A nnual R eport 2014

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Contents A Message from the Chairman of the Board..........................2 A Message from the Executive Director..................................3 2014 in Numbers.........................................................................5 Learning French at the Center ..................................................6 Community Outreach Programs ...........................................10 The Library ................................................................................12 Cultural Events .........................................................................14 2014 Cultural Events Calendar...............................................16 Bastille Day................................................................................18 Gatherings and Fundraising Events ......................................20 Membership ..............................................................................24 Merci!..........................................................................................27 2014 Financial Information .....................................................31 Trustees and Staff of the French Cultural Center ................32

Annual Report 2014

A Message from the Chairman of the Board Perhaps you have a favorite corner somewhere in the French Cultural Center. Mine is la salle de lecture where, ensconced in a side chair, I can browse newly arrived periodicals and exchange a few words with staff members and friends who happen to pass. From my roost, I sometimes marvel at the number and variety of people who bustle into the Center to take part in the extraordinary range of activities that we offer. You will discover for yourself further on in this report how this stream of arriving Francophones and Francophiles resulted in excellent results for the Center in 2014. Let me simply express immense pride at the quality and depth of the language classes, cultural activities and library/media programs—the core of our mission—that bring so many visitors through our doors. I take satisfaction as well at our growing community and outreach activities. People—our talented staff, our dedicated trustees, our generous supporters and our enthusiastic volunteers—account for the Center’s excellence and reputation. It is impossible to thank each person by name in this brief comment. However, in this review of 2014, one individual in particular deserves special acknowledgement. After 14 years on the board of trustees, Gérard Moufflet retired in December from his position as chairman. The positive impact of Gérard’s long and extraordinary tenure would be difficult to overstate. Under his leadership, “The French Library” became the more broadly defined French Cultural Center, with appropriately expanded activities. Along with his wife Brigitte, Gérard brought many new people into the French Cultural Center family. Gérard built and continually refreshed the board of trustees with individuals of distinction. I would also like to sincerely thank Dominique Baly, Brad Curley, Vincent Martin and Joan Wood who also retired from the board last year. Even as he prepared to depart, Gérard shaped the Center’s future by launching a board-level review of our overall strategy. As his successor, it falls to me to guide the strategy deliberations to their conclusion. The new plan will incorporate new ways to celebrate and advance the French language and culture and the worldwide phenomenon that is la Francophonie. It will recognize the evolving interests and priorities of members and friends. And, while ambitious, the plan will be—indeed, must be—realistic, achievable and financially sound. It will, in short, strengthen the Center. And I, for one, look forward to rising from my place in la salle de lecture to greet the new faces coming through the door. Steven P. Galante Chairman, Board of Trustees

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A Message from the Executive Director When asked, it’s always with great enthusiasm and the sense of belonging to something quite wonderful that I speak of the activities and the raison d’être of my favorite institution. Its impressive past, rooted in historic French-American friendship, makes it a very special part of Boston’s cultural landscape. To think that the full-fledged cultural center we know today started in 1945 as a small circle of friends who enjoyed French literature leaves me in awe. Today, we offer an enviable collection of over twenty-eight thousand French books, documents and CDs/DVDs, year-round French classes for all ages and levels, as well as a multitude of cultural events. We also reach outside our walls, and serve the community through several initiatives, such as our Accent on Success program in nine underserved Boston area schools. Through the years, we have held on to a long tradition of hosting known personalities, thereby creating opportunities for enriching encounters and exchanges. In 2014, we were honored to host programs with master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel, prize-winning author Lola Lafon, French physical chemist Hervé This and French violin virtuoso Léo Marillier, to name just a few. We were also delighted to host a sumptuous gala featuring spectacular wines of Château Mouton Rothschild, which helped us raise funds for our outreach and education programs. Of course, we are proud of our accomplishments, but what matters most to us is how we connect to all our members and visitors every day. The French Cultural Center aims to offer an immersion experience in a welcoming, inclusive environment. We like to say that it all begins with bonjour. Through the celebration of our diversity, through the teaching of another language, through the experience of other cultures, we believe that we bring the world that much closer to those national values of fraternity, equality, and freedom which are both American and French. While the French Cultural Center is one of a kind in New England, our members are many of a kind; indeed here you will meet like-minded, culturally savvy friends of all ages and backgrounds. Culture truly transcends generations and borders. I invite you to join us, discover our wonderful offerings and support us in our mission. Just step in and say “Bonjour!”

Catheline van den Branden President, Executive Director

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Connecting New England with French language, culture and art de vivre

The French Cultural Center of Boston brings the richness and diversity of France and the Frenchspeaking world to New England residents through arts and education programming. Founded in 1945 by a group of Americans who were dedicated to fostering Franco-American cultural relations, the Center has grown to become one of the leading institutions of French culture in the United States today. It is the home of the Alliance Française (Boston and Cambridge Chapter) and of the secondlargest French lending library in the United States, with nearly 1,000 active users. In 2014, more than 1,700 students registered for French classes and 3,500 visitors attended lectures, live performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, wine tastings and family events at the Center. In addition to serving local Francophone and Francophile communities, we continually strive to engage wider audiences in discovering French language, culture and art de vivre and to provide a welcoming, fun and vibrant space for all. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which operates from private funds and without any financial contributions from the French or U.S. governments. It is with the generous support of our members, donors and sponsors that we are able to implement our programming and achieve our mission year after year.

