Arts plastiques

The visual arts involve artistic activities such as drawing, painting, photography, engraving, and even sculpture and decoration. They deploy skill and technique to express an idea using shape and form. In France a clear distinction is made between the fine arts (including the visual arts) and applied arts. The diversity and uniqueness of the nation’s schools of art express the richness of its artistic history. More than a thousand art schools operate across France, from the public Écoles supérieures to private institutions and university departments. All take as their purpose to train artists and creative professionals, as well as qualified practitioners of occupations related to art and creativity. Programs cultivate a critical spirit and the capacity to respond creatively to one’s context, enabling artists to produce work occupying a distinctive place in contemporary creation. More...