Pursuant to article XV of the Agreement concerning cultural, scientific and technical cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of French Republic signed in June 7^th 1966, the Joint Commission for cooperation in science, education and culture has convened – with the intention of developing cultural, educational and scientific relations, thereby contributing towards the bonds of friendship between the two countries and peoples-has agreed upon the following Exchange Programme of Cultural cooperation for the year 2007-2010.

 

Desiring to strengthen and give a new impetus to the long-standing cooperation and friendship between France and India;

 

Considering the respective roles played by both countries in the affirmation of democratic values in a pluralistic world, in the quest for a cultural diversity that respects the specificity of each nation’s cultural heritage, as well as in their respective contributions to culture and science as a whole;

 

Agreeing that in the context of an ever-accelerating globalization, their cooperation should be regarded as part of a wider, collective effort to meet the challenges of the XXIst century;

 

Have agreed:

 

-                      to pursue and strengthen their cooperation, with a view to encourage and develop the reciprocal, wider involvement of the their peoples in the cultural, scientific and educational interactions between the two countries;

-                      to encourage all kinds of exchanges between the artists, scientists, researchers, students and teachers, with a view to enhance mutual understanding and a balanced dialogue between France & India;

-                      to improve the procedures and issuance of visas in order to facilitate these exchanges and programmes;

-                      to involve the implementation of these exchanges and programmes private and public actors, at the national as well as regional levels;

 

Have affirmed their mutual desire to put new joint efforts to the realization of these goals, and in particular to ensure the implementation of those common projects which are already agreed;

 

 

Have committed themselves to organise a regular follow-up of the decisions taken during this XVth session, as well as of those taken by the Joint Commission during its previous sessions, by the creation of a Joint Working Group.

 

 

 Appreciating the cooperation efforts that have already been made in the field of social sciences and humanities since 1974, which cover:

 

i)              The exchange programme between the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Indian Council of Social Science research (ICSSR), the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) on the one hand, and the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (MSH) in Paris on the other;

ii)             The French Institute of Pondicherry /Institut Français de Pondichery (IFP);

iii)            The Centre de Sciences Humaines in New delhi (CSH);

iv)            The Ecole Française d’Extreme Orient (EFEO) which has two centres: in Pondicherry and in Pune;

 

-                      Agreeing that scientific collaborations should be developed and enhanced, and encouragement should be extended to the organization of joint conferences and the implementation of joint research programmes;

 

Both parties agree that the primary objective of the exchange programme UGC-ICSSR-ICHR-ICPR/MSH is to promote the research of Indian scholars in France and of French scholars in India, in collaboration with partners from the host country, as well as to organise joint conferences.

 

In the framework of IFP, the projects will be developed in three priority fields: Indian cultural knowledge and heritage; Contemporary social dynamics; Environment and sustainable development.

 

In the framework of CSH, the projects will be developed in four priority fields: International relations; Political dynamics and social transformations; Economic transition and sustainable development; Urban dynamics.

 

In order to conduct joint research programmes in these fields, the IFP and the CSH will host French and Indian researchers, as well as students interns, for stays of different durations (from one month to one year, extendable).

 

Bothe parties agree to facilitate the bilateral mobility of researchers and students interns, and to promote all initiatives towards that end, in particular, towards the implementation of research programmes and the organization of conferences and seminars. Both parties agreed to facilitate the delivery of visas for visits as well as stays of longer durations in the framework of cooperation in social sciences and humanities, especially those which involve the above mentioned institutions.

 

 

With a view to enhance and develop further cooperation in the field of higher education and universities, these areas of cooperation are addressed by a separate Education exchange Programme, signed in Delhi, on February 15^th 2007, in compliance with the provision of the Agreement concerning cultural, scientific and technical cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of French Republic signed in June 7^th, 1966.

 

 

 

With a view to enhance and develop further cooperation in the filed of linguistic and educational cooperation, these areas will be addressed in the separate Education Exchange Programme referred under point 2.

