The Alliance Française de Sydney Cultural Foundation ("Cultural Foundation") is a not-for-profit cultural organisation established in 2019 with a mission to promote French cultural events and Franco-Australian cultural exchanges.
The Cultural Foundation is a new cultural arm of the Alliance Française de Sydney, established in 1899. The Alliance Française de Sydney is one of 834 Alliances Françaises present in 132 countries all over the world.
Throughout the year, more than 50 events relating to film and cinema, literature, performing arts, visual arts and other art forms are organised. This long list of events includes film festivals, exhibitions, masterclasses, book signings, talks, design, television, radio, community arts and much more.
Nestled in the heart of Sydney and housed in a striking building designed by the renowned architect Harry Seidler, the centre is home to cultural events and a comprehensive media centre.
Subscribe now to our monthly e-newsletter to stay up to date with our cultural calendar.
Please note that all cultural events have been postponed until further notice due to the current pandemic and government restrictions. Some have been replaced by online activities.
All Events
- Escape to France with the Festival!Tue, Mar 02Palace CinemasMar 02, 6:00 PM – Mar 31, 8:00 PMPalace Cinemas, 28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW 2008, AustraliaYour very own trip to France is just around the corner with the return of the Alliance Française French Film Festival! This eagerly awaited 32nd season will be screening in selected Sydney theatres throughout the month of March, boasting a line-up of 37 films which will thrill, enchant and inspire.
- LISTEN TO RADIO HENRI DÈSAvailable on an ongoing basisOnline EventAvailable on an ongoing basisOnline EventTake a listen to a beloved children's songwriter's dedicated radio station! You may already be familiar with Swiss artist Henri Dès. Boasting an impressive 50 year-long career, 250 songs, 4.5 million albums sold, 30 schools bearing his name, 100 times appearing on the Olympia stage, 15 gold records.
- EXPLORE FRANCE TV SPECTACLES ET CULTUREAvailible on an ongoing basisOnline EventAvailible on an ongoing basisOnline EventStream cultural events, festivals and concerts! Discover an exciting and diverse selection of "Culturebox" videos, including live streaming of music festivals like Rock en Seine, Vielles Charrues, les Inrocks, Lolapaloosa Paris. You can also find streamed theatre plays such as the Festival d'Avignon
- VIRTUAL TOUR: LE LOUVREAvailable on an ongoing basisOnline Virtual TourAvailable on an ongoing basisOnline Virtual TourDiscover the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris with this virtual tour of its exhibition rooms and galleries! See artworks from masters like Delacroix, Rembrandt or Tintoretto or the collections from the Pharaonic period displayed on the east side of the Sully wing.
- DISCOVER LIRE EN LIGNEAvailable on an ongoing basisOnline Event
- WATCH JACQUES TATI MOVIES ON SBS ON DEMANDAvailible on an ongoing basisOnline EventAvailible on an ongoing basisOnline EventDiscover classic films from the French comic trailblazer – and a contemporary animation based on one of his unproduced screenplays. French mime-turned-filmmaker Jacques Tati wrote, directed and starred in only five feature films (spanning from 1949's Jour de fête to 1971's Trafic) but the influence.
- DISCOVER ARTE CONCERTAvailable on an ongoing basisOnline EventAvailable on an ongoing basisOnline EventExplore a fantastic selection of concerts from electro to classical, jazz to world music, live and on demand. ARTE Concert broadcasting a selection of ARTE’s programmes on the Internet, with English, Spanish Polish and Italian subtitles. It is the first cultural international broadcast of this kind.
- VIRTUAL TOUR: MUSÉE D'ORSAYAvailible on an ongoing basisOnline Virtual TourAvailible on an ongoing basisOnline Virtual TourExperience this important cultural landmark and its beautiful collections, completely online! The museum is hosting the virtual exhibition "From Station to the Renovated Musée" as well as several collections of Oil paint, Canvas, Modern Art, Impressionism and Post Impressionism.
- A HISTORY OF COFFEEFri, Oct 30Zoom conferenceOct 30, 2020, 1:00 PM – 2:05 PMZoom conferenceIn this day and age, it's difficult to imagine the ritual of breakfast without a cup of coffee. But how much do you actually know about the history behind this customary beverage? Tune in to this fascinating Zoom lecture with historian Darren Smith, who will discuss the rise in popularity of coffee.
- VINCENT VAN GOGHFri, Oct 23Zoom conference
- INTERVIEW WITH THE CREATOR OF THE VAN GOGH ALIVEThu, Oct 22Zoom conference
- FRENCH CINEMA: A CULTURAL & GLOBAL PHENOMENONFri, Sep 25Zoom conferenceSep 25, 2020, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PMZoom conferenceIn this lecture, Associate Professor Michelle Royer (Chair of the Department of French and Francophone studies at the University of Sydney) will present the various periods of French cinema and explain how French cinema is more international than one might think.
- COLOURS OF IMPRESSIONISMFri, Jun 26Video ConferenceJun 26, 2020, 1:00 PM – Jul 03, 2020, 2:00 PMVideo ConferenceDuring this online conference, Marie Chrétien revisits for a second time an extraordinary exhibition from the Musée d’Orsay and South Australia Art Gallery, which includes 65 of the museum’s most treasured paintings by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Pissaro and others.
- THE 2020 FESTIVAL IS POSTPONEDWed, Mar 18Palace CinemasMar 18, 2020, 9:00 AMPalace Cinemas, 28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW 2008, AustraliaPlease note that following the Australian Government’s additional restrictions on non-essential social gatherings, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the remainder of the 2020 Alliance Française French Film Festival until further notice, to protect both our patrons and staff.
- THE 2020 FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHTTue, Mar 10The University of Notre Dame, SydneyMar 10, 2020, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMThe University of Notre Dame, Sydney, 128-140 Broadway, Chippendale NSW 2007, AustraliaWhilst the remainder of the Festival has been postponed until further notice, the Opening Night went ahead as planned, taking place at the beautiful Notre Dame University and attended by many of our distinguished guests.