A group of French-speaking residents, led by Mr Paul Clerc, sets up Alliance Française, registered as a non-profit organization.
WHO WE ARE
Alliance Française de Singapour is the only place in Singapore where you can enjoy a truly unique and authentic French experience. It is a local non-profit educational and cultural organization, affiliated to the international network of Alliance Française. With more than 800 locations in 132 countries, the Alliance Française is undoubtedly the world’s largest network of any cultural association.
With a strong board and a mixed team of Singaporeans and French, and more than 4,000 members of all ages, the Alliance Française de Singapour fulfills its mission of teaching the French language and promoting French and Francophone cultures by offering various actions in its language centre, its gallery (la galerie), its theatre (le théâtre) and its library (la médiathèque).
OUR KEY FIGURES
ORGANISED EACH YEAR
OUR STATEMENTS
CORE VALUES
Excellence is our standard
Expertise and professionalism is our best tool
Creativity and conviviality are our way
Constant innovation is our goal
Equal opportunity and Diversity is our belief
VISION
We believe that developing mutual understanding and going beyond cross-cultural boundaries through the discovery of languages (education) and cultures (arts) can help humanity to live in a more respectful world.
MISSION
Alliance Française de Singapour’s mission is to offer unique opportunities to all public to expand their linguistic and cultural consciousness by offering French classes using innovative state-of-the art methodology and material as well as programming artistic events in all disciplines that promote the richness and diversity of cultures from the French-speaking world and beyond.
OUR LANGUAGE CENTRE
Alliance Française de Singapour has been offering French classes to all public for more than 70 years and has undoubtedly developed the best expertise in teaching French in Singapore. The language centre boasts 25 well-equipped classrooms. The teaching team is composed of highly qualified teachers.
The Alliance offers courses rich and varied: private tuition or in groups, in-house or in companies, general French language or specific objectives, for adults, adolescents or toddlers (from 12 months). It is the only centre in Singapore to offer diploma-awarding examinations by the French Ministry of Education. Each year, around 600 candidates sit for the examinations at the Alliance.
FRENCH CULTURE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
The theatre with 236 seats, the gallery with 50 m space and the library rich with 16,000 documents offer a great array of cultural events. The cultural strategy of the Alliance is geared towards cinema, photography and comic books.
Each year, hundreds of cultural events are organized for around 15,000 to 20,000 persons: exhibitions, films, Q&A sessions with directors, actors or producers, workshops with French artisans, concerts, story-telling or meet-the-author at la médiathèque, etc.
The 6 major events of the year are:
- the Francophonie Festival in March
- the French Animation Film Festival in May
- the International Music Day around 21 June
- the "Meet-the-author" session in September
- the French Film Festival in November
- the Fashion Artisan Week in December
1949-2019
70 years of promoting the French language and culture in SingaporeWelcome to Singapore !
Time to expand!
In 10 years, AF's activities increased significantly. AF opened a library/bar, a reception hall for cinema, 3 classrooms and library.
A special visit
AF is honored to receive the visit of the Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr S. Rajaratnam.
Classes for children
AF celebrates the opening of its first French classes for children.
Tan Sri Runme Shaw becomes President of AF
AF hosts La petite école which will later become the Lycée français de Singapour.
Tan Sri Runme Shaw Challenge Cup
Ms Esther Tan wins the first ever Tan Sri Runme Shaw Challenge Cup. She will later become Vice-President of AF.
Dr Shaw Vee Meng becomes President of AF
Year of the centennial of Alliance Française around the world. The Lien Magazine celebrates its 100th edition and circulates over 3.000 copies.
Un film, une chanson
AF not only brings cinema into its community's daily life with the Tuesday & Wednesday screenings, but also imports to Singapore the one and only Fête de la Musique.
We found our home!
After many relocations over the years, AF finally settles in the modern building designed by the famous French architect, Dominique Perrault, at 1 Sarkies Road.
As the new century sets in, the AF innovates with a year of the "First"
One of them is the first Francophonie Festival.
New look!
After 10 years at Sarkies Road, AF decides on a quick makeover with the renovation of its library, its gallery and its facade with new colored panels. With this new look, AF receives the former President of Singapore, His Excellency Mr S.R. Nathan and his wife.
60th anniversary
AF celebrates its 60th anniversary. AF organizes the first France + Singapore New Generation Artists competition (later FSPAA)
New festival
AF organizes its first French Animation Film Festival.
New record
AF hosts The Little Prince in the Dark exhibition with 8.000 visitors in just 6 weeks!
Dr Shaw Vee Meng, President Emeritus, Mrs Jacky Deromedi, President of AF
AF continues its makeover with a major renovation. That same year, AF hosts its first Fashion Artisan Week with a Fashion show and collaborates for the first time with Ogilvy on a video advertisement which wins the Gold Cannes Lion.
Joyeux anniversaire , AF!
As AF celebrates its 70th birthday, la galerie exhibits Lavender Chang's Diverse Oneness: 70 portraits to pay tribute to previous and current AF members.