 4. Culture and Artistic Exchanges

 

 

Both countries agree to promote in each other’s countries the broadest visibility through cultural tours, co-productions, training, artist’s residences, study scholarships in divers domains of art and culture towards promoting cultural and artistic creation. They also agree to promote new technologies to develop artistic and cultural presentations in the framework of these exchanges.

They recognise the essential role of Alliance Française network in promotion and development of cultural, institutional and intellectual relations between the two countries. The French party agrees to pursue its support to these associations by bringing in financial aid towards organisation of their cultural and artistic activities. The Indian party will continue to facilitate their functioning in the country.

 

The French party would like to reinforce its relations with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) towards closer and more regular collaboration for the promotion of cultural and intellectual relations and establishing joint projects between the two countries.

The French party assures the Indian party of its support to the Indian Government for the establishment of an Indian cultural centre in Paris.

 

 

The Exhibitions coming under the joint cooperation agreement are listed in Annex I of the present Minutes.

 

Both parties agree to promote co-creation projects in the domains of dance, theatre & music. The French party undertakes to support the travel of French artistes to India and the material requirements of the performing arts tours. Both parties agree to encourage the dissemination of western classical music and contemporary music in India, and Indian classical music and contemporary music in France.

Both parties further undertake to promote exchange of experts in the fields of music, dance and theatre. The French party undertakes to promote exchange in the field of Circus. The Indian party supports these efforts wherever possible. The Indian party undertakes to promote exchange of experts in the fields of puppetry and magic. The French party supports these efforts whenever possible.

Both parties agree to jointly organise professional interaction between Indian and French directors and actors, and encourage the co-creation and dissemination in different domains of performing arts. In theatre specially, the French party would like to develop high quality productions with Indian partners (by participating in festivals of national reputation such as the Prithvi Festival) and the Bharat Rang Mahotsava of the National School of Drama.

Both parties agree to promote major Indian musical and choreographic traditions in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the relevant French partners in these fields.

Both parties (ICCR and its French counterparts) agree to exchange performing arts teams of up to twenty artistes per year on a reciprocal basis, the modalities of which shall be finalised through diplomatic channels.

 

The French party will inform the Indian party about training programmes offered by the French Ministry of Culture aimed at high-level French speaking cultural professionals working in any domain of cultural administration and management: these training programmes are of a duration of one to three weeks in the framework of an internship “international cultural training”. The French party offers to study other modalities of action adapted to the needs of the Indian context and to simultaneously provide a linguistic training for selected participants.

 

 

Both parties will continue to facilitate student and teacher exchanges in visual and performing arts. The French party agrees to identify in France more schools and universities open to being involved in long-term exchanges, and would like the Indian party to help in identifying potential Indian partners.

The two parties will continue to develop cooperation in the domain of design by supporting exchanges between Indian schools (colleges of Art; National Institute of Design NID in Ahmedabad; National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi; Shrishti in Bangalore, among others) and French schools (Conservatoire nationale de supérieure de musique et de danse, Ecole Normale de musique, Ecole nationale supérieure de création industrielle ENSCI, Cité du Design, Saint Etienne, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs ENSAD, Ecole supérieure des arts décoratifs de Strasbourg ESAD), the details of which would be worked out between institutions. The French party would like to encourage the organisation of workshops and student camps to enable the development of long term ties.

 

The French party will explore the possibility of creating a training and exchange programme in partnership with the Centre d’Accueil de la Presse Etrangère - CAPE)

 

Both parties agree to encourage film festivals and promote participation of professionals in each others film festivals. They agree to facilitate and accelerate the issuance of visas for the audiovisual professionals in TV as well as in cinema coming on official invitation in their field of activity.

In the field of training, both parties note with great satisfaction that each year one student from Satyajit Ray Film Institute or Film and Television Institute of India comes for a summer course in the French FEMIS. Both sides agree to encourage Film Television institute Pune and Satyajit Ray Film Institute, Kolkata to enter into MOU with FEMIS and the INASUP of France for this purpose.

