FAI-AR - Formation supérieure d'art en espace public

What FAI-AR - Formation supérieure d'art en espace public does

FAI-AR (Formation supérieure d'art en espace public) is a French non-profit educational institution founded in 2003 and headquartered at the Cité des arts de la rue in Marseille. It operates a 22-month higher education program for approximately 15 apprentices per promotion, training young artists to create and direct artistic productions in public spaces outside conventional cultural venues. The institution describes itself as the only training program of art in public space in France, with pedagogical partnerships including Aix-Marseille Université, ESAAix, ENSA Nantes, CNAC, Arsud, IN SITU, and ARTCENA.

The product portfolio comprises four interconnected programs: the Formation supérieure (22-month higher education, recruited through a competitive examination); Formation continue (short professional courses on vertical dance, sound design, dramaturgy, special effects, and staging, priced at €1,400 TTC per course and eligible for AFDAS financing); Masterclasses (intensive workshops); and a free bilingual MOOC titled "Create in public space," co-developed with IN SITU and ARTCENA, offering ~15 short videos and 5–10 interviews. The MOOC is a self-service online course with global reach; the higher education and continuing education courses are delivered on-site at the Cité des arts de la rue and at partner locations including CNAC (Châlons-en-Champagne) and Arsud (Aix-en-Provence).

Revenue mechanics combine three institutional public funders — the French Ministry of Culture, Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and Ville de Marseille — with the apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage) and per-person course fees. The MOOC generates no direct revenue. Distribution is primarily direct from Marseille, with international reach via the bilingual MOOC and alumni presence at major French and European street arts festivals. The organization holds Qualiopi certification (received June 2026, valid until June 2029), required to access French public training funds.

Name

FAI-AR - Formation supérieure d'art en espace public

Legal name

FAI-AR – Formation supérieure d'art en espace public

Website

https://faiar.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FAI-AR is a French non-profit arts education institution in Marseille running a 22-month higher education program, continuing education courses, masterclasses, and a free bilingual MOOC for artists creating work in public space.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Higher Education Program: The 22-month higher education course for approximately 15 apprentices per promotion. Funded through public institutional support (Ministry of Culture, Regional Council, City of Marseille) and apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage).
2. Continuing Education & Masterclasses: Short professional development courses and masterclasses offered to artists, technicians, and urban professionals. Continuing education courses such as 'Le son en mouvement' are priced at €1,400 TTC per person, with deadlines for registration and financing via AFDAS.
3. MOOC (Free Online Course): Free bilingual MOOC 'Create in public space' available in French and English, delivered in partnership with IN SITU and Artcena. Funded through institutional partnerships rather than direct revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FAI-AR is a non-profit higher education institution that trains artists to create and direct artistic productions in public spaces (streets, urban environments, landscapes). It operates a 22-month higher education program for cohorts of approximately 15 young artists, complemented by short continuing education courses, masterclasses, and a free bilingual MOOC developed with IN SITU and Artcena. The school is based at the Cité des arts de la rue in Marseille and is described as the only training program of its kind in France.

