Cultural assets and services enjoy values which cannot be reduced to a mere economic figure. In this area, the commitment of France is one of mutual cultural exchange between countries, acknowledging the European dimension of these partnerships, and a declaration of solidarity between cultures.

The cultural network abroad and the Institut français cultural agency both aim at reinforcing the circulation of ideas and works, at encouraging mutual knowledge and understanding, through projects based on common commitments: it is then a question of harnessing French cultural and intellectual creativity with all partner countries by promoting the cultural and audiovisual industries, as well as organizing debates on controversial themes in society, such as immigration, bioethics and secularity.

In arts and culture, the Direction générale de la mondialisation, du développement et des partenariats (DGM) of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, working in consultation with the Ministry for Culture and Communication, benefits from the expertise of the foreign cultural agency, the Institut français. Furthermore, it can count on a wide network of cultural services, cultural establishments and Alliances françaises.

At the heart of international artistic exchanges, the Département des échanges et coopérations artistiques of the Institut français provides expertise and artistic counselling to many partners around the world. It is assigned to assist in the finding of film locations in France, Africa and the Caribbean, to develop projects by theme and a multidisciplinary approach to programming, and to respond to events to maximize advantage for the artistic stage in various disciplines. It can accompany international tours of shows and exhibitions within the framework of exchanges with foreign museums and partners. It also devises, in dialogue with the organizers and the partners of the events, the artistic planning of foreign cultural seasons in France.

Through calls for projects, this department also contributes support to many programmes it does not itself initiate, and responds to queries for support to partners in the professions – artists, companies, the French cultural network and the stage abroad – as regards cooperation and distribution. These calls for projects are made each March and October, and are assessed by a committee of French professionals.