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2014

9

in numbers

81

boston area

schools

benefiting from our

free french

& sponsors

after-school

partners

program

72,450

website visitors

52

different language

courses

15,239 items borrowed

from the

library

2,000

bastille day

party goers

10,021 -N e

ewsletter

subscribers

20 native

francophone

10,157

electronic

resources

on culturethèque 5

instructors

2,388

hours of

private lessons

1,401 Members

3,345 FACEBOOK

likes

1,180

volunteers

62

cultural

events with

3,500

attendees

301 1,730 kids & teens

enrolled in

summer in

french

french class registrations

28,593

french books

documents CDs and DVDs

in our library

Learning French at the Center What makes our language school unique in Boston are the native French-speaking instructors and the world-renowned Alliance Française immersion method taught in the classroom. In 2014, we offered 52 different group language courses and 2,388 hours of private lessons.

Programs for Adults Our courses are designed for all levels of French and include grammar, conversation, intensive programs and thematic classes in literature and humanities. Small class sizes (maximum 10) create intimate settings where students receive personalized attention and timely feedback from their instructors. Group courses run in 10-week sessions and are offered on weekdays, in the evenings and on Saturdays to accommodate busy professionals’ schedules.

Language

proficiency exams

During the 10 exam periods this year, 112 candidates took the official language proficiency exams DELF (Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française) and TEF (Test d’Evaluation de Français) at the Center. Successful candidates were awarded formal certificates by the French Ministry of Education, which many Francophone countries require for naturalization and job and university applications.

O pen

houses

The Center opened its doors to the general public during March, September and December open houses. Visitors met with our French teachers, toured the Center, took placement tests, signed up for language classes and learned about the library’s latest arrivals and the Center’s upcoming cultural programs.

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Education in 2014 Classes

Courses *

Registrations

Adults

28

594

Children

19

481

Summer in French for kids and teens

2

301

Intensive programs and workshops

3

140

Private lessons

-

214

52

1,730

Total * Numbers do not reflect multiple sections of the same course

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Programs for Children Children’s language courses are at the heart of the Center’s education programming, with a total of 782 registrations in 2014. We offer the Alliance Française “Smart Steps to French” curriculum, as well as learning-through-play courses: Musique en Herbe (music), Les P’tits Chefs (cooking), Le P’tit Labo (science) and Les P’tits Artistes (arts & crafts).

Summer

in

F rench

One of our most popular class sessions, the Summer in French language immersion program for children and teens had a record 301 registrations. Through lively and age appropriate activities tailored to their individual level of French, children aged 3-12 learned new vocabulary, conversation and writing skills. Each week centered on one theme and included special activities such as visits from exotic animals, puppet shows, cooking, theater and art. The Summer in French for Teens curriculum used a comprehensive approach to language acquisition based on vocabulary building, grammar, reading and writing exercises. Expanding beyond the traditional classroom setting, the task-based language workshops allowed students to experience French culture through studio art, theater, fashion and field trips, creating memorable summer experiences and lasting friendships.

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We have been taking our children to the French

Family events

Cultural Center in Boston continuously since they We welcomed more than 200

were six months old. We are a multi-cultural and

children and parents for fun-

bilingual family; our children speak English with

filled

gatherings

their mother and French with their father. Having a

Fête des Rois

“French” home in Boston has proved invaluable to

(January), Mardi Gras (March),

us not only as a means to strengthen their language

Fête de la musique (June) and

skills, but also in a social and cultural context.

the traditional Fête des enfants

The Center is a place where they can interact with

(December). These occasions

different native French-speaking adults and meet

were an opportunity to bring

other bilingual children, which normalizes their

whole families together into the

multicultural identity. Other services and events

Center and to allow parents to

all serve to facilitate this: the children’s library

experience the atmosphere and

upstairs houses a vast collection of French books for

the teaching methods used in

them to read, while the children’s events like Fête

their child’s classroom.

des Rois enable us to introduce them to traditional

Saturday

in French:

French holidays and culture. — Nicolas Oreskovic, Father of Olivier, 6 and Caroline, 4

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Community Outreach Programs Accent on Success The Accent on Success after-school program responds to a need for French language instruction at the elementary school level in underserved Boston area schools. Since its inception in 2005, it has provided after-school French instruction free of charge to over 1,200 children. The program is fully funded by the French Cultural Center and complements the Common Core Massachusetts State Standards Initiative for college and career readiness. Our annual Tour de France Viticole wine dinner and Le Bal serve to raise the critical funds needed to sustain Accent on Success. Proceeds have allowed the Center to cover program costs and offer it free of charge to all students. In 2014, we were able to provide full scholarships for 13 Accent on Success students to participate in our Summer in French program. The French Cultural Center is grateful to our corporate partner, Sanofi, for its generous contribution of $10,000 to the Accent on Success program. The funding was used to support faculty compensation, classroom supplies and field trip costs.

