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Alliance française

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Alliance française
Founded1883; 141 years ago (1883)
FounderLouis Pasteur, Ferdinand de Lesseps, Jules Verne, Ernest Renan, Armand Colin
TypeCultural institution
Location
Area served
Worldwide
ProductFrench cultural and language education
Websitefondation-alliancefr.org

Alliance française[a] (French pronunciation: [aljɑ̃s fʁɑ̃sɛːz]; "French Alliance") or AF is an international organization that aims to promote the French language and francophone culture around the world. Created in Paris on 21 July 1883 under the name Alliance française pour la propagation de la langue nationale dans les colonies et à l'étranger (French alliance for the propagation of the national language in the colonies and abroad), known now simply as L'Alliance française, its primary goal is teaching French as a second language. Headquartered in Paris,[1] the Alliance had 850 centers in 137 countries on every inhabited continent in 2014.[2]

History and role

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First publication of the Alliance française in 1884.

The Alliance was created in Paris on 21 July 1883 by a group including the scientist Louis Pasteur, the diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, the writers Jules Verne and Ernest Renan, and the publisher Armand Colin. The project was directly linked to the colonial aims of the French Third Republic. France believed it could spread civilization to colonies and promote French imperial grandeur by propagating their language internationally.[3]

The organization finances most of its activities from the fees it receives from its courses and from rental of its installations. The French government also provides a subsidy covering approximately five percent of its budget (nearly 665,000 in 2003)

More than 440,000 students learn French at one of the centres run by the Alliance, whose network of schools includes:

  • a centre in Paris, Alliance française Paris Île-de-France
  • locations throughout France for foreign students and
  • 1,016 locations in 135 countries.

The organizations outside Paris are local, independently run franchises. Each has a committee and a president. The Alliance française brand is owned by the Paris centre. In many countries, the Alliance française of Paris is represented by a Délégué général. The French Government also runs 150 separate French Cultural Institutes that exist to promote French language and culture.[4]

The Alliances organize social and cultural events, such as art exhibitions, movie festivals, social gatherings, book clubs.[5][6][7][8][9]

By country

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  • Fondation Alliance française
Alliance française Paris Île-de-France, boulevard Raspail (allée Claude Cahun–Marcel Moore)
Alliance française de Manille, the oldest branch in the Far East, in Makati City, Philippines, extant since the 1920s
  • Alliance française Paris Île-de-France

The Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France is a Higher Private Education Institute. It is an association from the law 1901. Located in the heart of the capital, the Alliance française Paris Île-de-France is a genuine international meeting point where more than 11,000 students from 160 different countries come every year to learn French. It is also the oldest one since the school offers courses in Paris since 1894.

Until 2007, the year of creation of the Alliance française Foundation, the Alliance française Paris Île-de-France was called "the Paris Alliance française".

It was divided into three branches: the International Relations (DRI), the School of Paris, and the Department of Human and Financial Resources (DRHF). In 2007, the DRI has become the Alliance française Foundation, while the School and the DRHF became the Alliance française Paris Île-de-France.

Three conventions are now governing the relations between the Foundation and the Alliance française Paris Île-de-France:

  • a financial agreement: the Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France supports the Foundation financially.
  • an agreement for the premises: the Paris Alliance française donated its building in Boulevard Raspail to the Foundation at the time of the division in 2007
  • a teaching agreement: the Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France supports the Alliances françaises worldwide in their projects to professionalize their teaching and administrative staff. More than 40 missions per year are made abroad.

The Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France works with Alliances françaises from around the world, ministries, public bodies, and also large companies, supporting them in their desire to improve their command of the language in a professional environment.

Alliance française Montpellier is a French language school in the south of France, a private higher education institution providing French courses for foreigners (FLE) and a non-profit association, established in accordance with the statutes and objectives of the Alliance française Foundation. This study centre is part of the network of Alliances françaises de France.[10]

