French Institute Trust

 
Founded in 1998, the Friends of the French Institute Trust is a registered charity ( n°1069116).

The Friends of the French Institute Trust supports the Institute in promoting French language, education and culture and in encouraging Franco-British cooperation.

Since its creation, the trust has supported several key investment projects such as the renovation of Ciné Lumière I and the creation of Ciné Lumière II. It has also been a major actor in the renovation of La Médiathèque, both the Adult’s Library and the Bibliothèque Quentin Blake, as well as in the launch of a digital library, Culturethèque.

Additionally, the Trust brought its support to restore the Institute’ Steinway Grand piano and 1907 Pleyel piano and to renovate the reception rooms, called Les Salons which now accommodate concerts, talks and exhibitions. The Trust has also supported the renovation of the Foyer and the creation of l’Atelier, a dedicated space for school activities and it is now engaged in the major fundraising campaign of Confluence for the modernisation of the Language Centre.

The Trust has also given its support to the Franco-British fund Diaphonique and to several key cultural events over the years, such as the UK-wide festival FranceDance, the performance of The Damned by la Comédie-Française at the Barbican, Beyond Words and the South Ken Kids Festival.
 
Board members:

Sylvie Bressler
Vincent Gombault
Thierry Groell
Sir John Holmes
Xavier Mayer
Marc Mourre
Edward Reed
Claudine Ripert-Landler
Sir John Scarlett
Diane Segalen
Benoît Verbrugghe
Trustee ex-officio: Bertrand Buchwalter, Cultural Counsellor to the French Embassy in the UK, Director of the French Institute in the UK