School Visits and Enrichment More than 150 local school children visited the Center in 2014. These customizable field trips included tours of the Center, scavenger hunts through the library and workshops on conversation, music, art and cooking. The school visits program is part of a larger new initiative that was launched to provide enrichment opportunities for Boston area French language teachers and to support their work in the classroom. Resources include language learning materials, graded reads with audio and text, electronic books, music and games. We established collaboration with four elementary schools in Milton, MA, a nearby town with a French immersion program in its public schools. Our library staff visited Collicot, Cunningham, Glover and Tucker schools and spoke to students about French language, the Center and our Culturethèque resources. For the second year in a row, we worked with Milton Public Schools and the École Française du Maine to distribute the DELF scolaire to their student population. This collaboration is planned to expand in 2015.

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Accent on Success With three new schools joining in 2014, the program is currently operating in nine urban schools: Josiah Quincy School, Chinatown Epiphany School, Dorchester

Each year, through the Accent on Success program I meet children eager to learn, always happy and curious to discover more about anything related to French. Every week, I find them excited to see

Boston International High

me again and I treasure the relationships I have

School, Dorchester

created with them. I am so proud to hear them

Curley School, Jamaica Plain

sing by heart the songs we learned together. Their interest and motivation remind me every day that

JP Manning School,

this program makes a huge difference in the lives of

Jamaica Plain

these children and helps them open their minds to

Boston Latin Academy, Longwood Excel High School, South Boston Ohrenberger School, West Roxbury Rindge Avenue Upper School, Cambridge

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introduce themselves in French with confidence or

the world. — Angélique Grégoire, Teacher at the French Cultural Center

The Library When the French Cultural Center’s predecessor, the French Library in Boston, was founded in 1945, it consisted of one single room with 500 books. Today, our French library is the largest of its kind in New England. Our collections include more than 28,000 books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and electronic and educational materials. The library is open to the public, with borrowing privileges reserved for the Center’s members. Users can consult the electronic Koha catalogue to search library collections, reserve and renew books, share bibliographies, use RSS feeds and even provide suggestions for new acquisitions. An important part of the library’s mission is to support both the Center’s education department and New England’s French teachers in their work in the classroom. To that end, a new teacher’s guide to the Center’s resources and enrichment opportunities was compiled and disseminated in Boston area schools. Copies are also available on our website.

Bouillon

de

Lectures

Led by our head librarian, Bouillon de lectures is an informal book club that meets monthly to discuss different books within a selected literary theme:

January

Annie Ernaux

February

Littérature et cinéma

March

Dany Laferrière

April

Roman français: Littérature d’idées

May

Frédéric Beigbeder

June

Roman français: Littérature d’images

September

Roman français: Ecclectisme littéraire

October

Yasmina Reza

November

La nouvelle contemporaine

C ulturethèque Members of the French Cultural Center have unlimited access to this online multimedia platform containing French eBooks, videos and the latest issues of French magazines. In 2014, Editions Gallimard titles and recent releases from other major publishing companies were added to Culturethèque, which significantly improved the quality of our eBook offerings.

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French library in 2014 28,593

Books, documents and CDs/DVDs

10,157

Resources in Culturethèque

15,239

Items checked out

959

Library users

540

New acquisitions

9

Book club sessions

C hildren’s R eading R oom One of the Center’s treasures is our cozy and colorful children’s reading room, lined with 3,500 books for our young readers. The library expanded the Children’s Collection this year and added board games and playing cards in French that can now be checked out. A $4,000 gift from the Marion and Jay Kochi Foundation will enable us to further develop our resources for children.

Book Sale In June and in November, the library opened its doors to the public for a wildly popular and beloved event—the book sale. More than 700 titles for adults and children were sold, raising a total of $1,031 to help the library acquire new books. The library raised an additional $451 with its circulation desk offerings throughout the year.

C ommunity Engagement At the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association (MaFLA) Conference in October, the Center’s education and library staff spoke about using Culturethèque and the Center’s resources in language instruction. We also maintained our book deposit program with the libraries of Winchester, Waltham and Belmont, MA, loaning each of them a unique rotating selection of 120 books.

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Cultural Events For 70 years now, the French Cultural Center has been an integral part of Boston’s cultural and intellectual scene. It is a place to experience French art, literature, current events, cinema, fashion, music and gastronomy. Nearly 3,500 visitors attended the 62 cultural events that we presented in 2014.

M

SAÏQUE C ultural F und

The Mosaïque Cultural Fund supports expanded and exceptional cultural programming at the Center, including singular events featuring high-profile Francophone artists, writers, performing artists and political leaders. In 2014, Mosaïque sponsored notably the French Design Forum, as well as talks by master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel and author Steven Levingston who made Belle-Époque Paris come to life. The fund raised nearly $80,000 this year thanks to Mosaïque Founders’ Circle memberships, contributions, individual gifts and fundraising events. Since the inception of the fund in 2011, $336,145 has been raised for Mosaïque.

F ilm Events As part of our French cinema series, the Center screened nine films this year, including a number of award winners. Screenings were presented in French with English subtitles, which allowed the audience

L'Enfant, 2005

February

Amour, 2012

March

Rust and bone, 2012

April

Un prophète, 2009

May

Incendies, 2010

to practice language comprehension and appreciate

June

Le Passé, 2013

French cinema in its original form.

September

Les petits ruisseaux, 2010

October

Ponette, 1996

As a special event, we partnered with the Bright Lights

November

L'Écume des jours, 2013

Film Series of Emerson College to screen L’Écume des jours, a 2013 film by Michel Gondry. The film was shown at the state-of-the-art Paramount Center screening room, which seats 174 people. The French Cultural Center was also a co-sponsor of the 19th Annual French Film Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in July, featuring the latest releases from French-speaking countries around the world.

