L'Alliance New York, formerly French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) is a

501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of ...

not–for–profit organization incorporated in the

State of New York New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...

. Its mission is to enhance the knowledge and appreciation of French and

Francophone The Francophonie or Francophone world is the whole body of people and organisations around the world who use the French language regularly for private or public purposes. The term was coined by Onésime Reclus in 1880 and became important a ...

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.

About FIAF

The ''

Alliance Française (; "French Alliance", stylised as ''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 propa ...

de New York'' was founded in 1898, and the French Institute in 1911 (running the

Museum of French Art The Museum of French Art was an art museum in New York City, associated with the predecessor organizations to the current New York non-profit French Institute Alliance Française. It exhibited art in New York as part of a broader effort to popular ...

), operated as two separate organizations, the first teaching French, the second promoting French art. 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. Located on New York City's

Upper East Side The Upper East Side, sometimes abbreviated UES, is a neighborhood in the boroughs of New York City, borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded approximately by 96th Street (Manhattan), 96th Street to the north, the East River to the e ...

in a ''Beaux-Arts'' building reminiscent of the architecture of

Georges-Eugène Haussmann Georges-Eugène Haussmann (; 27 March 180911 January 1891), commonly known as Baron Haussmann, was a French official who served as prefect of Seine (1853–1870), chosen by Emperor Napoleon III to carry out a massive urban renewal programme of n ...

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. FIAF is also home to the Haskell Library, the largest private French library in the United States, and was cited by ''

Time Out New York ''Time Out'' is a global magazine published by Time Out Group. ''Time Out'' started as a London-only publication in 1968 and has expanded its editorial recommendations to 333 cities in 59 countries worldwide. In 2012, the London edition became ...

'' as one of the city's top cultural institutions.

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. ''Crossing the Line'' was curated by Lili Chopra, Simon Dove, and

Gideon Lester Gideon Lester (born 1972) is a Tony Award-winning artistic director, dramaturg, curator, and creative producer. He is currently Artistic Director of the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Senior Curator of the OSUN C ...

until 2018. Courtney Geraghty was the curator from 2019 to 2021, followed by Mathilde Auge for 2022 and 2023. Since 2024, Violaine Huisman is the festival’s curator.

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 Catherine Malandrino is a French fashion designer. She resides between New York City and Paris. Early life and education Malandrino was born in Grenoble in the French Alps to Italian parents. She began her professional career in Paris after at ...

Diane von Fürstenberg Diane von Fürstenberg (born Diane Simone Michele Halfin; 31 December 1946) is a Belgian fashion designer best known for her wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence in 1969 when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg ...

Marc Jacobs Marc Jacobs (born April 9, 1963) is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for his own fashion label, Marc Jacobs, and formerly Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, which was produced for approximately 15 years, before it was d ...

Tommy Hilfiger Thomas Jacob Hilfiger ( ; born March 24, 1951) is an American fashion designer and the founder of Tommy Hilfiger (company), Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. After starting his career by co-founding a chain of jeans/fashion stores called People's P ...

, and

Mireille Guiliano Mireille Guiliano (born April 14, 1946, in Moyeuvre-Grande, France) is a French-American author and former corporate executive at LVMH. Education Mireille Guiliano was born in 1946 in Moyeuvre-Grande, France. She completed a year of her educatio ...

. Music concerts, plays, and literary talks, are also among FIAF's yearly cultural programming. Artists such as singer

Jane Birkin Jane Mallory Birkin ( ; 14 December 1946 – 16 July 2023) was a British and French actress, singer, and designer. She had a prolific career as an actress, mostly in French cinema. A native of London, Birkin began her career as an actress, ...

, and actor

Édouard Baer Édouard Baer (born 1 December 1966) is a French actor, director, screenwriter, film producer and radio personality. In 2001, Edouard Baer played the Egyptian scribe Otis in Alain Chabat's hit comedy Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. Baer ...

have performed in FIAF's Florence Gould Hall, and authors such as

Paul Auster Paul Benjamin Auster (February 3, 1947 – April 30, 2024) was an American writer, novelist, memoirist, poet, and filmmaker. His notable works include '' The New York Trilogy'' (1987), '' Moon Palace'' (1989), '' The Music of Chance'' (1990), ' ...

