Institut français Hamburg

The Institut français Hamburg is the official French cultural representation in Hamburg and part of the network of institutions subordinate to the French Foreign Ministry with more than 200 institutions worldwide. Among other things, it offers language courses for around 800 language students, information material on Franco-German organizations and free advice on French courses, diplomas and cooperation with schools and universities, has a media library and organizes cultural events.

history

The Institut français Hamburg was founded in 1951 by the then French ambassador to Germany, André François-Poncet . This cultural institution was intended to promote peaceful Franco-German relations after the Second World War. Then as now it is located at Heimhuder Straße 55, where the French consulate is now also based. In 2009 the Institut français Hamburg merged with 10 other French cultural institutes in Germany and is now part of the Institut français d'Allemagne.

List of directors of the Institut français Hamburg

1951–1952:	Pierre Letellier
1952–1955:	Henri Grange
1955–1958:	Marc Pieyre
1958–1960:	Michel Foucault
1960–1964:	Jean-Louis Gardies
1964–1968:	Jean Beaulieu
1968–1971:	Pierre Moortgat
1971–1974:	André Meyer
1974–1980:	Jean-Loup Puginier
1980-1983:	Claude Kiefer
1983–1988:	Didier Deschamps
1988–1990:	Jean-Pierre Armengaud
1990-1996:	Denis Evesque
1996-1998:	Jean-Louis Pujol
1998–1998:	Jean-Marie Fèvre
1998-2000:	Jean-Jacques Victor
2000-2001:	Nicole Parfait
2001-2003:	Patrick Juré
2003-2004:	Stéphane Paris
2004-2006:	Claude Crouail
2006-2010:	Jean-Pierre Tutin
2010-2013:	Sylvie Massière
2013–2016:	Serge Lavroff
2016-	Laurent Toulouse

Since 2004 the French consul general has also headed the Institut français Hamburg.

Cultural work

literature

The Institut français Hamburg organizes cultural events in various areas. In recent years, for example, it has invited the authors Frédéric Beigbeder , Marie-Sabine Roger , Amin Maalouf , Leila Marouane and Elisabeth Badinter to Hamburg, who read from their latest works.

music

The musical guests that it brings to the Hanseatic city come from a wide variety of fields. For example, the Orchester de Paris , the composer Yann Tiersen and the pianist Philippe Bianconi played in Hamburg. The groups Caravan Palace (electro swing), Nouvelle Vague (cover / bossa nova), Phoenix (indie pop), Cocoon (pop / folk) and the Hamburg chanson duo Nathalie and Natalie also performed . The Institut français also invited the singer Berry (pop / chanson), the hip-hop artist Soprano , and the Algerian Raï singer Khaled to Hamburg. It also organized the Fête de la Musique and the Breton Fest Noz in the Hanseatic city. For children, for example, there was the literary concert “Fun with Chopin ”, which was organized in cooperation with the Hamburger Kammerspiele .

Debates and lectures

The institute organizes debates and lectures on current topics, which are given by specialists in German or French. In the past, the following topics were among others: “The Lisbon Treaty is in force: what will change for EU citizens?” “The major inner-city project Lyon Confluence - HafenCity à la française?” “Accompanied children and politically speaking citizens: The education system France - from maternity leave to college "and" culture of wine ".

Movie

The Institut français is also very active in the field of film. Some films are shown free of charge on the premises, most of the others in the neighboring Abaton cinema. Recently these have been, for example, “ Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis ”, “ Le Concert ”, “ Le petit Nicolas ” or “ La tête en friche ” (“ The Labyrinth of Words ”). Actress Josiane Balasko was present for the screening of “ Hérisson ” (“ The Elegance of Madame Michel ”), and for the preview of “ Gainsbourg - Vie héroïque ” (“ Gainsbourg - The Man Who Loved Women ”) the director and screenwriter Joann Sfar . The institute also regularly participates in the Cinéfête Festival , which shows selected French films with German subtitles. It is also involved in the Hamburg Film Festival .

stage

Among other things, an introductory event with participants in the opera “ Iphigénie en Tauride ”, performed at the Hamburg State Opera , was co-organized by the Institut français, the play “BigBang” by the successful French director Philippe Quesne was brought to Hamburg and much more.