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January

Photo by Kayanna Szymczak for The Boston Globe

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2014 Cultural Events Calendar JANUARY

MARCH

MAY

Exhibition. Members' Art Show Lecture. Insights on Sophie Calle: Last Seen, by Pieranna Cavalchini, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Curator Concert. La Voix Humaine, a one-act opera Social. Paint Nite Family. Fête des Rois

Exhibition. A Travelogue in Color. Paintings by Lorna Ritz Lecture. The Art of Letters in Francophone Literature, by Frédérique Donovan Family. Mardi Gras Special Event. Bulgarian Soirée. Folkloric dance performance by the ensemble Ludo Mlado and an art exhibition by Bulgarian artist Nelly Tonchev

Lecture. French Migrations to America Before 1800, with Dr. Bertrand Van Ruymbeke Exhibition. World War I Centenary Exhibition: Historical Materials and Contemporary Interpretations Food & Wine. European Food Festival, featuring foods, wines and beers from Belgium, Holland, France, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland Lecture. Stem Cells and Cancer Therapies: The Two Faces of Janus, with Professor Daniel Louvard Social. Le bar à vins

FEBRUARY

SAÏQUE Special Event. French Design Forum

Food & Wine. Fête de la Chandeleur, crêpe day Exhibition. Paris & Les Halles. Photographs by David Pendery Lecture. Le Roi s’Amuse and Rigoletto: How Hugo and Verdi Shocked the Censors Social. Speed Dating in French Food & Wine. French Craft Beer: A Virtual Tour and an Actual Tasting Food & Wine. French Wine Scholar Program

M

The French Wine Scholar Program is a seven-week course at the highest level of French wine studies, offered to wine professionals and enthusiasts. Endorsed by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Wines of France/ the French National Wine Office and by the U.S. wine industry, the French Wine Scholar program covers the wines of France by region and prepares students for the formal French Wine Scholar (FWS) exam.

The French Design Forum was organized as part of the first annual Boston Design Week, a 10day citywide festival. The Center hosted a lecture on French historical furniture design, modernism and innovation; a panel discussion on how technology revolutionized design; and a screening of Design en Capitale(s), a film created during the 2012 Paris Design Week.

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APRIL SAÏQUE Special Event. Insights into the History of Perfumery with master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel Exhibition. Île de Ré - Île de Rêve. Photographs by Brigitte Tournier

M

Professor Daniel Louvard, a member of the French Academy of Sciences and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, spoke about mechanisms at work in stem cells, and on their contribution to the origin of tumors and the development of innovative therapies.

Photo courtesy of The Journal of Cell Science

JUNE

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

Exhibition. Fugues in Neutral Spaces. Photographs by Franck Sadock Food & Wine. All about Canelés. Cooking demonstration and tasting Family. Fête de la Musique M SAÏQUE Concert. Fête de la Musique: Concert by Suzanne Pergal Social. Apéro spécial été

Lecture. La Maison Fournaise: An Impressionist Hot Spot, by MarieChristine Davy, Honorary Deputy Mayor of the city of Chatou Exhibition. Paris: Point of Departure. Paintings by Charlie Allen Lecture. Talk and book signing by Lola Lafon, author of We Are the Birds of the Coming Storm M SAÏQUE Lecture. The Dark Lights of Belle Époque Paris, presentation of the nonfiction thriller Little Demon in the City of Light by author Steven Levingston Special Event. Boston Book Festival. Talks and book signings by 3 authors: Jean-Claude Redonnet on Héritages francophones and Les monologues de Jeanne Amiel; Hervé This on Note-byNote Cooking; and Marc Crépon on The Thought of Death and the Memory of War Food & Wine. A Sensory Experience: Pairing Chocolate and Wine

Exhibition. Soldiers and Chocolate: Memories of the Occupation. Paintings by Marguerite Waldron Concert. Rêve d’Amour, 19th century and early 20th century French chamber music performed by Rebecca Hartka, Barbara Lysakowski, Jessica Rossi and Mana Washio Lecture. Jean Sablon, a Popular French Crooner of the 1930s, by Philippe Jadin and Charles Langhendries Social. Le bar à vins

The Boston Book Festival is a citywide event attended by 25,000 visitors that promotes the culture of reading. As part of this year’s festival, and in partnership with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the U.S., the Center hosted talks and book signings by 3 French authors: Jean-Claude Redonnet, Hervé This and Marc Crépon. Promoted throughout New England, this event boosted our visibility among the general public and brought in audiences that would have not otherwise been familiar with the Center.

With nearly 700 visitors, the 13th annual Marché de Noël was a tremendous success. Visitors enjoyed complimentary warm cider and mulled wine and discovered culinary treats, clothing, linens, soaps and crafts from merchants bringing the essence of France to Boston.