Product overview

FAI-AR is a specialized arts education institution offering four interconnected programmes: (1) the 22-month Formation supérieure (Higher Education Programme) for young artists seeking to create and direct productions outside conventional cultural venues; (2) Formation continue (Continuing Education) comprising short professional development workshops on staging, special effects, vertical dance, dramaturgy, and sound design; (3) the bilingual MOOC Create in public space (free online course covering aesthetics, history, and methodology of public space art); and (4) Masterclasses providing intensive workshops with leading professionals. The institution is based at the Cité des arts de la rue in Marseille.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formation supérieure (Higher Education Programme) A 22-month higher education programme for a class of approximately 15 young artists, designed to develop their capacity to create and manage artistic productions outside dedicated cultural venues. Funded through public institutional support (Ministry of Culture, Région Sud, Ville de Marseille) and apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage).
• Formation continue (Continuing Education) Short professional development courses and workshops grounded in the needs of the street arts sector, built with experts, artists, and often in partnership with other cultural or training organizations. Topics include staging in non-conventional venues, special effects, dramaturgy, vertical dance, and sound design. Examples include 'Mettre en scène hors les murs' (€1,400 TTC) and 'Initiation aux effets spéciaux' (56 hours).
• MOOC Create in public space A free, bilingual (French-English) interactive online course exploring artistic creation in public space, including aesthetics, history, dramaturgical issues, site-visit methodology, and audience relationships. Developed in partnership with IN SITU and Artcena. Approximately 15 short videos and 5–10 interviews totalling around 15 hours of content.
• Masterclasses Intensive workshops led by professional artists and experts in specific aspects of public space arts, such as sound in public space creation, special effects, and staging techniques. Some co-hosted with partners such as CIFAS in Belgium.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 students per promotion complete the 22-month program and present their work at the Panorama showcase and at major festivals such as Aurillac, Chalon dans la rue, and Cratère Surfaces.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Ministère de la Culture (Ministry of Culture)coreOthersPrimary institutional funder and partner. The Ministry of Culture provides ongoing financial support enabling the higher education program.
• Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurcoreOthersRegional council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is a key institutional supporter, providing funding and strategic alignment with regional cultural policy.
• Ville de MarseillecoreOthersCity of Marseille provides institutional support and hosts FAI-AR at the Cité des arts de la rue within the city.
• Aix-Marseille Université (AMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPedagogical partner for higher education. Provides academic framework and university-level validation for the training program.
• École supérieure d'art d'Aix-en-Provence (ESAAix)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPedagogical partner for higher education program, collaborating on artistic education standards.
• École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Nantes (ENSA Nantes)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPedagogical partner contributing to interdisciplinary education in architecture and public space creation.
• Centre national des arts du cirque (CNAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with CNAC for the 'La ville en trois dimensions' (vertical dance in public space) course, combining circus arts and street arts pedagogy.
• ArsudsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPedagogical partner for continuing education, hosting courses at Arsud facilities in Aix-en-Provence.
• La Maison du ConteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinuing education pedagogical partner contributing expertise in narrative and storytelling in public space.
• La Cité des arts de la ruecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAI-AR is a resident organization at the Cité des arts de la rue, a unique facility dedicated to street arts in Marseille. The Cité hosts FAI-AR and provides infrastructure for training.
• IN SITU (European platform for street arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project of artistic creation in public space. FAI-AR is a member of the IN SITU network and co-develops the MOOC 'Create in public space' with this partner.
• ARTCENAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational center for circus arts, street arts, and outdoor arts. Co-develops the MOOC with FAI-AR. Organizes 'petits-déjeuners' (online breakfast meetings) featuring FAI-AR apprentices.
• Fédération nationale des arts de la ruesecondaryOthersProfessional network representing street arts professionals in France. Provides industry representation and networking for FAI-AR graduates.
• CircostradaminorOthersEuropean network for circus and street arts. Provides international professional connections for apprentices and alumni.
• Pôle de Danse Verticale / Cie RetouramontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'La ville en trois dimensions' vertical dance course, combining FAI-AR pedagogy with Retouramont's expertise in aerial and vertical performance.
• ÉCLAT (Rencontres d'Aurillac)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAI-AR's Panorama end-of-year student showcase is hosted in partnership with ÉCLAT at the Rencontres d'Aurillac festival, providing a major professional visibility platform for graduating apprentices.
• Furies (Châlons-en-Champagne)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional partner and festival host in the Grand Est region. Associated with the CNAC partnership for courses delivered in Châlons-en-Champagne.
• CIFAS (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian performing arts center (Urban Academy). Co-hosts masterclasses such as Joanne Leighton's workshop with FAI-AR.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tisch School of the Arts (NYU): Large US performing arts school whose graduate and undergraduate programs in performance studies intersect with FAI-AR's dramaturgical and public-engagement curriculum. A broader incumbent with overlapping but diversified portfolio.
• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama: Larger UK conservatoire offering applied theatre, drama, and performance programs that overlap with FAI-AR's audience-relationship and dramaturgy focus. A broader incumbent in performing arts higher education with overlapping but wider portfolio.
• Codarts Rotterdam: Dutch university of applied arts offering performing arts programs including dance and music theatre — comparable in continental European specialist-arts positioning, broader in scope than FAI-AR.
• HEAD – Geneva University of Art and Design: Swiss institution covering fine arts, design, and visual arts with strong ties to public-space and urban practice. Comparable in francophone Swiss/European arts-education positioning and applied arts emphasis.
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance: UK conservatoire with specialist dance and choreography programs that overlap with FAI-AR's choreographic and movement dimensions. Broader incumbent in performing arts higher education.
• KASK School of Arts (Ghent): Belgian school covering visual and performing arts with applied theatre and performance programs. Overlaps with FAI-AR on the performing-arts / public-engagement axis but operates as a broader multi-discipline institution.

Direct peers

• Circomedia: UK-based specialist school for circus and physical theatre offering multi-year professional training. Operates in the same niche of non-conventional performing arts education with a comparable scale profile to FAI-AR.
• National Circus School (Montréal): Canadian specialist post-secondary institution for circus and outdoor performing arts with a comparable niche-discipline focus, multi-year training cycle, and professional integration mission. Closely aligned with FAI-AR's specialist-performing-arts model.
• DOCH – University of Dance and Circus (Stockholm University of the Arts): Swedish specialist higher education institution for dance and circus arts — the closest international analog to FAI-AR in offering a focused, multi-year specialist program in non-traditional performing arts disciplines. Similar scale and pedagogical depth.
• École internationale de mime corporel dramatique Jacques Lecoq: Paris-based two-year specialist school training performers in physical theatre and non-verbal storytelling. Directly comparable in program length, niche specialization, and Paris/Marseille French cultural ecosystem context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/faiar
• Facebookfacebook.com/FAIARformation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fai-ar
• Instagraminstagram.com/faiar_marseille/?hl=fr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about FAI-AR - Formation supérieure d'art en espace public