Visual arts

The institute helped, for example, to set up a supporting program for the Matisse exhibition at the Bucerius Art Forum 2009 and to organize the exhibition by the French artist Youssef Tabti .

Prominent guests

Other prominent guests at the Institut français were the former French minister of culture, Jack Lang , and the mayor of Marseille, Jean-Claude Gaudin . Soon Claire Doutriaux , the producer of the Arte show “ Karambolage ” will be in Hamburg.

Language courses

Giving language courses is one of the core tasks of the Institut français Hamburg. They are based on the “ Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ” of the Council of Europe and its six proficiency levels (A1-C2). Language certificates, DELF certificates from level A1 to level B2 (“Diplôme d'Etudes en langue française”) and DALF certificates for levels C1 and C2 (“Diplôme approfondi de langue française”) can be acquired to prove knowledge of French . Other certificates offered by the institute are the DELF Prim , a language certificate for children aged 8 to 12, the DELF Pro , which certifies professional French, and the diplomas of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP) , which testify to technical language skills. With the “ Test de connaissance du français (TCF) ” everyone can have their language level assessed.

The range of courses is very diverse, there are individual and group courses, general and technical language courses, weekly or intensive courses, courses for private individuals or companies. Vocabulary, grammar and oral and written expression are practiced according to the level. Examples of topics for specialist language courses: business and negotiation French, French for the tourism sector, office communication in French, intercultural training ... All language courses are held by qualified native speakers.

Media library

The media library located in the institute has around 7000 media in French, including DVDs and CDs, contemporary literature, newspapers and magazines, specialist literature on social issues and comics. All titles can be found in the online catalog. The inventory is updated regularly. The media library is open Monday to Friday, membership is free.

Cooperation with schools

The Institut français Hamburg works closely with schools and the local school authorities in Hamburg , Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania . For example, it is a co-organizer of the annual “ Cinéfête ” festival , which aims to bring French cinema and the French language closer to schoolchildren in particular. It also takes care of the “ Prix des lycéens allemands ” and its award ceremony at the Leipzig Book Fair . It also organizes the “ Francomusiques ” competition , which encourages students to write their own song in French, and the biennial “ Francomics ” project , in which students choose their favorite French comic and give creative reasons for their decision. In addition, the Institut français celebrates “ Franco-German Day ” and “ Francophonie Day ”. In 2010 and 2011, it invited more than 300 students from various Hamburg schools to the Hamburg Ethnographic Museum on this occasion . It also supports city and regional partnerships, works closely with the Association of French Teachers, organizes teacher training courses on various topics and provides educational material.

FranceMobil

There is a collaboration between the Institut français and the FranceMobil project , the counterpart to DeutschMobil . The initiative was launched by the French Embassy in Germany and the Robert Bosch Foundation . The speaker for Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania travels to schools and introduces the students to the French language in a playful way.

University cooperation

The Bureau de Coopération Universitaire des Institut français Hamburg is responsible for intensifying university relations between France and Northern Germany and looks after the federal states of Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony. It works with the Franco-German University , promotes Franco-German double degrees and advises prospective students on existing courses.

Web links

Individual proof

↑ Hans-Juergen Fink: "Hamburg is very French". In: Hamburger Abendblatt from January 6, 2012, p. 10

53.567527777778 9.99225Coordinates: 53 ° 34 ′ 3.1 ″ N , 9 ° 59 ′ 32.1 ″ E

[1] Hans-Juergen Fink: "Hamburg is very French". In: Hamburger Abendblatt from January 6, 2012, p. 10