La Maison Française (New York University)
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La Maison Française of New York University is an institution showcasing French and Francophone culture within one of the most respected universities in America. Situated in a historic Washington Mews in the heart of Greenwich Village, La Maison is fully immersed in the same artistic and intellectual hub of downtown New York that has spawned generations of artists and thinkers. Since its creation, it has celebrated France and the Francophone world’s distinctive voice and presence in the arts, literature, philosophy, theater, poetry, music, cinema, and, more recently, geopolitics and human rights.
La Maison Française of NYU has a rich and inclusive calendar of lectures, conferences, symposia, concerts, screenings, exhibitions, and festivals open to the university community and the general public. One of the most active French centers on an American campus, La Maison Française of NYU is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the French Embassy in the United States.
Building[edit]
Founded in 1957 by Professor Germaine Brée, La Maison Française occupies a 19th-century carriage house on historic Washington Mews.[1] Inside, the ground floor salon is an intimate and versatile space with seating for up to one hundred. Located on the second floor, the Tom Bishop Reading Room honors La Maison Française of NYU's longtime director Tom Bishop (1929-2022). It provides an informal meeting place for students, visiting scholars, and the French Graduate Students Association. According to legend there's a vintage bottle of wine from Voltaire's personal "cave" built into the foundation. La Maison Française also houses a historic piano played by legendary composer François Poulenc.
History[edit]
Over its history, La Maison Française has welcomed thousands of literary, artistic, and intellectual luminaries. It has always been a home for writers, from the authors of The Nouveau Roman such as Robbe-Grillet and Nathalie Sarraute, to Jean Genet, Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, Hélène Cixous, Dany Laferrière, and more recently Goncourt prize winners Mohamed Mbougar Sarr (Goncourt- 2021), Marie Ndiaye (Goncourt- 2009), and acclaimed author/dramatist Wajdi Mouawad. It has additionally welcomed artist Louise Bourgeois, diplomat and financier Felix Rohatyn, and economist Jean-Claude Trichet among others.
Leadership[edit]
The Director of La Maison Française since 2019 is philosopher, author, and professor François Noudelmann. The chair of its Advisory Board is economics professor, author and editor Guy Sorman.
Programming[edit]
As an institution, La Maison Française focuses its programming in the following three areas: Culture (literature, theater, art, music and cinema), Contemporary Politics (geopolitics, economy, human rights, race and gender), and The Francophone World (Showcasing the diversity of cultures united by the French language). It also holds language classes for adults and children and welcomes special events. La Maison Française of NYU is closely affiliated with the NYU Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture as well as NYU's Institute of French Studies. It has a robust online presence including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.