1998 saw the creation of cultural exchange programmes in the form of bilingual study trips for non-French speaking professionals. Each batch consists of a delegation of 5 to 8 specialists from the same country, invited to France for about 10 to 15 days to study specific issues of cultural policy.

The participants have an interpreter at their disposal throughout their stay in France to benefit fully from the various meetings, visits and discussions lined up for them in Paris and/ or in the provinces.

These study trips are built on the principles of reciprocity and co-funding : the "guest" country, the one which sends a group of professionals to France, will in turn play host to a delegation of French professionals afterwards.

Courants bilingues - initiated at the request of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, the French Embassies and foreign cultural institutions - are implemented by the Maison des Cultures du Monde. To date, South Korea, the United States, Japan, South Africa, Israel and Taiwan have participated in these bilateral exchange programmes.