Bernard-Henri Lévy Bernard-Henri Georges Lévy (; ; born 5 November 1948) is a French public intellectual. Often referred to in France simply as BHL, he was one of the leaders of the " Nouveaux Philosophes" (New Philosophers) movement in 1976. His opinions, politi ...

Francine du Plessix Gray Francine du Plessix Gray (September 25, 1930 – January 13, 2019) was a French-American Pulitzer Prize–nominated writer and literary critic. Early life and education She was born on September 25, 1930, in Warsaw, Poland, where her father, V ...

, and

Edmund White Edmund Valentine White III (January 13, 1940 – June 3, 2025) was an American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer, and essayist. A pioneering figure in LGBTQ and especially gay literature after the Stonewall riots, he wrote with ra ...

, have come to FIAF to discuss their respective works.

Gala and awards

Trophee des Arts

FIAF established the Trophée des Arts in 1992, a gala and award ceremony honoring distinguished artists or cultural icons who have made significant contributions to French-American culture. The dinner and auctions raise funds to support FIAF’s mission to teach French and celebrate francophone cultures and creativity around the world. Notable recipients include

Louis Malle Louis Marie Malle (; 30 October 1932 – 23 November 1995) was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in both French cinema and Hollywood. Described as "eclectic" and "a filmmaker difficult to pin down", Malle made document ...

Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...

Isabelle Huppert Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert (; born 16 March 1953) is a French actress. Known for her portrayals of cold, austere women devoid of morality, she is considered one of the greatest actresses of her generation. With 16 nominations and two win ...

Angelique Kidjo Angelique or Angélique may refer to: * Angélique (given name), a French feminine name Arts and entertainment Music * Angélique (instrument), a string instrument of the lute family * ''Angélique'', a 1927 opéra bouffe by Jacques Ibert * A ...

Jeff Koons Jeffrey Lynn Koons (; born January 21, 1955) is an American artist recognized for his work dealing with popular culture and his sculptures depicting everyday objects, including balloon animals produced in stainless steel with mirror- finish s ...

, and

Jane Fonda Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress and activist. Recognized as a film icon, Jane Fonda filmography, Fonda's work spans several genres and over six decades of film and television. She is the recipient of List of a ...

. Beginning in 1995, FIAF established the Pilier D’Or, also awarded during the annual Trophée des Arts gala and dinner, which recognized select individuals who made a lasting impact lasting impact on the development of the organization. Beginning in 2006, the Pilier d’Or began recognizing a leading business figure for their outstanding contributions to the French-American relations.

Past recipients and presenters of the Trophée des Arts

1992:

Film Director. 1993:

Choreographer. Presented by Corice Arman. 1994:

Jean-Pierre Rampal Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal (7 January 1922 – 20 May 2000) was a French flautist. Rampal popularised the flute in the post–World War II years, recovering flute compositions from the Baroque era, and spurring contemporary composers, ...

Flutist. Presented by Liliane Montevecchi. 1995:

Jessye Norman Jessye Mae Norman (September 15, 1945 – September 30, 2019) was an American opera singer and recitalist. She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles, but did not limit herself to that voice type. A commanding presence on operatic, concert ...

Singer. Presented by Kevin Kline. 1996:

Charles Aznavour Charles Aznavour ( ; ; ; born Shahnur Vaghinak Aznavourian; 22 May 1924 – 1 October 2018) was a Armenians in France, French singer and songwriter of Armenian descent. Aznavour was known for his distinctive vibrato tenor voice: clear and ringi ...

Singer/composer. Presented by Liza Minnelli. 1997:

Lauren Bacall Betty Joan Perske (September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014), professionally known as Lauren Bacall ( ), was an American actress. She was named the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the America ...

Actress. Presented by Gregory Peck. 1998:

Catherine Deneuve Catherine Fabienne Dorléac (born 22 October 1943), known professionally as Catherine Deneuve (, , ), is a French actress. She is considered one of the greatest European actresses on film. In 2020, ''The New York Times'' ranked her as one of th ...

