Alliance Française: Vocation & History
Fondation Alliance Française


Alliance Française: Vocation & History

VOCATION

For more than a century an ever increasing number of students from all parts of the world have been going to the Alliance Française school in the heart of Paris. Similarly, a network of associations set up throughout the world, and with the benefit of the Alliance name behind them, is bringing the French language to the public of many different countries. This exceptional longevity and vitality of the Alliance française springs in part from the close links which have been established with the authorities, the people and the sponsors in the host countries, as well as with the government of France

An “alliance” is the fruit of a two-way agreement and of mutual support both of which form the basis of its perennial nature.

The Alliance Française owes its success to the consistently faithful nature of a foreign public which continues to be enamoured of the French language. Deriving its strength from a name which is recognised all over the world, it has been able to maintain a presence in 138 different countries and to work its magic within the framework
of a network of more than a thousand local committees, each one of which
has its own individual personality.

Being one and many at the same time, the Alliance symbolises a French nation which is universal and constantly moving forward.

Faithful to the values of its founders, the Alliance française remains committed to the formula of an association. This has formed the basis of its originality since 1883.

In every corner of the world it maintains privileged links with the local community and in this way is able to work towards a dialogue with each different culture.

At the same time, it is firmly committed to modernisation and to the adoption of new modes of organisation. The updating of the tools of its trade, the integration of new technology and the constant reappraisal of its teaching methods are all part of this general policy.

In all areas, the Alliance française thus finds itself situated at the heart of a changing world, drawing upon French cultural resources as well as local ones, upon the traditional as well as the modern, but also drawing upon a long-established history as well a future whose boundaries are changing day by day.

HISTORY

1883 “The National Association for the propagation of the French language in the colonies and abroad” is created under the aegis of the ambassador, Paul Cambon.
1884 The 10th of March is the true foundation date of the Alliance française of Paris. Many distinguished names feature on the Board of Directors, names such as Ferdinand de Lesseps, Louis Pasteur, Ernest Renan, Jules Verne, Armand Colin…
Barcelona is the first European Alliance française. The network in Spain will expand very rapidly.
Africa also jumps on the bandwagon, as a pioneering branch of the Alliance is opened in Senegal.
Another branch opens in Mauritius later that same year.
Thanks to the inspired efforts of a group of friends, an Alliance française is set up in Mexico. The enthusiasm of Latin America is not just a passing fancy.
1886 The Alliance Française is given official government approval.

1889 Asia swiftly follows the general trend, creating the first Alliance française in India.
1890 An art teacher, Berthe Mouchette, sets up the first Australian Alliance française in Melbourne.
1901 The Alliance française of Paris opens its doors to 516 students.
1902 During the same year, we see the first Alliance française set up at Mac Gill University in Montreal and the foundation of the Federation of the Alliances françaises in America.
1904 There are 150 Alliance française associations in France and 450 abroad.
1917 The first Alliance in the West Indies is established in the Dominican Republic.

1919 The French language school “L’École pratique de langue française” is opened at 101 boulevard Raspail in Paris.
1930 There are now 4,800 students at the school in Paris.
1936 Following a period of crisis, the first signs of recovery begin to appear. The exhibition on the teaching of French as a foreign language attracts about a thousand visitors.
1943 To mark the 60th anniversary of the Alliance française, General De Gaulle makes an historic speech in Algiers, in which he reaffirms its vocation.
1944 The Paris school opens its doors again after a long period of closure during the time of the Nazi occupation.
1948 The French language school in Paris (L’École Pratique) has built back up to its pre-war capacity.
1952 The Paris school is named “École internationale de langue et de civilisation françaises” (The International School of French Language and Culture).
1967 After the completion of renovation works, 101 boulevard Raspail is now on two levels. The Georges Duhamel centre is inaugurated. The capacity of the school is thus doubled.
1979 A record year in which 32,000 students register for courses in Paris.
1980 The Alliance française is now established in 80 different countries.
1983 The centenary of the Alliance is celebrated in the presence of the French President, François Mitterrand.
1999 The International School in Paris welcomes students coming from 187 different countries.
2000 The Alliance française is now established in 138 countries and has 1,135 associations worldwide.
2001 Throughout the world, branches of the Alliance française are constantly being updated. In Paris a new multimedia resource centre is created.

Fondation Alliance Française

The Fondation Alliance Française was formed in July 2007 and is recognised as a public utility.

A FOUNDATION IN ACTIONS

Acting close to the Alliances françaises
The Fondation Alliance française is the moral and legal reference of Alliances françaises. When one Alliance is formed, it asks the Fondation to recognise it, through an approval of its statutes. When it wishes to expand, the Fondation advises it. When it needs to train its staff, the Fondation supports it.

Act everywhere in the world
The Fondation supports good governance in the Alliances. It has experts organised according to geographical zones, capable of reacting and advising an Alliance française when it encounters a difficulty.

Serve the French language
Twelve permanent collaborators work at the Fondation. Its Board of Directors has renowned personalities like Hélène Carrère d’Encausse, permanent secretary at the Académie française, writer Eric Orsena, journalist Bernard Pivot. Its sponsors, CIC- Banque Transatlantique, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, le Cordon Bleu, Total, constitute an active school. Its principal donors, among whom is Pierre Moussa, founder of Paribas, also have a seat there.

Promote cultural diversity
Through its cycle «Alliances en résonance», the Fondation Alliance française promotes foreign cultures in France. Artistes of one country are regularly under focus, in the gallery, theatre or auditorium of Boulevard Raspail, in Paris. The Fondation encourages the Alliances to value the culture of the countries which receive them.

Official fondation website:
http://www.fondation-alliancefr.org

Actes des XXXIIe rencontres internationales de l’Alliance française (Paris – janvier 2010) (téchargement en PDF)