Beninese artist Adam Idrissou has been certified by the French Ministry of Culture's "La Relève" program. He was the sole Beninese among 101 laureates selected for the program. Idrissou completed a course designed to prepare a new generation of professionals for responsibilities in live performance and visual arts. As a multidisciplinary artist and anthropologist, he is a storyteller, poet-comedian, musician, and author.
The "La Relève" program, conducted in partnership with Sciences Po Paris and Les Déterminés, allowed Idrissou to enhance his knowledge and better understand the institutional realities of the cultural sector. The training combined certification, mentorship, professional meetings, masterclasses, and immersions in cultural structures. For Idrissou, this experience provided an opportunity to compare his background with that of other professionals and refine his skills.
During his training, Idrissou visited Tropiques Atrium in Martinique, working alongside his mentor Manuel Césaire, director of the National Scene. This experience allowed him to closely observe the functioning of a cultural institution, including the challenges related to creation, programming, artists, and audiences. He also learned about the responsibilities associated with leading an establishment and its integration into the territory.
In Benin, Idrissou met with French cultural cooperation actors, including Cédric Aurelle, cultural attaché at the French Embassy, and Jérôme Binet-Bos, deputy director of the French Institute of Benin. These meetings focused on cultural cooperation between France and Benin, as well as support for local artists and initiatives. These experiences reinforced his reflection on the connections between institutions, artists, territories, and audiences.
Idrissou's background is rooted in culture, education, and live performance. He has worked as a cultural mediator at the Hérault Departmental Council and as a mission officer for Education-Culture at the Hérault League of Education. He later joined the Saumur Val de Loire Agglomeration Community's Cultural Affairs Department, participating in producing and coordinating projects for the Le Dôme Theatre's cultural season.
Idrissou holds a degree in cultural anthropology and ethnology from the University Paul-Valéry in Montpellier. He draws inspiration from Beninese oral tradition, memory, and knowledge transmission. As the author of "Nasrine, la Gardienne des Arbres," he is also president and co-founder of the Amitié France-Bénin association. His certification marks a new stage in his career.
Idrissou's certification is a significant milestone in his journey as an artist and cultural professional. With this new credential, he is poised to take on greater responsibilities in the cultural sector. His experience with the "La Relève" program has equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful impact in his community.
Key points
- Adam Idrissou is the sole Beninese laureate of the French Culture's "La Relève" program.
- The program aimed to prepare a new generation of professionals for responsibilities in live performance and visual arts.
- Idrissou's certification marks a new stage in his career as an artist and cultural professional.