Actress. 1999:

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...

Musician/Producer. Presented by Francine Haskell. 2000:

Michel Legrand Michel Jean Legrand (; 24 February 1932 – 26 January 2019) was a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, jazz pianist, and singer. Legrand was a prolific composer, having written over 200 film and television scores, in addition to ma ...

Composer. Presented by François Bujon de l'Estang 2001:

Jeanne Moreau Jeanne Moreau (; 23 January 1928 – 31 July 2017) was a French actress, singer, screenwriter, director, and socialite. She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française. Mo ...

Actress. Presented by François Bujon de l'Estang 2002:

Christian Lacroix Christian Marie Marc Lacroix (; born 16 May 1951) is a French fashion designer. The name may also refer to the company he founded. Lacroix's designs combine luxury and insouciance. He prefers artisanal trades, fringe, bead, and embroidery. He's ...

Fashion designer. Presented by François Bujon de l'Estang 2003:

Actress. Presented by Jean-David Levitte. 2004: No ceremony. 2005:

Daniel Lamarre Daniel Lamarre (born 1953) is a Canadian former journalist and current president and chief executive officer of the Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil. Born in Grand-Mère, Quebec, he graduated from the University of Ottawa with a ...

on behalf of Cirque du Soleil Contemporary Circus Performer. Presented by Jean-David Levitte 2006:

Charlie Rose Charles Peete Rose Jr. (born January 5, 1942) is an American journalist and talk show host. From 1991 to 2017, he was the host and executive producer of the talk show ''Charlie Rose (talk show), Charlie Rose'' on PBS and Bloomberg L.P., Bloombe ...

Broadcast Journalist. Presented by Bernard-Henry Levy. 2007:

James Ivory James Francis Ivory (born Richard Jerome Hazen June 7, 1928) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was a principal in Merchant Ivory Productions along with Indian film producer Ismail Merchant (his domestic and professio ...

Film Director. Presented by Uma Thurman. 2008:

Philippe de Montebello Philippe de Montebello (born May 16, 1936 in Paris) is a French and American museum director. He served from 1977 to 2008 as the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. On his retirement, he was both the longest-serving dir ...

Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Presented by Phyllis Collins. 2009: Robert Wilson Theater and Visual Artist. Founder of the Watermill Center. Presented by Isabelle Huppert. 2010:

Fashion Designer. Presented by Anna Wintour. 2011:

Alain Ducasse Alain Ducasse (; born 13 September 1956) is a French-born Monégasque chef. He operates a number of restaurants, including Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, which holds three stars (the top rating) in the Michelin Guide. Early life and career D ...

Chef. Presented by Stanley Tucci. 2012:

Angélique Kidjo Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo (; born July 14, 1960) is a Beninese- French singer-songwriter, actress and activist noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. Kidjo has won five Grammy A ...

Musician. Presented by Vanessa Redgrave. 2013:

François Cluzet François Cluzet (; born 21 September 1955) is a French film and theatre actor. Cluzet has collaborated with many important European and American directors, including Claude Chabrol, Bertrand Tavernier, Claire Denis, Agnieszka Holland, Robert ...

Actor. Presented by Jean Reno. 2014:

Jacques Grange Jacques Grange (born 27 June 1944) is a French interior designer. Biography After completing his training at the École Boulle and the École Camondo, Grange made a career as a decorator in France and abroad from the 1970s. His main customers in ...

Interior Designer. Presented by Barbara Gladstone. 2015:

Françoise Gilot Françoise Gaime Gilot (26 November 1921 – 6 June 2023) was a French painter. Gilot was an internationally known artist working largely in watercolors and ceramics as well as a bestselling memoirist of the book ''Life with Picasso''. Gilot's ...

Painter and Writer. Presented by Charlie Rose 2016:

Artist. Presented by Larry Gagosian. 2017:

Peter Marino Peter Marino (born 1949) is an American architect and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He is the principal of Peter Marino Architect PLLC, an architecture and design firm which he founded in 1978. The firm is based in New York City ...

