THE FONDATION OF THE ALLIANCES FRANÇAISES

Alliance Française, the biggest cultural network in the World

For over a century, the Alliance Française has been seeing through an ambitious project: Spreading French language and culture well beyond the borders of France. A network of associations set up throughout the world have been benefiting from the Alliance’s mark of quality to promote the French language and its values abroad. The remarkable longevity and vitality of our institution is due in part to the strong bonds we have built with the citizens, the sponsors of our host country and with the French State. All of the Alliance’s activities (both linguistic and cultural), as well as its status as a non-profit association account for some of the ingredients of the Alliance’s current success. The Alliances Françaises are apolitical, non-denominational, independent associations regulated by local law and bound by a common purpose to the Fondation des Alliances Françaises.

History

In 1883 eminent figures of the Art, the sciences, and politics, such as Jules Verne and Louis Pasteur, along with other illustrious visionaries, designed the structure for the Alliance Française to ensure the influence of French language and culture around the world. Nowadays, the Alliance Française network still promotes French language but also francophone as well as local cultures in a permanent and an enriching dialogue.

The success of this stand for cultural diversity, standing as an alternative to the downside of a uniform globalization, translates into an ever growing enrolment. Alliance Française chapters are opening worldwide (for instance in China and Russia) and student enrolment is growing at the rate of over 6% annually, showing the modernity and vitality of a concept which is young and centenarian at the same time.

THE FONDATION OF THE ALLIANCES FRANÇAISES

The Fondation of the Alliance Française is the moral and legal reference for Alliances Françaises. To be formed, an Alliance needs recognition from the Fondation through an approval of its statutes. The Fondation Alliance Française is a recognized public body. It was created in July 2007 and became separate from the Alliance Française of Paris.