SEPTEMBER Exhibition. Revisiting Monet’s Gardens. Paintings by Anna Coniaris Comolli Social. Boston International apéro M SAÏQUE Lecture and Workshop. Coty & Guerlain: Landmark Scents of the 20th Century Food & Wine. A Taste of Cheese from the Mountains: the Alps and the Pyrenees Concert. Saint-Saëns and César Franck, performed by violinist Léo Marillier

World-renowned master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel spoke about landmark scents created by François Coty and the Guerlains at the turn of the 20th century and presented some of the scents preserved in the Osmothèque— the International Perfume Archive headquartered in Versailles. The audience had a unique opportunity to uncork rare bottles (e.g., versions from the ’20s, ’60s and today) and discover historical scents which have made perfumery what it is today. 17

Photo courtesy of Christophe Laudamiel

DECEMBER Exhibition. Songes Métalliques. Photographs by Rith Banney Family. Fête des enfants Special Event. Marché de Noël Lecture. Hélène Berr: A Stolen Life, by Guila Clara Kessous

Bastille Day The French Cultural Center’s legendary Bastille Day

Bastille Day 2014 in numbers

celebration took place on July 11, 2014. Nearly 2,000

2,000

Bostonians gathered on tree-lined Marlborough Street to celebrate the cultural diversity of the city and

Attendees

the pillars of the French Revolution: Liberté, Égalité,

173

Fraternité.

VIP guests

One of the largest Bastille Day events in the United States, this was a party in true French style, with

183

music, dancing, a children’s corner and food and wine

Volunteers

from some of Boston's best French restaurants. Two extraordinary Francophone bands rocked the stage:

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H'Sao, whose explosive dance beats from Chadian

Sponsors

roots blended soul, jazz and R&B and Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate, an American-Guinean duo fusing

100,000

hip-hop and funk with reggae and African beats. Advertised throughout the city, on the MBTA and in local news outlets, the event quickly sold out and was

Promotional reach through media partners

one of the most successful Bastille Day celebrations in the Center’s history. The VIP Reception welcomed 173 notable members of our sponsor and donor community, including many of Boston’s business, government, and philanthropic leaders.

What Bostonians love about Bastille Day “I loved the delicious food and high-energy music. I danced all night!” “A chance to meet others, dance, eat good French food, support the Center and have a good time on one of the prettiest streets in Boston.” “I enjoyed the ambiance of having a street party and sitting at tables with a glass of wine, people watching and listening to music.”

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Photos opposite by Russ Mezikofsky and Christiana Rifaat

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Gatherings and Fundraising Events The French Cultural Center’s special events wowed guests with elegance, ambiance and charm and generated indispensable funding for the daily operations of our programs. The Center is grateful to Mr. Eric Vogt, the chairman of our Wine Committee, for his instrumental role in establishing relationships

with

world-renowned

vintners over the years and securing generous contributions of stellar wines for our fundraising events. The Center’s signature wine dinners would not have been possible without his remarkable leadership and support.

The Legend of Château Talbot Wine Dinner April 30, 2014 The Château Talbot event was our most successful Mosaïque fundraiser of the year, with 30 guests in attendance. During the private dinner at the Somerset Club in Boston, the owner of Château Talbot, Mr. Jean-Paul Bignon, spoke about the history of his estate and the selection of exceptional Grand Cru Classé red wines dating from 1961 to 2009.

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Le Bal Électro April 5, 2014 Our spring signature event, Le Bal Électro was a black tie cocktail dînatoire for 165 guests.

Our

team,

with

tremendous

support from the Honorary Hosts and the

Planning

Committee,

completely

transformed the ground floor of the French Cultural Center to recreate the ambiance of the most exclusive electronic music lounges and clubs in present-day Paris. The silent auction to support the Mosaïque Cultural Fund and the Accent on Success French language instruction after-school program featured alluring prizes, including a stay in Paris, a trip to Montreal and tickets to one of the world’s largest electronic music festivals, the EM15.

Themes of Le Bal 2012 – Le Bal de l’Absinthe 2013 – Le Bal de Saint-Germain-des-Prés 2014 – Le Bal Électro

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All photos on pages 18-19 by Russ Mezikofsky

Le Tour de France Viticole Wine Dinner November 24, 2014 Le Tour de France Viticole wine dinner is the principal fundraiser for the Center and our Accent on Success French language instruction after-school program offered free of charge to students in Boston area schools. In its eighth year now, our wine dinner has become Boston’s finest wine event, featuring stellar wines, exceptional vintages and world-renowned vintners. What makes this black tie affair unique is also the sense of community among the guests who share a dedication to the mission of the French Cultural Center and a profound appreciation of the fine wines from France. The 2014 wine dinner was a once-in-a-lifetime event featuring extraordinary Château Mouton Rothschild wines from Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A.’s portfolio and with Mr. Philippe Dhalluin, Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A.’s Executive and Managing Director for Châteaux Wines, as the guest of honor. Held at the Chilton Club in Boston, the event was attended by 108 prominent guests and raised a record $275,000. Wines served Pol Roger Extra Cuvée De Réserve Brut Champagne, NV Aile d’Argent 2010 Château d’Armailhac 2011 Château Clerc Milon 2011 Château Mouton Rothschild 2005 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2005 Château Mouton Rothschild 1995 Château Coutet 1997

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History of Le Tour de France Viticole 2004 – Taste of Provence Château St. Julien d’Aille Domaine de Trians Château La Calisse Maître Vignerons de la Presqu’île de St. Tropez 2007 – Château Lynch Bages 2009 – Maison Joseph Drouhin 2010 – Château Palmer 2011 – Château Margaux 2012 – Château Angélus 2013 – M. Chapoutier 2014 - Château Mouton Rothschild

