The CFA
Training for Careers in the Performing Arts
Since 2008, the Opéra national de Nancy-Lorraine has run an Apprentice Training Centre (CFA) specialising in careers in the performing arts, opera and orchestral music. In partnership with the University of Lorraine (Faculty of Arts, Literature and Languages), the CFA offers a work-study Professional Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Promotion of Artistic Creation, combining academic study with professional immersion in performing arts organisations.
Professional course
The degree offers two distinct pathways:
- Opera and Stage Arts, preparing students for four key production roles: stage manager, orchestra manager, production manager and music librarian.
- Audience Engagement and Partnerships, preparing students for careers in audience development and cultural outreach.
From September 2026, the CFA will also offer a Master's Year 2 programme in Administration and Production – Music and Performing Arts in partnership with the University of Lorraine. Together, the CFA, the Faculty of Arts, Literature and Languages, the Faculty of Law, the Institute for Public Administration Studies (IPAG), the Regional Labour Institute and the IAE Business School are responding to a major need within the sector by offering this work-study programme for future cultural administrators.
These state-recognised qualifications enjoy recognition across Europe and reflect a commitment to passing on the expertise of a demanding profession, combining artistic and legal excellence, technical rigour and social responsibility. Organisations of every size welcome apprentices, including opera houses (Paris, Opéra-Comique, Dijon, Lille, Saint-Étienne and Strasbourg), orchestras (Orchestre national d'Île-de-France, Metz, Clermont-Ferrand and Picardie), National Drama Centres, National Theatres, festivals, cultural institutions and performing arts companies.
Combining practical and academic learning, these programmes facilitate entry into professional life. Students gain first-hand experience of the sector, join administrative, artistic and technical teams, contribute to productions and develop their skills through direct involvement with professional organisations.
Since the creation of the CFA and the Professional Bachelor's Degree, more than 350 people have been trained and connected with nearly 250 employers throughout France.
International internship
Since 2020, the CFA has expanded internationally through the Erasmus+ programme. Graduates may undertake placements lasting between two and twelve months in another European Union country. Each year, young professionals join cultural organisations across Europe to broaden their horizons, strengthen their language skills and discover new working practices. Recent destinations have included Athens, Brussels, Berlin, Copenhagen, Liège, Luxembourg, Madrid, Prague, Stockholm, Rhodes, Tallinn and Venice.
Beyond technical development, these placements provide a valuable human and cultural experience, often decisive in the early stages of a career.
The CFA continues to strengthen its partnership with the University of Lorraine in order to prepare young professionals for a rigorous, collaborative and committed professional practice. By combining learning and experience, the work-study model provides an ideal framework for this transmission of knowledge and expertise.
In a constantly evolving sector, this training programme seeks to support performing arts professionals who are able to appreciate the contemporary challenges of artistic creation.