Ministry of Culture and Communication

The Ministry of Culture and Communication is the main body in charge of culture in France

Its work is divided into the following areas: architecture and heritage; museums; libraries and archives; the visual arts; cinema; music, theatre and dance; books and reading; language.

The Ministry funds or part-funds a large network of venues and arts centres across France. See Visual arts and Performing arts for more details.

Direction Régional des Affaires Culturelles

The Ministry of Culture is represented in every French region with a regional office known as the Direction Régional des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC). These offices have devolved powers and are responsible for applying the Ministry's cultural policy and tailoring it to the individual characteristics of the region. A full list of DRAC is available on the Ministry's website (French only)

Local government offices

Local government offices, know collectively as Collectivités territoriales also have cultural departments which support culture in the local area. There are three levels of local government: the Conseils Régionaux (regional level); the Conseils Généraux (departmental councils) and the Villes/Communes (town councils).

Other organisations with culture departments

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a culture department which supports international cultural exchange. This is done through two main networks:

• the network of Embassies, French Institutes and French Cultural Centres based abroad
• Culturesfrance (previously know as AFAA): the national agency for international cultural exchange, based in Paris