The Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Houston presents the 2021 French Cultures Festival, a calendar of forty cultural and educational events across Texas and Oklahoma, both in-person and virtually.
The Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Houston, along with 30 cultural and educational institutions in Texas and Oklahoma, is pleased to announce the 2021 French Cultures Festival, a month-long celebration of French language and cultures surrounding International Francophonie Day on March 20.
For the inauguration of the Festival, the French Embassy is honored to host a free talk with Leïla Slimani, writer and personal representative of French president Emmanuel Macron to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Slimani will address the importance of Francophonie in the world and her own path as a francophone writer. The conversation will be held on March 1, 2021 at 11AM CST on Zoom, moderated by journalist Ursula Lindsey. French Ambassador to the U.S. Philippe Étienne will also give introductory remarks.
In Texas and Oklahoma, more than 40 public events will be showcased throughout the month of March, in both in-person and virtual formats, enabling anyone in Texas, Oklahoma and beyond to participate in the celebrations. Take cooking classes, join book discussions, learn about French History, or watch one of the 16 movies presented all month long by Texas Tech University, the Consulate of Switzerland, Austin Film Society, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in partnership with Boston’s Department of Time and Space and the Alliance Française de Houston.
Other programming highlights include the celebration of the Rothko Chapel’s 50th anniversary on March 30 when the Moody Center for the Arts, along with the Rothko Chapel and the Menil Collection will present a virtual screening of the short version of Francois de Menil’s documentary “The Rothko Chapel” (1972). The discussion will be followed by an online conversation with François de Menil, renowned architect and son of French-born art patrons as well as Rothko Chapel founders Dominique and John de Menil. In Houston, don’t miss the upcoming immersive installation “Time No Longer” by France-based artist Anri Sala at the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, art exhibits “Prologue”, “The Order, The Simulation”, and “French Abstract Expressionism” presented by various Houstonian galleries, or enjoy a live concert of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony conducted by French conductor Fabian Gabel at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, presented by Houston Symphony.
Check out the 2021 French Cultures Festival website and calendar of events, as well as the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Houston Facebook page. Contact: frenchculturesfestival@gmail.com