The French Cultural Center offers un “Je ne sais quoi” to Bostonians who seek finer things in life. After all, the French culture chiseled over centuries is a mix of frivolity and elegance but also of depth and skepticism. The French Cultural Center reflects this diversity and rich heritage. — Gérard Moufflet, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 2001 - 2014

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All photos on pages 20-21 by Roger Farrington

Membership The 1,401 members of the French Cultural Center enjoy borrowing privileges from the library, preferred rates on language courses and translation services, unlimited complimentary access to Culturethèque, free or discounted admission to cultural events and invitations to membersonly social evenings. Members enjoy discounts at local French retailers and restaurants through our Club Avantage program and receive reduced admission to cultural events hosted by our partner organizations, including ArtsEmerson, Harvard Film Archive and Celebrity Series of Boston. Each year, we hold two new member receptions and a traditional member holiday party which provide opportunities for our members to learn more about the Center, meet fellow new members and socialize over wine, cheese and French hors d’oeuvres.

Members’ Art Show During the month of January, members exhibited their works of art in the Center’s gallery for the annual Members’ Art Show. All of the pieces contained a Francophone cultural link, but ranged in style, medium and dimension.

Volunteers The many lectures, concerts, exhibits, and special events that were put on this year would not have been possible without a community of dedicated volunteers. They are the 1,180 Francophiles of all ages looking for an opportunity to meet like-minded people, enjoy quality cultural programming and speak French. Since the introduction of a loyalty point system to award free memberships and language classes in return for service in March 2014, the sign-ups for volunteer opportunities have doubled.

Our Online Community To reinforce our brand essence, broaden our reach and engage our audiences on a personal level, we produced more original social media content in addition to promotional posts. We posted videos highlighting staff reading recommendations, interesting tidbits about French culture and themed vocabulary and language learning tips.

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Followers Facebook E-Newsletter Website visits

3,345 10,021 72,450

Photo by Christiana Rifaat

25

Photo by Russ Mezikofsky

Corporate Membership In 2014, the Center introduced a new Corporate Membership Program offering priority access to our resources, events and space, as well as free membership to employees. Revenue from corporate memberships provides critical annual operating funding for the Center and helps sustain our cultural, educational and outreach activities.

C orporate Membership Benefits Benefits for the company • Possibility of French courses at the company site • Complimentary one-time use of the Center’s ballroom for a private event • Preferred rates on team building events around French food and wine • Advance invitations to VIP events • Complimentary tickets to special events • Recognition online and at the Center

Free membership for all employees • Member price on French classes • Borrowing privileges at the French library • Free unlimited access to Culturethèque • Free or discounted admission to events • Members-only social evenings • Members-only discounts at local French retailers and restaurants • Discounts with partner cultural organizations • Discounts on translation services

Natixis Global Asset Management and France 24 were the first companies to join our new Corporate Membership Program in 2014.

26

Merci! The French Cultural Center maintains its high standard of education and cultural programing thanks to the generosity of many individuals, corporations and organizations. The list below includes donors to our Les Amis Patron Group and Mosaïque Cultural Fund, as well as corporate members, sponsors and foundations. We are immensely grateful for your support. $5,000 - $9,999

$1,000 - $2,499

Anonymous (3)

Anonymous (8)

Stéphane and Brenda Bancel

Daphne Abeel†

Alain Briottet

Vernon R. Alden

Susan and Brian Clancy

Darcey and Chris Bartel

Brian and Karen Conway

Peter R. von Bleyleben

Grace and Ted Fey

Stephen Borkowski

France 24

Kate and Chuck Brizius

Michael Kendall and Alexandra

Karl and Constance Brommer

Haagensen

Anna Laure Bursaux

$25,000 - $49,000

Liberty Mutual, Global Specialty

Sharona Dayan

Cabot Corporation

Jeffrey Plunkett and Catheline van

Regis A. de Silva

den Branden

James Dillon

Lia and William Poorvu

Frederick Ek

Ropes & Gray LLP

Robert and Sandra Engle

Jim and Cathy Stone

Essilor of America

D onors $100,000 and above Beaucourt Foundation; Rowe Foundation

$50,000 - $99,999 Jean-François and Nathalie Ducrest Sanofi

Barbara and Miguel de Bragança Steven and Leanne Galante Natixis Global Asset Management Plimpton-Shattuck Fund John S. and Cynthia Reed Pierre and Mary Ann Sorel William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation

$2,500 - $4,999 Anonymous (2) Timothy Barberich and Eileen Gebrian

$10,000 - $24,999

Citigroup Global Markets

Anonymous (3)

Francis J. Hughes

Zeina and Joseph E. Aoun François Bardonnet Tom and Lisa Blumenthal Jérôme and Bénédicte Malavoy Brigitte and Gérard Moufflet Patrick and Ute Prévost Hervé Sedky Bud and Michelle Stacy Henri and Belinda Termeer Eric and Sarah Ward

Brad and Tracy Curley Rima Hyder Marion and Jay Kochi Foundation Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch Jim and Lisa Micali Michael and Karen Rotenberg Stephen and Isabelle Roy Peter and Lucy Sprayregen St. Killian Importing

Herbert and Leila Hooper John and Pamela Humphrey David and Stephanie Javaheri Sean and Eileen Keohane Anne Lovett and Steve Woodsum Christopher and Sally Lutz Snezana Milanovic David and Joanna Nikka PwC Pearson M. and Patricia C. Spaght Stan and Nathalie Tabor Janet L. Testa Alvin and Judy Warren Lynn Weigel

Jean-Paul and Rebecca Valette

$500 - $999

Eric Vogt and Robin Grumman-Vogt

Anonymous (4)

Peter and Pamela Voss

Elizabeth Blake Marvin and Ann Collier Armand Cortina

†

27

Deceased

D onors ( cont.)

