In February 2020, the aa-e launched a fundraising campaign to finance its French language course "learning French through art" and the renovation of its new premises…
The current unprecedented situation has changed the direction of its campaign.
Due to the lockdown, the aa-e faces a particularly alarming temporary financial situation between its pending grants for 2020 and its usual revenues (cessions and workshops) cancelled until further notice: many artists find themselves without any possibility of income.
The aa-e needs your help more than ever while waiting for its projects to restart.
Help the aa-e, relay the aa-e campaign!
Thank you!
History
Founded in January 2017 by Judith Depaule and Ariel Cypel, the agency for artists in exile (aa-e) moved a few months later to 102 rue des Poissonniers 75018 Paris, thanks to Emmaus Solidarité and SCI Poissonniers. In February 2018, the aa-e initiated a programme to learn French through art, developed by Elisabeth Bettencourt.
The aa-e accompanies more than 200 artists coming from 45 countries, from all fields (plastic arts, visual arts, performing arts and literature).
After two relocations in June and September 2019, the aa-e is settling for 3 years in the premises of la Ville de Paris, through an agreement with Emmaus Solidarité, at 6 rue d'Aboukir, 75002 Paris.
Why launch a fundraiser
1. To sustain the curriculum of teaching French through artThe professional structuring of artists in exile is inextricably linked to the rapid learning of the French language suited to the difficulties of each artist.
In order to ensure the continued loyalty of quality instructors, it is necessary to pay them.
The new premises of the aa-e are located on the 1st floor of the building formerly occupied by Enedis, benefiting of a 1000 m2 surface area. The re-organisation of the space into workshops, rehearsal studios, editing rooms, lounge room, classrooms and offices, requires refurbishment and soundproofing work to ensure that the neighborhood is not disturbed.
Your donations will fund:
For the class:Salaries of teachers and teaching staff: 80%.
The purchase of supplies, computer and audiovisual equipment: 15%.
Financing of exams for degrees: 5%.
For the construction work
The purchase of the material necessary for the execution of the renovation, the salary of the possible necessary workers.
Your donations benefit from a tax exemption of 66% if you are an individual and 60% if you are a company.
Your donations can also be made in different forms (material, loan of workforce and service delivery), they are also tax-free. If you are a private individual, the valuation of an asset donated corresponds to its purchase or resale price (66% tax exemption). If you are a company, the valuation of an asset in a stock account corresponds to its value in stock (60% tax exemption).
The aa-e is financed by public and private funds; however, the latter do not enable it to finance its curriculum of learning French through art, nor the refurbishment of its new premises.
The cost of the French class3 months of language training cost 700 € per learner, i.e. 2,100 € for a full school year. The capacity of the class is 35 students, for a total cost of €73,500, to which €10,000 in supplies and computer and audiovisual equipment must be added as well as €3,500 in examination fees, for a total amount of €87,000.
The cost of refurbishing the premisesThe division and decompartmentalization necessary for the organization of the new space, the soundproofing of rehearsal studios, the purchase of tools and specific equipment represent a sum of €35,000.
The aim of the fundraising campaign is to raise €50,000.
Why a French class at the aa-e?
Structures providing French language courses for refugees and asylum seekers are often overwhelmed by the amount of demand.
New artists join the agency during the school year without being able to integrate training courses. Organized in sessions, the school of the aa-e enables it.
Specific pedagogical methods have been put in place for the artists.
1. Cultural outings to various museums (the Cinémathèque française, the Jeu de Paume, the Palais de Tokyo and the Fondation Cartier);
2. Cultural references as a basis for learning (exhibition content, Bibliothèque Forney holdings)
3. Artistic approaches to develop oral communication (theatre) and writing (literature);
4. An internet tool to extend training.
– The courses are between 6 and 9 months long. At the end of a training course, learners are able to take one of the French language aptitude diplomas recognized by the State, giving access to university studies, qualifying training courses, or the request of French citizenship.
– The courses are given in the morning, allowing the artists to continue their creative activities.
– Former learners mediate with newcomers.
– The learning system includes an online blog that takes up the lessons and extends them with additional exercises and documents, thus reducing the number of hours of face-to-face lessons. Learners who have been unable to attend a course due to an administrative procedure or a health problem can catch up on their course through self-study on the school's online learning platform. Self-learning can be tutored by volunteers.
Why new premises for aa-e?
The studio of the artists in exile had to leave 102 rue des Poissonniers (18th) in June 2019, taking up its summer quarters in the Ateliers Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris, 121 rue de la Glacière (13th). At the beginning of the school year, when classes resumed, the aa-e moved to 1 place Mazas (12e), in premises too small for the artists to create in.
Thanks to la Ville de Paris, the aa-e will move to 6 rue d'Aboukir (2nd) for 3 years, and regain a functional working tool. The new space will require some renovation work (partitioning, decompartmentalization, soundproofing, new circuits) in order to organize rehearsal studios, workshops for visual artists and writers, editing rooms, a sewing workshop, but also a French class, a legal and therapeutic consultation room, a kitchen and a living room, offices for the team, a reception desk and a cultural mediation room.
The aa-e will be able to pick up where it left off and develop its missions!
FAQ
– Why doesn’t the campaign go through a platform made for fundraising like Ulele or KissKissBankBank?
Answer: Platforms usually take up to 8% of commission and demands a timeframe; the aa-e prefers that all donations benefit the artists in exile and wishes to take their time for a large scale fundraiser.
– Does the withholding tax change the tax deduction?
Answer: No! It is the order of the process that is affected, not the principle. After receiving your tax return, the public treasury will reimburse you for the part of your donation that is subject to the tax reduction.
– Which other form of donations can I give for the construction work?
Answer: You can refer to the list of needs and you can also offer your skills.
– What assessment is made to ensure the school’s efficiency?
Answer: the results of the school are assessed in regards to the progress of the artists and their results in their degree exams.
– Can I be a volunteer for the school or the aa-e?
Answer: a volunteer subscription form is available on the website of the aa-e.
For any further information:
contact@aa-e.org or +33 1 53 41 65 96