Alliance française in Mindelo, São Vicente Island, Cape Verde
French filmmaker Stéphane Brizé (second from the right) in Buenos Aires in 2019, at an event supported by Alliance française de Buenos Aires.
Alliance française in La Paz, Bolivia
Alliance française in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Alliance française de Wuhan in China
An Alliance Française office in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The Médiathèque of the Alliance Française de Manille
Alliance française de Taiwan
Alliance française de Moldavie
  • Albania has five Alliance française organization located in Durrës, Elbasan, Korça, Shkodra and Tirana.[48]
  • Armenia has one Alliance française organization located in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.[49]
  • Belgium has one Alliance française organization located in the capital Brussels.[50]
  • Croatia has five Alliances françaises organizations located in Dubrovnik, Osijek, Rijeka, Split, and Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.[51]
  • Hungary has five Alliances françaises organizations located in Debrecen, Győr, Miskolc, Pécs and Szeged.[52]
  • Iceland has one Alliance française organization located in Reykjavik.[53]
  • Ireland has six Alliances françaises organizations. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is home to the third largest Alliance in Europe.[54] There is also a location in Cork, Ireland's second city.[55] Other locations in Ireland include Galway,[56] Kilkenny,[57] Limerick,[58] and Waterford, which also has a branch in Wexford.[59] Alliance française de Cork also organises the Cork French Film Festival.[60]
  • Italy has thirty-seven Alliances françaises organizations located throughout the country.[61]
  • Malta has one Alliance francaise organization located in Floriana.[62]
  • Moldova has one Alliance française organization located in Chişinău, the capital of Moldova.[63]
  • Monaco has one Alliance française organization located in the Principality, at the Embassy of France in Monaco.[64]
  • Romania has four Alliances françaises organizations located in Braşov, Constanţa, Piteşti and Ploieşti.[65]
  • Russia has thirteen offices - in Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saratov, Tolyatti, Vladivostok, Ufa, and Ulyanovsk.[66]
  • Spain has twenty Alliances françaises organizations located all over the country, promoted by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in Spain.[67]
  • Sweden has 17 Alliances françaises organizations throughout the country. The oldest Swedish organization was established in 1889 in Stockholm.[68]
  • Turkey has two Alliance française organizations located in Adana and Bursa.[69]
  • The United Kingdom has eleven Alliances françaises organizations. The first Alliance française organization in the UK was located in London, which traces its roots back to 1884.[70] Other locations in the British Isles include Bristol-Bath, Cambridge, Exeter, Glasgow, Jersey, Manchester,[71] Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-tyne, Oxford and York. During WWII, the London location served as the international headquarters of Alliance française when the Paris location was closed.[72]

The Netherlands counts 32 Alliances Françaises, the main one being located in The Hague, followed by 3 major other one in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. This network is very dynamic and powerful.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Sometimes wrongly written "Alliance Française" with a capital "F", including by some Alliance française themselves.

