IRFAT

What IRFAT does

IRFAT (Institut de Recherche et de Formation en Art-Thérapie) is a French professional training organization established in February 1998 in Avignon under association loi 1901 status, founded by Alain Gleize. The company delivers a three-year RNCP-certified art therapist training program (RNCP 41659, Level 6 EU) totaling 1,071 hours, integrating 679 hours of center-based experiential workshops and theoretical instruction in psychopathology and psychoanalysis with 392 hours of supervised institutional placements. The pedagogy combines multi-experiential workshops across dance, clay, painting, music, writing, and theater with clinical supervision, training approximately 300 art therapists over 27 years.

The business model is built on multi-year tuition contracts priced at €5,280 (Year 1), €4,980 (Year 2), and €4,500 (Year 3), totaling €14,760 across the three-year program. Ancillary revenue streams include continuing education days (€70–€210 per session), open discovery workshops (€80–€190), a €30 annual association membership, VAE (validation of prior learning) services, and a five-day workshop animator training program. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer and exclusively in-person at the Avignon center, with limited videoconference availability for some continuing education seminars. Approximately 50% of certified graduates secure employment at their placement site, with six-month employment rates of 85% (2021), 71% (2022), and 54% (2023) — a declining trend that warrants attention. Cohort satisfaction is high (91–96% across years), and the program maintains Qualiopi certification, enabling access to French public training funding (OPCO, CPF, Transitions Pro). IRFAT is a founding member of the EPAT federation alongside four other major French art therapy schools.

Name

IRFAT

Legal name

IRFAT Institut de Recherche et de Formation en Art-Thérapie

Website

https://irfat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IRFAT is a French association founded in 1998 in Avignon that delivers a three-year RNCP-certified professional training program in art therapy, combining experiential workshops, psychopathology coursework, and supervised institutional placements for aspiring art therapists in the French healthcare sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Avignon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Art Therapist Training: Three-year certification program generating revenue through tiered course fees across three years. Year 1 (Artistic Mediator) costs 5,280€ total (2,500€ multi-experiential workshops + 2,400€ theoretical corpus + 380€ immersion stage). Year 2 costs 4,980€ (2,500€ didactic workshops + 2,100€ psychopathology + 380€ observation stage). Year 3 costs 4,500€ (1,000€ clinical workshops + 1,400€ psychopathology II + 400€ professional project + 1,700€ practice analysis).
2. Continuing Education Days: Single-day or multi-day professional development seminars on specialized topics (e.g., ethno-art-therapy at 140-210€, psychodrame at 70-180€, clinical abuse training at 130€). Revenue generated through participant fees with tiered pricing for members, students, and external participants.
3. Open Discovery Workshops: Weekend art therapy exploration workshops open to the general public, priced at 190€ for non-members, 170€ for members, and 80€ for IRFAT students. Covers various artistic disciplines including sonotherapy, dance, painting, music, and puppetry.
4. VAE (Validation of Prior Learning) Services: Individual competence block validation service with fees including 150€ for eligibility evaluation, 950€ for Livret 2 evaluation and jury presentation, and optional 80€/hour accompaniment. No public funding available as IRFAT is not Qualiopi certified for VAE actions.
5. Association Membership: Annual membership (30€) providing reduced rates on continuing education days and discovery workshops, creating recurring revenue while building customer loyalty.
6. Art Workshop Animator Training: Five-day intensive painting workshop animator training (35 hours) in September 2026, generating revenue through participant registration fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IRFAT is a French professional training institute that delivers a three-year RNCP-certified Art-Thérapeute program (RNCP N°41659) totaling 1,071 hours of in-person instruction, combining multi-experiential workshops, psychopathology coursework, and supervised clinical placements in healthcare institutions. The offering is supplemented by a one-year Médiateur Artistique certificate, continuing education seminars, open public discovery workshops, VAE prior-learning validation, and specialized trainings in psychodrama, ethno-art-therapy, and workshop animation. All programs are delivered in person at the Avignon Magnanen center and are aimed at individuals seeking professional certification or skills development in art therapy.

