What is Metis?

Metis is a program where local artists build bridges between development and the arts. Their artistic expression is inspired by the real-life situations of the places where they live and work, by the people who live there, and by the issues that affect their communities. Through the art they produce, they bear witness to what they experience, raise questions, give meaning, encourage exchanges, and help build new perspectives in common.

In ancient Greek mythology, Metis was the mother of wisdom and deep thought.

The Metis approach

An encounter between arts and development…

Painting, music, dance, theater, poetry… The arts inspire and are inspired by the reality of our daily lives. They heighten our senses and open doors to the world of emotions. At the same time, they enrich our individual and collective intelligence. They are powerful catalysts for the changes required for the constant transformation of our societies—transformations that development projects also strive to support.

…to support the sought-after transformations in the countries involved

The Metis Fund was launched in 2021 by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the main operator of French official development assistance. Metis unites the stakeholders driven by this ideal. Together, they support local artistic initiatives connected with inclusive investment projects financed by AFD.

Selection process

How are Metis projects selected?

The starting point: an encounter on the ground between art and development

A local artist (or a local institution mobilizing the arts) develops an artistic project together with an AFD office in the country where it operates.

The resulting artistic project is submitted to Metis

The project is sent to Metis, with support from the AFD office that helped to develop the project on the ground.

Project selection by a jury, according to eligibility criteria, namely that the project

  1. Contributes to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
  2. Strengthens and enriches AFD’s operations and sectoral strategies
  3. Targets the beneficiaries of AFD’s actions, being as close as possible to the areas concerned
  4. Demonstrates genuine artistic quality

Metis will then finance, support, and promote the selected projects.

The budget for Metis projects is between €5,000 and €15,000.

Contact us

If you wish to develop a project and submit it to Metis, contact the AFD office in your country.

For any further information

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