Both parties agree to encourage increased presence of filmmakers and actors in the international film festivals in India and France

Both parties agree to encourage action to fight against piracy in films and audiovisual media.

Both parties agree to work jointly towards the promotion, conservation and accentuation of natural, urban and cultural heritage in France and India and to turn these into instruments for sustainable development and transfer of technology, and agree upon the need to develop cooperation in the domains of archaeology, museology, indology, archiving and conservation of heritage

 

 

 ARCHEALOGY - MUSEOLOGY

 

Both parties agree to support the development of joint research and archaeological excavations in zones of mutual interest. They agree to share know-how in the domain of museology and archaeology. Both parties will explore the possibility to create exchange programmes for heritage curators and restorers.

 

Both parties agree to encourage co-operation in the domain of indology between institutions from both countries. They agree to contribute towards the preservation and cataloguing of important collections of manuscripts and documents assembled by the Institut Français de Pondichery. They will encourage the study and conservation of these precious documents and joint studies on the diversity and cultural history of India.

 BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS

Both parties agree to promote their authors and their national literature in each other’s country. Both countries agree to cooperate and promote publications (financial help from the French side), translations (financial help from the French side including specific programme for the Centre National du Livre, participation in meetings, seminars and Book Fairs of both countries.

Both parties agree to promote their authors and important literary and intellectual trends in each other’s countries. This initiative could be implemented through support for translation, publishing, participation in seminars and different book fairs of two countries as well as interaction between authors and editors of both countries. Both parties will continue to translate and publish contemporary works of all genres as well as classical literature.

 

Both parties agree to especially encourage publications in two new fields: children’s and comics books. The French part will continue to support the network of media libraries in the Alliance Françaises. Training of local personnel in this area should be continued and encouraged.                                                                                                                                      

 

Both parties agree to facilitate and encourage contacts and exchanges between professionals in both countries such as writers, publishers, literary critics, translators and librarians by inviting professionals from France to meet professionals in India and by inviting professionals from India to such events in France.

The French party would like the 2008 edition of the Kolkata Book Fair to mark the launch of the Year of Photography in India and invite specialised French publishers to this event. Both parties will encourage writers in residency and in each of the two countries to stimulate French literature in India and Indian literature in France.

The French party notes with satisfaction the favourable response towards contemporary Indian literature in France and will facilitate the exchanges during events like the 2007 Paris Book Fair where India will be the guest of honour. Both parties would like to encourage joint trainings in literary translations in collaboration with Indian and French universities and Indian and French public library institutions.

 

 

Both parties agree to promote exchanges in the area of sports. Moreover, they also agree to encourage youth exchange programmes.

 

Both parties will exchange information about activities and sports events in both countries. Both parties will put in more efforts to develop exchanges programmes in the field of sport either for training or for participating in major international sports events.

 

Both parties agree to promote youth exchange programme and encourage visit of youth delegation to participate in their youth festivals/camps on a reciprocal basis. Both parties agree to promote exchanges of officials dealing youth affairs to study and get acquainted with each others youth related programmes, policies and institutions.

 

 Both parties welcome the progress and in the establishment of regular exchanges within the framework of agreements signed between the National School of Administration (ENA) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri Administration (LBSNAA) and the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). The French party appreciates the excellent cooperation carried out with the IIPA and the Department of Personnel and training (DOPT) with in particular the invitation for conference of representatives of French Institutions, and expressed its wish to pursue and strengthen this cooperation with DOPT, with a view to prepare the stay of Indian civil servants in the framework, in particular, of the ENA’s long study cycles.

 

Both parties, while being pleased with the commencement of courses in the English language at ENA, agree to start French courses for Indian civil servants in partnership with the IIPA and the DOPT.

