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) 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.

About FIAF
The Alliance Française de New York was founded in 1898, and the French Institute in 1911 (running the Museum of French Art), 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 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. 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 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 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.

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, Jerome Robbins, Isabelle Huppert, Angelique Kidjo, Jeff Koons, and Jane Fonda. 
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: Louis Malle  Film Director. 
1993: Jerome Robbins  Choreographer. Presented by Corice Arman. 
1994: Jean-Pierre Rampal  Flutist. Presented by Liliane Montevecchi. 
1995: Jessye Norman  Singer. Presented by Kevin Kline. 
1996: Charles Aznavour  Singer/composer. Presented by Liza Minnelli. 
1997: Lauren Bacall  Actress. Presented by Gregory Peck. 
1998: Catherine Deneuve  Actress. 
1999: Quincy Jones  Musician/Producer. Presented by Francine Haskell. 
2000: Michel Legrand  Composer. Presented by François Bujon de l'Estang 
2001: Jeanne Moreau  Actress. Presented by François Bujon de l'Estang 
2002: Christian Lacroix  Fashion designer. Presented by François Bujon de l'Estang 
2003: Isabelle Huppert  Actress. Presented by Jean-David Levitte. 
2004: No ceremony. 
2005: Daniel Lamarre on behalf of Cirque du Soleil  Contemporary Circus Performer. Presented by Jean-David Levitte 
2006: Charlie Rose  Broadcast Journalist. Presented by Bernard-Henry Levy. 
2007: James Ivory  Film Director. Presented by Uma Thurman. 
2008: Philippe de Montebello  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: Marc Jacobs  Fashion Designer. Presented by Anna Wintour. 
2011: Alain Ducasse  Chef. Presented by Stanley Tucci. 
2012: Angélique Kidjo  Musician. Presented by Vanessa Redgrave. 
2013: François Cluzet  Actor. Presented by Jean Reno. 
2014: Jacques Grange  Interior Designer. Presented by Barbara Gladstone. 
2015: Françoise Gilot  Painter and Writer. Presented by Charlie Rose 
2016: Jeff Koons  Artist. Presented by Larry Gagosian. 
2017: Peter Marino  Architect. Presented by Janine Hill 
2018: Jane Fonda  Actress and Activist. Presented by Sam Waterston. 
2019: Charlotte Gainsbourg  Actress and Musician. Presented by Anne-Claire Legendre. 
2020: No ceremony. 
2021: Marc Lévy  Writer. Presented by Susanna Lee. 
2022: Jean Reno  Actor. Presented by Matthew Broderick.

Past recipients of the Pilier D’Or award
2006: Bertrand Collomb  Chairman of Lafarge 
2007: Pierre Bellon  Chairman and Founder of Sodexo 
2008: Jean-Bernard Lévy  CEO of Vivendi 
2009: Bernard Poussot  Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Wyeth 
2010: Christophe de Margerie  Chairman and CEO of Total. 
2011: Paul Desmarais, Jr.  Chairman of Power Corporation of Canada 
2012: Thierry Breton  CEO of ATOS 
2013: Carlos Ghosn  Chairman and CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance. 
2014: Fabrice Grinda  Internet Entrepreneur 
2015: Alexandre de Juniac  Chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM 
2016: Jean-Paul Agon  Chairman and CEO of L’Oreal. 
2017: Sidney Toledano  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  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  Perfume Expert 
2016: Martine and Prosper Assouline  Founders of Assouline 
2017: Carine Roitfeld  Fashion Editor 
2018: Frédéric Fekkai  Founder & CEO of FEKKAI Brands 
2019: Ariane Daguin  CEO of D'Artagnan 
2020: No ceremony. 
2021: No ceremony. 
2022: Anne Fontaine and Ari Zlotkin  Fashion Designer 
2023: The Chantecaille Family – Founders of Chantecaille

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, 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.

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.

FIAF Gallery
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
External links
French Institute Alliance Française, official website
Crossing the Line festival
Fondation Alliance française
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