References

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  1. ^ "Alliance Française". frenchhighereducation.org. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  2. ^ The French Language Worldwide 2014 (PDF). Paris: Nathan. 2014. ISBN 978-2-09-882654-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2015 – via Francophonie.org.
  3. ^ Horne, Janet (1 February 2017). ""To Spread the French Language Is to Extend the Patrie"The Colonial Mission of the Alliance Française". French Historical Studies. 40 (1): 95–127. doi:10.1215/00161071-3686068. ISSN 0016-1071.
  4. ^ "Institut français du Royaume-Uni | French Cultural Institute in South Kensington". Institut-francais.org.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Art exhibition 'River Delta' begins at Alliance Française". www.dhakatribune.com. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b "The San Diego French Film Festival celebrates the 7th art". French Quarter Magazine. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Alliance Francaise, partners launch human rights fresco for school children - The Point". thepoint.gm. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Que faire au mois de Janvier avec l'Alliance Française de Johannesburg". lepetitjournal.com (in French). Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Meet the Woman Helping French Culture Thrive in NYC". Avenue Magazine. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  10. ^ Fondation Alliance Française. "Premier réseau d'écoles de français en France". Alliances Françaises France. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  11. ^ "The Ghanaian Network". Alliance Française Accra. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  12. ^ "The French Touch in Kenya". Alliance Française. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Homepage". Alliance Française Nigeria. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ "Home". Alliance Francaise Southern Africa. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  15. ^ "Home". Alliance Française South Africa - Port Elizabeth. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Alliance Française in Dar es Salaam". France in Tanzania. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Kampala. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Buenos Aires (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Christmas Party 2013". L'Alliance Française des Bermudes. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Actualite". Alliance Française de Bolivia (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 July 2015.
  21. ^ "Quem somos". Curso de Francês - Aliança Francesa Rio de Janeiro (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  22. ^ "AF in Canada". Alliance Française. General Delegation in Canada. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  23. ^ "Home". Alianza Francesa. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  24. ^ "Home". Alianza Francesa San José – Costa Rica. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  25. ^ Paola Cabrera Rodríguez; Ismael Francisco (11 May 2015). "Preside François Hollande inauguración de sede de Alianza Francesa y Foro empresarial". CubaDebate (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  26. ^ "Alianza Francesa en Cuenca" [Alliance Française in Cuenca]. Campus France (in Spanish).
  27. ^ "Sedes Ecuador" [Venues Ecuador]. Alliance Française (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 June 2012.
  28. ^ "UNKNOWN". Alliance Française – Quito (in Spanish). Alliance Française in Quito was founded in 1953 and is the oldest of the five Alliances in Ecuador
  29. ^ "UNKNOWN". La France en Équateur (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  30. ^ AGN (4 November 2009). "Quinta edición de la semana francesa". El Mercurio (in Spanish). Diario El Mercurio Cuenca - Ecuador. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  31. ^ "UNKNOWN". Alliance Française de San Salvador (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015. … es una asociación de carácter cultural sin fines de lucro que ofrece cursos de francés, dedicada a una enseñanza de calidad [… is a non-profit cultural association that offers French courses, dedicated to quality teaching]
  32. ^ "Inicio" [Start]. Alliance Française Guatemala (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  33. ^ "Home". Alliance Française de la Jamaïque. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015.
  34. ^ "Sedes". Alliance Française Mexique (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  35. ^ "Home". Alianza Francesa Managua (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  36. ^ "Home". Alianza Francesa de Asunción (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  37. ^ "Bienvenido a la pagina oficial de la Alianza Francesa en el Perú" [Welcome to the official website of the French Alliance in Peru]. Alianza Francesa (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  38. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Eastern Caribbean – Trinidad & Tobago. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  39. ^ "Alliance Francaise MSP". Alliance Francaise MSP. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  40. ^ "Home". Alliance Française USA Délégation générale. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  41. ^ "Alliance Française Siem Reap". Alliance Française Siem Reap, Cambodge (in French). Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  42. ^ "Your French Language and Culture Destination in Macao". Alliance Française de Macao. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  43. ^ "The official French culture and language center in Kuala Lumpur since 1961". Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  44. ^ "Learn French in the most prestigious language school!". Alliance Française de Penang. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  45. ^ "Home". Alliance Française de Malé. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015. We are a non-profit organization aiming to teach French language, promote & share French speaking countries culture, and to encourage cultural diversity
  46. ^ "Alliance Française d'Oulan-Bator". Alliance Française d'Oulan-Bator, Mongolie (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  47. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Lahore. Aflahore.org. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  48. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Tirana (in Albanian). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  49. ^ "Հայաստանի Ալիանս Ֆրանսեզ" [Alliance Francis in Armenia]. Alliance Française d'Arménie (in Armenian). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  50. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Bruxelles–Europe (in French). Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  51. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Zagreb Osijek Dubrovnik Split Reijeka (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  52. ^ "Alliance Française Hongrie". Alliance Française Hongrie. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  53. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Reykjavik (in Icelandic). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  54. ^ "About Us". Alliance Française Dublin. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  55. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Cork. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  56. ^ "Welcome". Alliance Française Galway. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012.
  57. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Kilkenny. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  58. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Limerick. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  59. ^ "Home". Alliance Française Waterford & Wexford. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  60. ^ "Home". Cork French Film Festival. —— "Home". 26th Cork French Film Festival 1 – 8 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  61. ^ "Ou Sommes Nous". Alliance Française Fondazione d' Italia. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  62. ^ "Homepage". Alliance Française de Malte. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  63. ^ "Accueil". Alliance Française Chisinau – Moldavie (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  64. ^ "Alliance française à Monaco". Alliance Française à Monaco (in French). Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  65. ^ "Home". Alliance Française de Brașov (in Romanian). Alianta Franceză Brașov. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  66. ^ "Institut français". Institut français. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  67. ^ "Las af en España". Alliance Française Espagne (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  68. ^ "Välkommen till Alliance française" [Welcome to Alliance Française]. Alliance Française de Suède (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  69. ^ "Alliance Française Adana'ya hoşgeldiniz" [Welcome to Alliance Française Adana]. Alliance Française Adana (in Turkish). Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  70. ^ "About the Alliance Française de Londres". Alliance Française de Londres. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  71. ^ "Home". Alliance Française de Manchester. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  72. ^ "130 years of Franco-British of friendship in London…". Alliance Française de Londres. Retrieved 11 August 2015.

Further reading

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  • Bruézière, Maurice (author) L'Alliance française. Histoire d'une institution 1883-1983, 1983 Librairie Hachette, Paris. ISBN 2-01-009341-0.
  • Ürményházi, Attila J.(author) Un Centenaire de Rayonnement de la Culture Française (the abridged version of the AF's history to include Une Célébration de l'Alliance Française en Tasmanie), 2004. National Library of Australia, Canberra (Australian Collection) Np 943.9052 U77.
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