In conjunction with our Cultural Foundation, the Alliance Française de Sydney regularly organises art events, openings, artists’ talks and exhibitions at the Media Centre. The Media Centre is located on level one of the building and hosts approximately 10 exhibitions per year showcasing the work of local artists.
In 2025, we were honoured to host the prestigious Studio Harcourt exhibition, showcasing the timeless elegance of the renowned
Parisian photographic studio.
Throughout the year, we also published a series of blog articles dedicated to French painters, shedding light on their lives, techniques,
and influence.
In 2024, in partnership with FANS (Association francophone de la Côte-Nord) and Lycée Condorcet – École française internationale de Sydney, we presented the immersive travelling exhibition ‘Le monde sans fin’ (The Endless World), initiated by the Institut Français and inspired by the successful comic book by Jean-Marc Jancovici and Christophe Blain.
We were also delighted to present the work of Maevasoa Dedy and Chelsea Taylor.
In addition, our special AF FFF exhibition paid tribute to French cinema by presenting portraits of some of France's most famous
actors.
n 2023, the alliance partnered with an extraordinary event: Maria Callas: A Concert in Hologram, a European Union-funded tour across Australia celebrating the centenary of the legendary opera diva. Presented in major venues, including the Sydney Opera House, the production offered audiences a rare opportunity to experience the genius of Maria Callas as if she were live on stage.
The holographic show was accompanied by a live orchestra, with a piano and string quartet in Sydney, harmoniously blending cutting-edge technology, Callas' remastered voice and the power of live music.
From February to April 2022, the Alliance Française de Sydney hosted “Amour Toujours”, a photography exhibition capturing Paris during the Covid pandemic.
Shot in monochrome, the works highlighted resilience, solidarity, and love, portraying the nightly applause for French health workers as a moving symbol of unity and humanity.
Among the highlights of the year was the online conversation with Australian contemporary artist Jasper Knight, who shared his reinterpretations of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s most iconic prints, providing a fresh perspective on the legendary French artist’s work.
We also hosted “Matisse and Le Décoratif”, an enlightening lecture by Professor Roger Benjamin, and moderated by Marie Chrétien, which delved into Matisse’s creative approach to ornamentation and decorative forms.
In addition, the presentation “Women in French & Australian Cinema”, featuring Michelle Royer, Greer Simkin and Rachel Okine, sparked thoughtful discussion on the representation and contributions of women in the film industry across both countries.
With our capacity to welcome patrons onsite for our usual programming restricted, due to the pandemic, our art events moved online. This included a digital lecture series presented by fine arts expert Marie Chrétien, in which she explored the complex and porous relationship between two of the most celebrated and influential artists of Modern Art; Matisse and Picasso.
Later in the year, Marie returned to host another series of talks surrounding another legendary painter, Vincent Van Gogh. In part one of this series, Marie retraced his personal life, including the ways in which his declining mental health influenced his art. In the second instalment, Marie examined his legacy through the lens of the multi-sensory Van Gogh Alive exhibition, on show at Sydney Royal Hall of Industries throughout the month of December. This took the form of an exclusive interview with the CEO of GrandeExhibitions Bruce Peterson, the creative mastermind behind this blockbuster exhibition.
We also offered our members exciting opportunities to win tickets to exhibitions including Van Gogh Alive and Arthur Streeton at Art Gallery of NSW to name a few.
At the beginning of 2019, we hosted a special event to coincide with the summer blockbuster exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW; Masters of modern art from the Hermitage. Taking place at the gallery lecture hall, Assistant curator of European art Anne Gérard-Austin introduced some key works and provided an insightful glimpse into the process of research and curation.
In addition, we were delighted to host a beautiful exhibition of contemporary Australian Indigenous Art which occupied all floors of the Alliance Française de Sydney, curated by founder of Everywhere Arts and arts educator Benedicte Belzung. The Land is Talking...through the voice of Australian Aboriginal Artists included an opening ceremony with a special performance by Northern Territory artist Barayuwa Munƞgurr and guided visits throughout the month of December offered in both French and English.
Another standout exhibition included the photographic works of artist Craig Holmes, presented in partnership with Head On Photo Festival,
displayed at the Alliance Française de Sydney Media Centre during the month of May. These consisted of an evocative series of black and
white photographs presenting a unique insight into the daily rituals of Parisians travelling to and from work.
Other highlights includes the talk Monet Impressionism presented by Sydney University graduate and Francis Stuart Prize recipient Marie Chrétien. This lively discussion uncovered the enigma surrounding the iconic and pioneering painting Impression, Soleil levant by Claude Monet, which was recently exhibited at the National Gallery of Australia.
