In 1937, Louis Dufraine, art lover and son of the sculptor Charles Dufraine, bequeathed his Villa in the village of Chars (Val d'Oise) to the Académie des beaux-arts. In accordance with Louis Dufraine’s will, it is dedicated to hosting artists in residence since the 1950s. In 2022, the Académie has undertaken a complete renovation of the property, with the aim of hosting today's artists in the best possible conditions.
Jean-Michel Othoniel, Director of the Villa Dufraine from 2021, proposed an original residency model for the property, in keeping with the spirit and geographical location of the Villa. Each year, the Villa welcomes a group of no more than ten artists and a curator to work on an exhibition project.
Artist residency program
The program is designed around an exhibition project. The curator is responsible for the dynamics of the residency and the preparation of the exhibition. The eight-month residency runs from April to November.
The residency includes 10 studios for the artists, as well as accommodation and communal living and working spaces for each artist and the curator. Each member of the collective receives a monthly living allowance of 1 500 € and additional support for exhibition production.
The artists receive professional support from members and correspondents of the Académie des beaux-arts.
Villa Dufraine
95750 Chars
France
