The Alliance française is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote French language and culture outside France. Its primary concern is teaching French as a second language. It is headquartered in Paris.

The Alliance was created in Paris on July 21, 1883 by a group of eminent men, including the scientist Louis Pasteur, the diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, the writers Jules Verne and Ernest Renan, and the publisher Armand Colin.

It finances most of its activities from the fees it receives from its courses and from rental of its installations. The French government also provides a subsidy covering approximately five per cent of its budget. (This amounted to nearly 665,000 euros in 2003.)

Close to 400,000 students learn French at one of centers run by the Alliance, whose network of schools includes:

• a centre in Paris
• locations throughout France, which receive foreign students
• over 1072 locations in 130 different countries

The branches outside France are locally, independently run "franchises". The Alliance française "brand" is owned by the Paris centre.

Recognition

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In 2005, along with the Società Dante Alighieri, the British Council, the Goethe-Institut, the Instituto Cervantes and the Instituto Camões, the Alliance française was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for outstanding achievements in communications and the humanities.

See also

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• British Council
• Confucius Institute
• Goethe-Institut
• Instituto Cervantes
• Instituto Camões

External links

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• Alliance française
• Alliance française of Cartagena

French culture | French language | Language education

Institut Français | Alianza Francesa | Alliance française | Alliance Française | Aliança Francesa | Alliance française | 法国文化协会