to enable closer links between cultural networks in member states.
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