I n-Kind D onors

$500 - $999 (cont.)

9.7 WGBH Boston Public Radio

Formaggio Kitchen

Délégation du Québec à Boston

99.5 Classical New England

La Voile

Catharine-Mary Donovan

Air France

L’Atelier Guy Martin

Gail Banks and Edward Pinkus

Aloha Boston Massage

Le Bristol Paris Hôtel

Weatherly and Matthew Emans

American Repertory Theater

Le Chiberta

Camilo Gutierrez

Ansonia Wines

Life In Synergy

Elaine M. Hepworth

Art New England

Lillet

Kirk and Melissa Johnson

ArtsEmerson

Liquid Art House

Kathryn Karazia

Bacardi USA

MA France

Benjamin McGuire and Joshua Janson

Beacon Hill Chocolates

Maison de Mer

Françoise D. Oldcorn

Beats by Dre

Michel Cluziel

Lorna E. Oleck

Jason Bond

MMMMAVEN

Jim Orfanos

Bondir Restaurant

MUTEK Montreal

Paul Setzco

Boston Event Guide

Neatly Nested Design & Decor

The Shane Foundation

Boston Red Sox

Pairings Wine & Food

Noemi Soler De Ruiz

Brasserie Jo

Petit Robert Bistro

Campbell Steward

Anna Laure Bursaux

Petit Robert Bistro Needham

Susan McWhan Tobin

Cameo Macaron

PM Spirits LLC

Camille Albane Paris

The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common

Armelle Cava

Shag Boston

Central Bistro Boston

SkinHealth Centers

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pierre and Mary Ann Sorel

Château Talbot

Serge Roux

Christofle

St. Killian Importing

Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar

Taj Boston

CLC Catered Events

Uber Boston

Clear Flour

Victoria Elizabeth Design

Lauren Collins

Eric Vogt and Robin Grumman-Vogt

The Colonnade Hotel

Peter Wilson

Community Boating Consulate General of France in Boston Brad and Tracy Curley Danone Waters of America David Yurman Enterprises LLC Délégation du Québec à Boston Delta Air Lines DigBoston DLA Piper Jean-François and Nathalie Ducrest Frederick Ek Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Farnum Hill Ciders and Poverty Lane Orchards Find BG Food

28

Mosaïque C ultural F und

Partner O rganizations

C lub Avantage

Alliance Française de Providence

Bistro du Midi

Committee Members

American Society of Interior

The Boston Camerata

Barbara (Suki) de Bragança, chair

Designers NE

Central Bistro Boston

Gail Banks

ArtsEmerson

Craigie on Main

Susan Clancy

Back Bay Association

France-Amérique

Alexandra Chabrerie

Beacon Hill Civic Association

French Merchants

Tracy Curley

Belmont World Films

Jacadi Paris

Charles Davidson

Boston Accueil

Jean Appolon Expressions

Julie Davidson

Boston Lyric Opera

La Voile

Elaine M. Hepworth

Boston/Strasbourg Sister City

Longchamp

Francis J. Hughes

Association

Machine Age

Ute Prévost

Brattle Theatre

Olive and Branch for the home

Isabelle Roy

Celebrity Series of Boston

Paris Creperie

Karen Rotenberg

Central Square Theater

Petit Robert Bistro

Pierre Sorel

Club Richelieu Alain Briottet

Pour Le Corps

Nathalie Tabor

Consulate General of France in Boston

Salon Àcôté

Martha Volpe

Consulate General of Canada in

Schoenhof’s Foreign Books

Boston

Your French Gift by Isabelle B.

Coolidge Corner Theatre Délégation du Québec à Boston Enacte Arts French Heritage Society, Inc. French Theatrical Foundation French-American Chamber of Commerce NE Goethe-Institut Boston Harvard Film Archive International School of Boston JEWISHFILM.2014 Live Nation MISTI MIT France Museum of Fine Arts, Boston New Repertory Theatre Schoenhof’s Foreign Books The Bowery Boston The Massachusetts LaFayette Society Trans Cultural Exchange Uber Boston World Music/CRASHarts Zipcar

29

Ambassadors François Bardonnet Anna Laure Bursaux Susan Clancy Miguel Samuel de Bragança Regis A. de Silva Nina Eastman Robert Engle Galen Henderson Elaine M. Hepworth Francis J. Hughes Caleb Hutchings Rima Hyder Olivia Ives-Flores Rick and Kathy Mongeau William and Leslie Patton Edward Pinkus Michael and Karen Rotenberg Serge Roux Stéphanie Roux Isabelle Roy Trevor Stricker Nathalie Tabor