Product overview

IRFAT (Institut de Recherche et de Formation en Art-Thérapie) is a training organization established in 1998 offering professional education programs in art-therapy. The core offering is a 3-year certification training program for Art-Thérapeutes (RNCP N°41659), which includes the first year as a standalone Artistic Mediator qualification. The institution provides supplementary offerings including open weekend workshops, continuing education seminars, information conferences, VAE (prior learning validation), and specialized workshops in psychodrama, ethno-art-therapy, and artistic workshop animation. All training is delivered in-person at their Avignon center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formation professionnelle d'Art-Thérapeute (3 ans) A 3-year RNCP-certified (N°41659) professional art-therapist training program covering 1,071 hours including multi-experiential workshops, psychopathology modules, supervised clinical placements, and a thesis defense before an external jury. Designed for individuals seeking professional certification to practice art therapy in healthcare institutions, psychiatric facilities, social services, or private practice.
• Formation de Médiateur Artistique (1 an) A 1-year standalone training program providing artistic mediation qualifications with 294 hours including 70 hours of supervised institutional internship, covering experiential workshops, theoretical corpus, and practical immersion stages. Functions as the first year of the Art-Thérapeute program and can be pursued independently.
• Ateliers Ouverts en Art-Thérapie Weekend exploration workshops in various artistic techniques (sonotherapy, dance, painting, music, theater, writing, puppets) open to the general public, held at the Magnanen Center in Avignon. Priced at €190 for non-members, €170 for association members, and €80 for IRFAT students.
• Journées de Formation Continue Continuing education days on specialized therapeutic topics, delivered in-person in Avignon or via videoconference. Targeted at practicing professionals and current IRFAT trainees seeking professional development in specialized methodologies.
• Conférences de Présentation Information sessions presenting art-therapy concepts and IRFAT training programs (Art-Thérapeute and Médiateur Artistique), delivered via videoconference with mandatory registration. Designed for prospective trainees to understand the curriculum and admissions process.
• VAE - Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience Validation of prior learning (VAE) service allowing experienced professionals to obtain art-therapist certification through eligibility evaluation (€150), Livret 2 evaluation and jury presentation (€950), and optional accompaniment (€80/hour). Not eligible for public funding as IRFAT is not Qualiopi certified for VAE actions.
• Formation Ethno-Art-Thérapie A specialized continuing education workshop exploring cultural specificities in art-therapy tools, ethnology, intercultural relationships, and integration of artistic materials from other cultures into therapeutic practice. Priced at €140 standard, €210 with employer/OPCO financing, €110 for association members, and €70 for IRFAT students.
• Psychodrame Psychanalytique Continuing education workshop on psychoanalytic psychodrama and play mediation techniques, including hands-on practice and clinical exchange sessions for practicing professionals. Priced at €70-180 per session depending on participant category.
• Clinique de l'abus - Replay formation Recorded 5-hour continuing education session (replay) on understanding sexual violence and subtler forms of abuse, available for purchase at €130 standard rate and €50 for current IRFAT trainees. Targets professionals seeking specialized training on clinical abuse.
• Formation Animateur d'Ateliers Artistiques / Peinture A 5-day (35-hour) intensive training program in September 2026 for artistic workshop animation with a focus on painting, conducted in-person at the Avignon center. Designed for individuals seeking to lead artistic workshops in community, healthcare, or educational settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% employment rate at 6 months for 2021 graduates
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EPAT (Fédération des Ecoles Professionnelles d'Art-Thérapie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRFAT is a founding member of EPAT, a federation of five professional art therapy schools in France (Les Pinceaux-ATEPP-CEFAT Paris, INECAT Paris, IRFAT Vaucluse, LE MAT Belfort, PUZZLE Nord-Pas de Calais). The federation establishes shared quality standards, a code of ethics, and promotes professional recognition of art therapists. EPAT members commit to minimum 10 years experience, 10+ trainer-art therapists, and 20+ specialized instructors meeting defined pedagogical criteria.
• SIPE (Société Internationale de Psychopathologie de l'Expression et d'art-thérapie)minorOthersInternational society for psychopathology of expression and art therapy, referenced in IRFAT's professional links section as a related organization in the field
• SFPE (Société Française de Psychopathologie de l'Expression et d'Art-Thérapie)minorOthersFrench society for psychopathology of expression and art therapy, listed in IRFAT's professional links as a related professional organization
• Revue PSY-CAUSEminorOthersProfessional journal in the field of art therapy and psychopathology, listed in IRFAT's external resources
• Art-Thérapie le @MagminorOthersProfessional magazine/media in the art therapy field, referenced in IRFAT's external links
• Le Point (LePoint.fr)minorOthersFeatured article reference on LePoint.fr discussing EPAT art therapy schools as a mark of excellence in professional training

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PUZZLE: Nord-Pas de Calais-based art therapy training school and EPAT federation member; delivers multi-year certification programs comparable to IRFAT, serving prospective art therapists in northern France.
• ARTEC (Art et Thérapie Clinique): Paris-based art therapy training organization offering professional certification programs; competes with IRFAT in the broader French art therapy education market, though outside the EPAT federation.
• LE MAT: Belfort-based art therapy school and EPAT federation member with 20+ years of training; offers similar multi-year professional certification programs and competes with IRFAT for trainees outside the Paris region.
• ATEPP-CEFAT Les Pinceaux: Paris-based professional art therapy school and fellow EPAT federation member; offers multi-year art therapist training combining theoretical and clinical practice, directly competing with IRFAT for French trainees in the same regulatory framework.
• INECAT: Paris-based art therapy training institute and EPAT federation member; provides professional certification programs comparable in structure and duration to IRFAT's, serving the same national pool of prospective art therapists.

Broad incumbents

• CNAM - Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers: Large public higher-education institution offering various continuing education and professional certification programs; potential indirect competitor for adult learners seeking accredited professional development in therapeutic and care-related fields.
• Université Paris 8 - Département Art-Thérapie: Public university offering degree-bearing art therapy programs; represents a broader institutional alternative to IRFAT's certification pathway with the added value of state-recognized diplomas for French art therapy trainees.

Regional players

• École d'Art-Thérapie de Tours (or equivalent regional schools): Regional French art therapy training schools operating outside EPAT; offer shorter or alternative certification pathways and compete with IRFAT for trainees in specific French regions.

Others

• SFPE / SIPE (Société Française & Internationale de Psychopathologie de l'Expression): Professional societies in psychopathology of expression and art therapy that publish research, host conferences, and shape standards; influence the broader ecosystem in which IRFAT operates rather than directly competing for students.

Emerging players

• AFRATAP: French association offering art therapy training and continuing education with a more decentralized model; overlaps with IRFAT's continuing education offerings and serves a similar professional audience in France.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Page.Officielle.Irfat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irfat
• Instagraminstagram.com/irfat_formation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IRFAT