Architect. Presented by Janine Hill 2018:

Actress and Activist. Presented by Sam Waterston. 2019:

Charlotte Gainsbourg Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (; born 21 July 1971) is a British and French actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress and singer Jane Birkin and French singer Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the ...

Actress and Musician. Presented by Anne-Claire Legendre. 2020: No ceremony. 2021: Marc Lévy Writer. Presented by Susanna Lee. 2022:

Jean Reno Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jiménez (born 30 July 1948), commonly known as Jean Reno (), is a French-Spanish actor. He established himself as a Leading actor, leading man of French cinema through his collaborations with director Luc Besson, and has w ...

Actor. Presented by Matthew Broderick.

Past recipients of the Pilier D’Or award

2006: Bertrand Collomb Chairman of Lafarge 2007:

Pierre Bellon Pierre Bellon (24 January 1930 – 31 January 2022) was a French billionaire businessman, the founder of Sodexo, a multinational food service and facilities management company. Early life Pierre Bellon earned a degree from HEC Paris. Career Pi ...

Chairman and Founder of Sodexo 2008:

Jean-Bernard Lévy Jean-Bernard Lévy (born 18 March 1955) is a French businessman, and was the CEO and chairman of EDF. Early life Born on 18 March 1955, the son of a doctor, Lévy attended the Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine. His parents sent him to England ...

CEO of Vivendi 2009: Bernard Poussot Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Wyeth 2010:

Christophe de Margerie Christophe de Margerie (, 6 August 1951 – 20 October 2014) was a French businessman. He served as the chairman and chief executive officer of French oil corporation Total S.A. Early life Christophe de Margerie was born in Mareuil-sur-Lay-D ...

Chairman and CEO of Total. 2011: Paul Desmarais, Jr. Chairman of Power Corporation of Canada 2012:

Thierry Breton Thierry Breton (; born 15 January 1955) is a French-Senegalese business executive, politician, writer and former Commissioner for Internal Market of the European Union from 2019 to 2024. Breton was vice-chairman and CEO of Groupe Bull (1996–19 ...

CEO of ATOS 2013: Carlos Ghosn Chairman and CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance. 2014:

Fabrice Grinda Fabrice Grinda (born 3 August 1974) is a French entrepreneur, blogger for '' Business Insider'' and super angel, with more than 200 investments around the world, including Alibaba Group, Airbnb, Beepi, FanDuel, Palantir, and Windeln. Grinda ...

Internet Entrepreneur 2015:

Alexandre de Juniac Alexandre de Juniac (born 10 November 1962) is a French businessman. Career Public sector De Juniac served as an adviser to Nicolas Sarkozy at the Ministry of Budgets and Christine Lagarde at the Ministry of Economics and Finance when they we ...

Chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM 2016:

Jean-Paul Agon Jean-Paul Agon (born 6 July 1956) is a French businessman who is the chairman and former CEO of the international cosmetic company L'Oréal. Because of the age limit of 65 set by the company, he was replaced in his role of CEO by Nicolas Hieron ...

Chairman and CEO of L’Oreal. 2017:

Sidney Toledano Sidney Toledano (born 25 July 1951 in Casablanca, Morocco) is a French-Moroccan businessman, He has been the CEO of LVMH, LVMH Fashion Group since February 2018 and former CEO of Dior, Fashion House Dior. Family Sidney Toledano was born i ...

President and CEO of Christian Diot Couture 2018: Sébastian Bazin Chairman and CEO of AccorHotels 2019: Dominique Sénéquier President of Ardian 2020: No ceremony. 2021:

Pierre-André de Chalendar Pierre-André de Chalendar (born 12 April 1958) is a French businessman. He is chairman and CEO of Saint-Gobain since 3 June 2010, and CEO since June 2007. Early life Pierre-André de Chalendar was born on 12 April 1958 in Vichy. He graduated f ...

Chairman of Saint-Gobain 2022: Dr. Ilham Kadri CEO and President of the Executive Committee of Solvay

Art de Vivre

Established in 2014, FIAF’s Art de Vivre Award recognizes influential leaders from the food, wine, beauty, and fashion industries for their outstanding contributions to the promotion of the French art of living.