Bastille D ay 2014 Corporate Sponsors

Community & Small

Air France

Business Supporters

Cabot Corporation

Ansonia Wines

Citigroup Global Markets Delta Air Lines Liberty Mutual, Global Specialty Natixis Global Asset Management PwC

Beacon Hill Chocolates Camille Albane Paris Consulate General of France in Boston The Colonnade Hotel Délégation du Québec à Boston

Ropes & Gray LLP

La Voile

Sanofi

Liquid Art House

Beverage Sponsors

Maison de Mer Michel Cluziel

Badoit

Petit Robert Bistro Central

Evian

Petit Robert Bistro Needham

Kronenbourg

Uber Boston

Lillet

Media Sponsors

Promotional Partners Alliance Française de Providence

89.7 WGBH Boston Public Radio

American Society of Interior

99.5 Classical New England

Designers NE

Art New England

Back Bay Association

Boston Event Guide

Boston Accueil

Dig Boston

Boston/Strasbourg Sister City

Individual Sponsors Nathalie and Jean-François Ducrest Grace and Ted Fey Brigitte and Gérard Moufflet Mary Ann and Pierre Sorel Lucy and Peter Sprayregen Rebecca and Jean-Paul Valette

Association Consulate General of Canada in Boston French/American Chamber of Commerce NE Goethe-Institut International School of Boston La Tartine Gourmande MISTI MIT France Schoenhof’s Foreign Books TransCultural Exchange World Music/CRASHarts Zipcar

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing. For any questions or concerns, please contact: French Cultural Center Development Department, Kate Riester 617.912.0428 | [email protected]

30 Photos by Christiana Rifaat

2014 Financial Information 2014 was a successful year for the French Cultural Center. Overall, operating revenues grew by 15%, while operating costs grew by only 6%. Tuition revenues generated by the Education Department increased by 13% as enrollments in the Summer in French program and private lessons were very strong. Fundraising efforts resulted in an increase of 14% in contribution revenue, and the margin on special events nearly doubled. The Center’s endowment was valued at $13,221,800 as of December 31, 2014. The Center continues to monitor its expenses very closely in order to maximize the amount of revenues that are available for use in its programs.

FY 2014 Revenue Income from operations *

$812,738

32%

Special events

$620,611

24%

Contributions

$477,243

18%

Membership

$109,975

4%

Endowment allocation

22% 32%

Income from operations

4%

Membership

Endowment allocation ** Total revenue

$556,465

22%

$2,577,032 100%

18%

Contributions

* I ncludes tuition, book sales, translation services, cultural event tickets, facility rentals and proficiency exam fees

24%

Special events

** R  epresents the endowment funds approved by the Board of Trustees to support annual operations

FY 2014 Expenses Educational programs

$792,143

31%

Library programs

$176,885

7%

Cultural programs

$162,638

6%

General and administration

$553,555

22%

Special events

$380,821

15%

Development

$203,236

8%

Facilities and technology

$271,048

11%

Total expenses Net income from operations

31

$2,540,326 100% $36,706

Facilities and

11% technology 8%

Development

31%

Educational programs

15%

Special events

7%

Library programs

22%

General & admin

6%

Cultural programs

Trustees and Staff of the French Cultural Center Board of Trustees

French Cultural Center Staff

Mr. Steven Galante, chairman

Angela Archambault

Mrs. Zeina Aoun

Barbara Bouquegneau

Dr. Jean-Luc Boulnois

Elizabeth Cortright

Mr. Charles G. Davidson

Elisabeth Karnoub

Mrs. Barbara (Suki) de Bragança

Marie Lalevée

Miss Catharine-Mary Donovan

Fabrizio Mazzetta

Mr. Jean-François Ducrest

Matthew Pesci

Dr. Alyssa LeBel

Erin Quinn

Mr. Jérôme Malavoy

Donna Rebibo

Mr. Patrick Prevost

Sarah Reusché

Mr. John S. Reed

Stefanie Rich

Mr. Hervé Sedky

Michael Richard

Mr. Pierre Sorel

Kaitlyn Riester

Mrs. Lucy Sprayregen

Pierre-Antoine Tiberi

Ms. Michelle Stacy

Natacha Trezzy

Mr. Eric Vogt

Ryan Waldron

Mr. Eric N. Ward Honorary Members Mr. Alain Briottet Mr. Jordan Golding Life Members Dr. Vernon Alden President, Executive Director Ms. Catheline van den Branden, ex officio

This 2014 Annual Report was published in July 2015 by the Development Committee of the French Cultural Center. Eric N. Ward, Development Committee chairman Milica Gallucci, writing and editing Liza Cortright, graphic design and layout Except where noted, photographs are property of the French Cultural Center.

Thank you for your support

By supporting the French Cultural Center, you help sponsor our rich and diverse cultural and literary programming and maintain the quality of our French library and educational offerings. A variety of giving options are available: •

Mosaïque Cultural Fund

•

Les Amis Patron Program

•

Corporate Membership

•

Sponsorship of Bastille Day

•

The Gérard and Brigitte Moufflet Fund for Accent on Success

For more information, please contact: Development Office French Cultural Center 53 Marlborough Street Boston, MA 02116 Tel. 617.912.0428 Email. [email protected]

53 Marlborough Street Boston, MA 02116 617.912.0400 [email protected] www.frenchculturalcenter.org /frenchculturalcenter

@frenchccenter