 

The Indian side informed about the desirability of entering into a broad based MOU between the Ministry of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms of France and Department of Personnel and Training for cooperation in the fields of Civil Service Training, Personnel Management and Public Administration. The French side welcomed the proposal within the framework of bilateral cooperation.

 

The parties will set up within three months of signing of CEP, a joint Working Group in order to implement the provisions of the present agreement. This working group will meet alternatively in New Delhi and Paris one a year with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant departments and institutions from the India side. This meeting can be replaced, at one of the parties’ request, by diplomatic consultations.

 

Both parties ready to observe the reciprocity as for the financial provisions and also to encourage the development of direct exchanges between the Indian and French private institutions and to support a decentralized co-operation between the institutions, as well as sponsored actions. Unless specifically provided otherwise, both parties agree that the visits specified under foregoing articles as well as the artistic troops and visitors invited under the framework of jointly determined co-operation projects in the cultural fields shall be allowed local hospitality by the receiving party as under:

 

-                      free lodging in a suitable hotel

-                      Living allowance that cover boarding and lodging(when not provided otherwise)

-                      Local transport and other minor internal travelling expenses including the baggage.

-                      Free medical care in case of sudden illness as for artistic tours, both parties agree that the home country shall bear the travel costs (international transport and corresponding insurances) and that the host country will finance the tour on it territory (internal transport, per diem and medical care etc…)

-                       

-                      The French stresses that it is an exception to the arrangements that it accepts to pay for the roundtrip travel of the Indian scholars.

 

 

Both parties shall endeavour to facilitate the implementation of this co-operation programme to expedite all formalities and procedures (visas, custom clearance, affiliation of researchers) by nominating nodal officers in their respective Ministries and Embassies. In the event of difficulties in the organisation of visits under this agreement, both parties shall utilize the services of the designated nodal officers, with a view to overcoming such difficulties.

 

The present Programme shall come into effect from the date of the signing and will remain valid for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. If for any reasons, the two parties are unable to meet for the signatures of the next CEP in time, the present programme shall be valid till the next CEP is signed.

 

In witness thereof, the undersigned duly authorised thereto have signed this Programme.

 

Done at New Delhi on 15^th February, 2007, in two originals each in English, Hindi and French languages, each text being equally authentic. In case of divergence in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

 

 

Signed by                                                                              Signed by

K.JAYAKUMAR                                                                PHILIP ETIENNE

MINISTRY OF CULTURE                                                  SECRETARY,

 

 

Reciprocating the exhibition “Picasso –Métamorphoses” in India, both parties jointly agree to organise an exhibition on Indian art and civilisation titled “The Golden Age of Classical India, the Gupta Empire” from 4 April to June 25 at the of Grand Palais, Paris. Both parties agree to facilitate the activities of the institutions charged with organising this exhibition, the National Museum New Delhi and the Reunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris.

In the domain of photography the French party will support a major exhibition project to present contemporary Indian photography and also archival collections at the Rencontres Photographiques d’Arles in 2007. In return, France would like to organise a year of photography in India in 2008

Both parties wish to explore the feasibility of organising in India an exhibition of impressionists, eminent modern or contemporary French painters, or panorama of French painting. an exhibition of masterpieces from French museums could equally be envisaged in certain Indian cities. Both parties agree to explore the possibility of organising an exhibition of Indian contemporary art in France.

Both parties agree to work with a view to bringing together Indian and French artistes working with new media, both in France and in India.      .

The modalities of these events will be worked out through diplomatic channels.

Both parties take good note of the project on the part of Musée du Quai Branly, inaugurated in June 2006, to organise a series of major events around India: a photography biennale <Photo Quai> (November 2007 and 2009) bringing together Indian and French collections, an exhibition of contemporary art and heritage exhibition of indigenous art (2009) jointly curated and based on the collections of the museum and those from Indian museums

 

The two parties will explore the possibility o organising in the year 2009-2010, events around the history and cultural impact of Indian Diasporas in France and French Diasporas in India.

 

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