Happy back-to-school!

Between contemporary artistic creation, educational & social initiatives and heritage preservation, the Francis Kurkdjian Endowment Fund is off to a flying start!

These initiatives reflect the deep commitment of the fund. The aim is to shed light on minority cultures and stories that aren't talked about enough.

Discover the new projects we're supporting this year!

Yasuke Kurosan

The choreographic piece celebrates multiculturalism through the story of an African slave who becomes Japan's only black samurai. After a tour of France and Africa, Smaïl looks back at the genesis of the project, answering our questions:

How did you come up with the idea for this choreographic piece?

- "It came to me while watching a manga (Japanese cartoon) 14 years ago. It was "Afro Samurai", with Samuel L. Jackson's voice-over. I watched the film, then did some research on the Internet and came across the story of this African samurai who existed in the 16th century. That story has always stayed with me. 4 or 5 years ago, during the "Year of Japan" in France, with all the exhibitions and events around Japanese culture, I got the urge to go to Japan. I thought it would be good to create a project to motivate me. I thought back to the story of this African samurai and worked on it for a year."

To read the interview in full, click here.

Euphoria

"EUPHORIA" is a choreographic and sound piece by Caroline Breton featuring two hybrid figures, half owl, half human. These characters explore the meaning of life through saucy, poetic situations, embodying childhood's capacity for wonder. The play aims to cultivate the spectator's sense of wonder.

Artizans

Artizans brings together seven dancers from the Battle Hip Hop and House generation of the 1990s to tell their stories on stage. The piece celebrates the memory, transmission and affirmation of excellence of French Hip Hop, while illustrating the transition to a more mature and mastered dance form.

Cinémathèque idéale des banlieues du monde (CIBM)

The CIBM is implementing new initiatives to support film production. The aim of this new initiative is to develop new forms of writing in cinema, with the creation of a dedicated grant for young artists and filmmakers. In this way, we aim to encourage the emergence of new cinematic narratives and stories.

I dance with my words

Initiated by Radhouane El Meddeb, the project aims to help people in exile to express themselves through writing and setting in motion their words and ailments about their migratory journey, in order to better understand their presence in a land far from home and share their testimonies.

Fresnes on stage

This practical artistic project for inmates at the Fresnes penitentiary is part of SPIP 94's "Fresnes on Stage" cultural integration program. Its aim is to help prisoners reintegrate into society, through the discovery of theatrical professions.

Bonnes Notes

The aim of the project is to provide educational support from the first and second years of primary school, through a program of instrumental teaching. By offering violin and piano lessons in all elementary school located in priority education zones (REP+) and in the political neighborhoods of Seine Saint-Denis, this program aims to reduce the educational inequalities observed in these neighborhoods from the very start of primary school, and which become more pronounced as schooling progresses.

Here are the projects that the Francis Kurkdjian Endowment Fund is renewing its support for:

Ballet Preljocaj Junior

After supporting the Rencontres des Ballets Junior européens in March 2024, the fund is now supporting the Ballet Preljocaj Junior in its professionalization program for young dancers. It aims to facilitate the integration of young artists into professional life and offer them in-depth technical mastery.

LE/S PALABRE/S by Rualité

Bintou Dembélé is keen to shed light on minority cultures. In the form of palabres, she intends to create a time for collective discussion with artists from different disciplines to reflect on what constitutes "the new currents of popular culture from the peripheries." Le/s Palabre/s are the "side steps" that accompany all the shows she presents in France and abroad.

What Dance Can Do with young allophones

The Francis Kurkdjian Endowment Fund is renewing its support for the What Dance Can Do association to launch a new component: the modeling and transmission of the "Dance and Inclusion" project. The aim is to broaden the impact of the program by training 3 to 4 choreographers from different backgrounds in the skills needed to work with the sensitive audience of young allophones at Romain-Rolland high school, who have often experienced difficult migratory journeys.

Theater research by Collectif MxM

Known for their extraordinary stage work, Collectif MxM continue their research. A residency will take place during the year 2024-2025, during which research and experimentation around the presence of the body on stage will be at the heart of their concerns.

_p/\rc_

After a tour of France to Morlaix, Paris and Marseille, the recreation involving disabled children and professional dancers, the choreographic piece _p/\rc_ imagined by the Shonen company, is expanding in 2025 and taking place in new prestigious venues: the Opéra de Massy and the Grand Palais in Paris.

In music for more humanity

The fund is taking part in the 4th edition of the Ostinato orchestra's "En musique pour plus d'humanité" project. The aim is to promote the reintegration of prisoners through the practice of singing and music within an orchestra. A study will also be carried out throughout the project to measure the impact of music on prison staff.

Sergeï Paradjanov rétrospective

The fund is supporting the Cinémathèque française in its tribute to Sergei Paradjanov, the great Armenian filmmaker and national artist, from November 28 to December 5, 2024, under the patronage of the Ambassador of Armenia, H.E. Hasmik Tolmajian. On this occasion, the filmmaker's film The Last Collage, about the artist's life, his loved ones, his art and his struggles, will be restored as part of an initiative to preserve our cinematic heritage.

To find out more, we invite you to read the detailed project presentations on our website.

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