What is a talent passport?

It’s not a test.   I didn’t know either.   A Talent Passport is a form of a Carte Sejour, or in my case, an Artist Visa.

I found out about it somewhat backwards; at first I wanted to make Eco-Art projects in France, and then doing some internet research, found other blog posts about someone else’s adventure, and the spark was lit.  I knew that I wanted to propose contemporary art projects and work as an artist in France.

Your best source is the government’s website, and I can’t stress this enough, they constantly update it, make sure you stay current on the instructions, expectations, and requirements throughout your project.

The description on the government’s website:

“The multi-year “passeport talent” residence permit was created to help foreign employees and self-employed persons develop France’s economic attractiveness. Your employment contract and your stay in France must exceed three months. It will allow you to stay for a maximum of four years commencing on the date of your arrival in France.

Your family members may also accompany you and will be issued with multi-year residence permits. This permit will authorize your spouse and any children entering into their 18th year to work. In the three months following your arrival in France, you and your family must visit your local police station in France to request a multi-year residence permit corresponding to your situation.”

 

In short, a Passport Talent as listed by the French government is a form of ‘long visa’ that enables the holder to work and live in France.   It’s open to innovators, specialists, writers, teachers and artists.   As an Eco-Artist, I chose the art path.   At the time, the Passport Talent was relatively unknown and I’ve met more people that want to know about it, than those who already do.

 

Essentially, after some research on the Talent Passport, I realized that my affection for Pont-Aven, and a strong desire to make an artist studio here, would be the core of my application.  I wrote a formal plan, proposed the creation of an artist studio and gallery, with budget, recommendation letters, and documentation of my International art standing (current CV, along with press clippings, and catalogs), and made my submission.  I couldn’t be more thankful, the Quimper Prefecture has been incredibly helpful throughout the entire process.

 

Read the Instructions,

Its very important to read the instructions and be patient with the French administration, if you decide to take on a passport talent project, bear in mind there will be a lot of costs, flying back and forth for interviews, etc.  The first steps will be from your home country and you may have to surrender your national passport for a brief period.  Later, you’ll be awarded a temporary visa that will cover your subsequent trips to France for your interviews and processing.

I cannot stress how much you need to be independent and capable of self-finance on this project, make no mistake, the passport talent isn’t a route to French grants.  The Passport Talent is a route to you making something of your self that will benefit French Culture & Economy.  I spent quite a few layovers in Paris at the airport as I had to come back for one hour interviews whilst I was working in other countries.  This is a great privilege, and one that considering the options, is more than worth it.

 

When I made my renewal application 2021, in the midst of COVID, it was stressful for everyone, but still we managed.

During the last five years of having my ‘artist visa’, I have participated with arts organizations, attended Board Meetings for CACTUS, proposed projects to local town councils, have been a paid commissioned artist, had expositions, shared my work with the public, and have had many conversations and introductions that I would not have been able to have without the Passport Talent.

Below, I’ve listed chronologically my activity in France since the visa was awarded to me.  During the first visa, I spent a lot of time traveling and making my art in other countries due to concurrent project development with the visa application, however, I shared all I could with anyone I met.  Since receiving the Talent Passport, I have also responded privately to many questions from other individuals starting their own administrative adventure.   My own website is a testament of my artistic activity chronologically, but for this post, I’ve pulled out the most relevant data.

 

2018 –

Talent Passport, Carte Sejour, Prefecture de FINISTERE, FRANCE

2020 –

Artistes au Jardin, CACTUS, 2 salles, Quimper, FRANCE (a site specific installation on two sites, read more here.)

2021 –

Established personal studio, Pont Aven, read more here,

Atelier Expo, Open Studio, Juillet-Août, Pont Aven, FRANCE ( a solo gallery project for the summer of 2021, read more here.)

Joined ALIVE for Climate, an association of climate activist artists based in Napoule, read more here,

2022 –

KER PONT-AVEN, installation, FRANCE;
CACTUS, 5ans DEJA, Oct-Nov, Quimper, FRANCE;
A4, Exposition Collective, Mars – Septembre, Pont Aven FRANCE, (a 9 month collective art gallery project, link)

 

From the end of 2020 until spring 2022, I worked with the City of Quimper, specifically, the Direction of Culture, as I was approached by the Adjoint au maire, chargé de la culture, to design a project for the rivers of Quimper.  I was asked to base it on my Aven Project from before.  I’ve written about both projects at the links here, Quimper, and Pont Aven.

I also took on a somewhat guerilla wheat-pasting project with an abandoned factory complex under development, more on that project here.

Continuing my self started projects, for about a year now, I’ve proposed a upcycling tire project with the town of Pont Aven, and just recently, I have been given a green light to begin the project.  I am honored and humbled to make this project about circularity, and you can read more about it here.

And on a larger horizon, I’ve initiated a Eco-Art Association, who’s first task will be to curate, organize, and host an international art event bringing artists into the Pont-Aven region.  Each artist will be tasked with making an Eco-Art installation in 10 days, and the projects will be open to the public until the projects are consumed by nature.  Read more here.

In short, I’m forever thankful for the Passport Talent, it has opened doors and made me realize I can give back quite a lot.  Of course, none of this would have been possible with out my friends, family, and loved ones.  Thank you all for the support.