Past recipients of the Art de Vivre award

2014: Elisabeth Holder Raberin and Pierre-Antoine Raberin Co-presidents of Ladurée USA 2015:

Frédéric Malle Pierre 'Frédéric' Serge Louis Jacques Malle (born 17 July 1962 in Paris, France) is a French businessman, author and '' 'Editeur de Parfums' '' who founded the perfume house Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle in 2000. Personal life Frédér ...

Perfume Expert 2016: Martine and Prosper Assouline Founders of Assouline 2017:

Carine Roitfeld Carine Roitfeld (; born 19 September 1954) is a French fashion editor, former fashion model, and writer. She is the former editor-in-chief of ''Vogue Paris'', a position she held from 2001 to 2011. In 2012, she became founder and editor-in-chief ...

Fashion Editor 2018:

Frédéric Fekkai Frédéric Fekkai (born 1958) is a French celebrity hairstylist and entrepreneur in the beauty industry. Early life Fekkai was born and raised in Aix-en-Provence, France to Moroccan parents. In 1979 at the age of 21, Fekkai moved to New York t ...

Founder & CEO of FEKKAI Brands 2019: Ariane Daguin CEO of D'Artagnan 2020: No ceremony. 2021: No ceremony. 2022:

Anne Fontaine Anne Fontaine (born Anne-Fontaine Sibertin-Blanc; 15 July 1959) is a Luxembourgish film director, screenwriter, and former actress. She lives and works in France. Life and career Born Anne-Fontaine Sibertin-Blanc in Luxembourg, sister of actor ...

and Ari Zlotkin Fashion Designer 2023: The Chantecaille Family – Founders of Chantecaille 2024:

Laure Hériard Dubreuil Laure Heriard Dubreuil is a French entrepreneur and the founder and creative director of The Webster. The Webster is a luxury multi-brand retailer operating eleven physical boutiques in the U.S. and an online store. Prior to founding The Webste ...

- Founder of The Webster

Events

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 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 A nutcracker is a tool designed to open nuts by cracking their shells. There are many designs, including levers, screws, and ratchets. The lever version is also used for cracking lobster and crab shells. A decorative version, a nutcracker doll ...

'', 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 Montclair is a Township (New Jersey), township in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated on the cliffs of the Watchung Mountains, Montclair is a commercial and cultural hub of North Jersey and a diverse ...

Haskell Library

Completely renovated by architect

Michael Graves Michael Graves (July 9, 1934 – March 12, 2015) was an American architect, designer, and educator, and principal of Michael Graves and Associates and Michael Graves Design Group. He was a member of The New York Five and the Memphis Group and ...

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.

FIAF Gallery

Since 2007, the FIAF Gallery has been exhibiting contemporary French and Francophone artists such as

Arman Arman (November 17, 1928 – October 22, 2005) was a French and American artist. Born Armand Fernandez in Nice, France, Arman was a painter who moved from using objects for the ink or paint traces they leave (''cachets'', ''allures d'objet'') t ...

Visual System The visual system is the physiological basis of visual perception (the ability to perception, detect and process light). The system detects, phototransduction, transduces and interprets information concerning light within the visible range to ...

Greg Lauren Greg Lauren (né Greg Lauren Dana Smith; born ) is an American actor, painter and fashion designer. He is the nephew of fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Early life Lauren was born in New York City, into a family of Belarusian-Jewish descent, and i ...

Ryoji Ikeda Ryoji Ikeda (池田亮司 ''Ikeda Ryōji'', born 1966) is a Japanese Visual arts, visual and sound artist who currently lives and works in Paris, France. Ikeda's music is concerned primarily with sound in a variety of "raw" states, such as sine ...

, and Matthew Pillsbury.

References

External links

L'Alliance New York
official website
''Crossing the Line'' festival''Fondation Alliance française''FacebookTwitter
{{DEFAULTSORT:French Institute Alliance Francaise French-American culture in New York City Alliance Française Educational organizations established in 1898 1898 establishments in New York City