French Institute Alliance Française

French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) is a 501(c)(3) not–for–profit organization incorporated in the State of New York. Its mission is to enhance the knowledge and appreciation of French and Francophone culture, to increase the knowledge of the French language, and to encourage interaction among French, Francophone, and American people through programs in education and the arts.

French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)
Founded1898[1]
TypeEducational
FocusEducation
Location
MethodCultural Programming and Events, Language Center, Haskell Library, FIAF Gallery
Websitehttp://www.fiaf.org

About FIAF

Founded in 1898, the French Institute and the Alliance Française de New York operated as two separate organizations, the first promoting French arts, the second teaching French. In 1971, they merged to form the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), which has become one of the largest centers of French–American culture and education in the United States.[1][2][3]

Located on New York City's Upper East Side in a Beaux-Arts building reminiscent of the architecture of Georges-Eugène Haussmann in 19th century Paris, FIAF presents a mix of arts programs and events in addition to two cultural platforms, Crossing the Line, presented each fall, and World Nomads, presented each spring. FIAF's Language Center welcomes over 6,000 students each year who learn French from qualified professors, all of whom are native French speakers with a degree in teaching French as a foreign language.[4] FIAF is also home to the Haskell Library, the largest private French library in the United States,[5] and was cited by Time Out New York as one of the city's top cultural institutions.[6]

Cultural programming and events

FIAF presents a mix of programs in music, dance, theater, cinema, and visual arts in addition to two annual festivals, Crossing the Line, in the fall, and World Nomads, in the spring. FIAF also offers a variety of programs throughout the year including its longstanding weekly cinema series, CinémaTuesdays, Art de Vivre, a lifestyle series bringing the art and style of French living to New York audiences with evenings devoted to food, wine, fashion, and gardening, and the Gallery, which presents exhibitions of French and Francophone contemporary art and photography.

Crossing the Line

Crossing the Line, FIAF's fall festival, was launched in 2007 as a platform to present new works by a range of trans–disciplinary artists from both sides of the Atlantic. Initiated, conceived, and produced by FIAF in partnership with leading New York cultural institutions the festival presents original work with a specific focus on the artist's role as a thinker and catalyst for social change.[7] Crossing the Line is currently curated by Lili Chopra, Simon Dove, and Gideon Lester.

World Nomads

World Nomads, which launched in 2008, is a month–long series each spring which focuses on transculturalism and the cross–cultural exchange of artistic style, expression, and ideas. Serving as a platform for dialogue between French and Francophone cultures, World Nomads features programs in theater, film, music, visual arts, and literature. World Nomads has presented the cultures of Africa, Haiti, and Lebanon over the first three editions.

Social Events

In addition to its two annual festivals and its cinema series, FIAF hosts cultural events such as its Art de Vivre series, which focuses on the art of French living. This series includes events such as fashion talks and wine tastings, culinary workshops as well as gardening, and has brought to FIAF Catherine Malandrino, Diane von Fürstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, and Mireille Guiliano. Music concerts, plays, and literary talks, are also among FIAF's yearly cultural programming. Artists such as singer Jane Birkin, and actor Édouard Baer have performed in FIAF's Florence Gould Hall, and authors such as Paul Auster, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Francine du Plessix Gray, and Edmund White, have come to FIAF to discuss their respective works.

Events en français

While most of the events at FIAF are held in English, many events, such as the social event Rendez–Vous, FIAF's annual celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau and Bastille Day, are held in French and offer opportunities to speak French and meet Francophiles.

Florence Gould Hall
Florence Gould Hall
Address55 East 59th Street
LocationNew York City
Coordinates40°45′48.58″N 73°58′15.07″W
OwnerFrench Institute Alliance Française
Typeconcert hall
Seating typeStadium seating
Capacity361
Construction
Opened 1988 (1988-MM)
Renovated2012

Florence Gould Hall is a 361-seat, proscenium stage theatre and concert hall operated by the French Institute Alliance Française at 55 East 59th Street (between Madison and Park Avenues). It opened in the spring of 1988.

It is often the site of New York Theatre Ballet productions such as the Nutcracker, but is mostly home to French cultural events, as per the mission of FIAF.

Language Center

The Language Center attracts over 6,000 students each year, offering courses at all levels from toddlers to adults, including, among others, thematic courses and corporate instruction. The Language Center has offered classes in New York City since 2008 and also offers instruction in Montclair, New Jersey.[8][9]

Haskell Library

Completely renovated by architect Michael Graves in 1998, FIAF's Haskell Library offers over 40,000 books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs for both adults and children. The library is accessible to FIAF members and students only.

Family programs

FIAF hosts educational and family programs such as French movies for kids with Cinékids, as well as Contes et Confettis and à petit pas story hours with stories and creative arts and crafts workshops.

Since 2007, the FIAF Gallery has been exhibiting contemporary French and Francophone artists such as Arman, Visual System, Greg Lauren, Ryoji Ikeda, and Matthew Pillsbury.

References
  1. "FIAF: About". FIAF.
  2. "NYC.com on FIAF". NYC.com.
  3. "NBC New York on FIAF". NBC New York Events.
  4. "Career Opportunities at FIAF". FIAF.
  5. "FIAF Haskell Library: About". FIAF.
  6. "The Best International Cultural Centers". Time Out New York.
  7. "Crossing the Line: About". FIAF.
  8. "Language Center". FIAF.
  9. "Parents Connect on FIAF". Parents Connect.


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