The Los Angeles Chapter of Albertine Foundation is committed to fostering connection between the city of Los Angeles, the southwestern region of the United States, and the nation of France. By focusing on three main cultural fields: Art, Education, and Cinema, the Los Angeles Chapter of Albertine Foundation engages, entwines, and elevates the offerings of these communities.
As the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Villa Albertine Los Angeles strengthens ties between France, Los Angeles, and the greater Southwest by connecting people and institutions in the spheres of culture and education. It encourages collaboration among French and US-based organizations and provides creators and thought leaders with residencies and grants to explore and share new insights into society’s pressing issues. Through various programs and collaborations, we bring together artists, thinkers, educators, and institutions to spark dialogue and nurture long-term cooperation between our communities. We seek to expand accessibility to French language and Francophone cultures across Southern California. Villa Albertine Los Angeles is committed to creating a unique opportunity for connecting France to a wide network of cultural scenes on the west coast.
Since the launch of Villa Albertine in 2021, Los Angeles and its surrounding jurisdiction have welcomed 47 residents, including:
— Filmmakers: Kaouther Ben Hania, Davy Chou— Writers: Marie Darrieussecq, Marie N’Diaye— Visual Artists: Josèfa Ntjam, SMITH, Sarah Ouhaddou— Choreographers: (LA) HORDE, Nach— Musicians: Stephanie Childress, Sivan Eldar, Chassol
Aside from individual residency projects, annual professional programs continue to renew Franco-American dialogue between our creative industries, with projects like:
— Museums Next Gen for future museum leaders,— Boulevard des Séries, for accomplished French screenwriters experiencing their first forays into the international market,— Game Changer, a special immersion program for the gaming industry,— Oui Design, for designers interested in new materials, sustainable design and new technologies.
We actively support a variety of French cultural events, productions and initiatives in the US, such as book tours for French authors and award campaigns for French film productions with high potential to bring home major U.S. awards, including Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Annie Awards, and Emmys.
We pay particular attention to fostering public debate around cultural issues. Each year, the Night of Ideas offers a unique moment of reflection on a given theme, thanks to researchers, artists, speakers and performers.
We help bring French cinema to American audiences with events like Films on the Green and by supporting initiatives like Theatre Raymond Kabbaz’s Week of French Language Cinema.
We organize and support numerous cultural events in Los Angeles, which you can learn about in our quarterly newsletter.
Numerous programs serve to strengthen the network of French language learners in the region, both within the academic setting (K-12 and higher education) and outside. The French For All program comprises several initiatives promoting French, such as the French Dual Language Fund, a support to schools offering French classes as a foreign language, and French in Higher Education.
We encourage international mobility and French American collaboration through scholarships and programs at every level of study – undergraduate with Community Colleges in France, master’s with France Excellence Graduate Scholars, and doctorate with Chateaubriand – as well as through other initiatives, such as the Teaching Assistant Program In France. These programs help young people build lasting academic and professional ties with France and strengthen the alumni network in the United States.
Another objective is to help students receive instruction that is closely aligned with their needs, especially since French is not only a language of culture but also a precious asset to enter the job market. This is why we help students connect their French studies to real-world careers by promoting the teaching of French for Professional Purposes with our partners.
Villa Albertine Los Angeles creates a unique opportunity for connecting France to a wide network of cultural scenes on the West Coast, serving as the second-largest jurisdiction of the French Embassy in the United States.
Support Villa Albertine Los Angeles and receive the following benefits for two people:
— Encounters with the residents at the Résidence de France— Invitations to the opening of the exhibitions/festivals mentioned and their related events at the Résidence— Invitations to panels with French researchers at UCLA and USC— Connections with French directors/curators/artists/designers/architects in town— Special Villa Albertine programming in Paris and Miami during Art Basel— Invitation to our annual Bastille Day reception
All the above and:
— Invitation to the Grammy Awards brunch at the Résidence— Invitation to the Academy Awards brunch at the Résidence— Access to the program of Villa Albertine San Francisco — for you and your guests— Invitations to Villa Albertine events at its headquarters in New York City— Access to the Villa’s cultural network in France for unique experiences
For all questions related to the Los Angeles Chapter of Albertine Foundation:
Océane Arnaud | Program Officer oceane.arnaud@villa-albertine.org