August : professional training

Illustration : Louise Laborie
© ADAGP, Paris, 2023

"I feel like I was a fraud, a scam... It's as if people didn't n know me for what I truly am, you see ?

Several organizations offer training courses for artist-authors to help them develop their skills and create in the best possible conditions.

The Afdas (a skills operator in the cultural and creative industries, etc.) manages the fund for continuing training training fund. It finances training courses and provides a list of approved courses. To benefit from access to training, you need to justify :

• 9,000€ gross royalties over the last 3 years, or
• 12,000 € gross in royalties over the last 4 years, or
• 15,000 € gross in royalties over the last 5 years.

These training courses concern :

• "Support" skills: languages, office automation, DTP,  management, communication, etc. ;
• Skills specific to the profession of artist-author: writing and dramatic arts, music, choreography, film, audiovisual, graphic and plastic arts, photography, etc.

More information on the Afdas website

The Personal Training Account (Compte Personnel de Formation - CPF) is open to all employees or jobseekers, from the age of 16 until retirement. Since January 1, 2019 artists-authors now have access to the CPF like other working people. It allows you to acquire training rights that you can use throughout your working life. Remember to check regularly!

Visit the CPF website

The regional book agencies also regularly organize training courses, often free of charge, on how to present a project managing author-publisher relationships, negotiating contracts, etc. Contact your regional agency for more information.

Other organizations, such as the regional professional networks for contemporary art (visual arts) or the Société des Gens de Lettres (SGDL), also offer training courses.

For more information, visit

Visit the CIPAC website

Visit the SGDL website