A Continuation of “From a Space to a Place”

FASTAP Banner 2A Continuation of “From a Space to a Place”

Expanding our collaboration across cultures
Starting: Fall 2015/Spring 2016
The Texan-French Alliance for the Arts is partnering with several schools around Houston, as well as one school in France, to continue its “From a Space to a Place” program. This installment of “FASTAP” will be further developed from our successful, summer pilot program to fit a semester-length calendar. We will provide training to the educators of these schools, allowing the student-oriented vision of this program to take root and to flourish beyond our imagination.
Stay tuned!

SSQ: International Exchange – France: A success

SSQ: International Exchange – France: A success June 7-17, 2015

SSQ website 1SSQ website pic1

TFAA is proud to be a partner with Reginald Adam’s and the Boniuk Institute for religious Tolerance at Rice University on this project , which is partially funded by our very generous sponsor, Schlumberger. This is a thrilling opportunity for students in Houston to gain first hand knowledge, understanding and experience through an International exchange that will result in a lasting piece of public art in Lyons, France. What is SSQ: International Exchange? The Sacred Sites Quest: International Exchange (SSQ.IE) is designed to provide urban youth from Houston, Texas with an opportunity to collaborate with students and community residents on foreign soil on a community-based public art project in the form of a labyrinth.  The brainchild of public artist Reginald C. Adams,  the seeds for the international exchange were planted when Adams traveled to France in 2012 to execute a public art project with a children’s hospital in Lyon, France. Witnessing first-hand the richness that the unique, distinct culture of the country could potentially contribute to the Houston community, the idea for the international exchange was born. More than just an outreach program, this collaborative is a multi-disciplinary approach to cultural and social awareness that builds bridges between international communities to address issues of education, environment, urban revitalization, creative place-making and cultural tolerance. The program will primarily seek to work with the Texan French Alliance for the Arts in order to build upon and strengthen the pre-existing relationships between France and Houston. Each year, a different exchange country and new students will be featured as the program grows.  The first of its kind in the city of Houston, Sacred Sites Quest: International Exchange is an annual signature community outreach event designed to foster collaborations between local youth and international artists, serving to promote and enhance the creative and cultural diversity of the city of Houston. ​ For more information on this project and to donate click on the link below: http://www.gofundme.com/ssq-ie SSQ website 3 SSQ website pic2

LES MAÎTRES CUISINIERS DE FRANCE AND L’ACADÉMIE CULINAIRE DE FRANCE IN HOUSTON

LES MAÎTRES CUISINIERS DE FRANCE AND L’ACADÉMIE CULINAIRE DE FRANCE ANNOUNCE THE FIRST-EVER HOUSTON JOINT CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE FROM JUNE 6 THROUGH 9, 2015

Maitres cuisiniers de France

Chef Philippe

A gathering to welcome top French chefs from North America for a series of events, workshops and the induction of Etoile’s Philippe Verpiand and Aura’s Frédéric Perrier.

Master Chef of France Philippe Schmit, one of the organizers of the event, is proud to announce that Houston is going to host the 33rd Annual Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and l’Académie Culinaire de France joint conference June 6th-9th.  This is the first time that this city has been selected as the meeting site for this esteemed and influential group of North-America based French chefs, who are dedicated to promoting the culinary and pastry arts. These maestros, all trained at Michelin star-caliber institutions, are reshaping modern French cuisine in America.

Main sponsors include GDF SUEZ Energy North America, H-E-B, Bernardaud and Infiniti South West.

Events will include a back of the house tour at Space Center Houston to lunch at Killen’s Barbecue and cocktails at Triniti’s Sanctuari Bar, and an invitation-only gala at Le Mistral on June 8 benefiting Recipe for Success Foundation and formally introducing the newest Master Chef inductees, Philippe Verpiand of Etoile and Frédéric Perrier of Aura.

For more information visit: www.mcf-acfcongress.com

facebook.com/events/588365794636728/

For sponsorship inquiries, please call the MCF Houston Congress office at 281-501-2815

Virtuosi of Houston/Conservatoire de Paris Exchange

Virtuosi of Houston/Conservatoire de Paris Exchange

Virtuosi 2How can a dream open doors and build bridges between countries and cultures?

The musical exchange program between Houston and Paris is the story of a dream, a dream that invited to open doors and to build bridges. The dream is the one of Zarine Boyce, president of the Virtuosi of Houston and its conductors Andrzej Grabiec and Franz Krager. Passionate about classical music and inspired by their talented students, they all dreamed this exchange between the young Virtuosi of Houston musicians and the young French musicians.
This dream has inspired many others who gathered and worked hard to allow this dream come true …
In chronological order:
– Karine Parker Lemoyne, Executive Director and Mickey Henry, President of the Texan-French Alliance for the Arts (TFAA), the staff of TFAA (Hadia Mawlawi), its Board of Directors and its volunteers, Lina Corinth and Karine Massartic who invited the young Virtuosi to discover the language of Molière.
– The Consul General of France in Houston, Sujiro Seam and his Virtuosi in Pariswife, Jane Seam who supported generously since their arrival in Houston, the Virtuosi of Houston and their project,
– The French Cultural Services in Houston, Sylvie Christophe, Lauriane Blandel and Marie Einbinder, as well as Veronique Lhemann, the French Consulate press attaché,
– Gretchen Amussen, Head of External Affairs and International Relations at the National Conservatory of Paris who generously opened the doors of the Conservatoire a Rayonnement Regional de Paris by introducing us to its outstanding and visionary director, Xavier Delette.

– Xavier Delette who in turn welcomed us with open arms at the Conservatoire a Rayonnement Regional de Paris with his great team (Marion Maugey, Rose-Helene Pousset, Laura Perrin, Manon Pontais)
– The Board of Virtuosi and its chairman, Dr. Meherwan P. Boyce,
– The staff of Virtuosi: Karen Needham, Steve Casas, Candice, who adopted the project with all the energy it takes to make it grow,
– The dynamic Virtuosi pro-bono musical exchange coordinator, Véronique Eberhard,
– The generous parents of the young Virtuosi of Houston and Paris Conservatory musicians
– The talented young Virtuosi of Houston and Paris Conservatory musicians
– The cultural services of the City of Paris,
– The French Institute
– Philip Frayne, Minister Counsellor for Public and Cultural Affairs,
Embassy of the United States, Paris, France
– And the audience and internet users who had and will have the chance to attend/listen to the Paris concert and who support this educational adventure in their own special way,
With a special mention for the sponsors and private donors including TOTAL, Monzer Hourani … who sponsored the musical exchange and all the TFAA sponsors (including Air France, Axens, GDF SUEZ Energy North America, Schlumberger, Technip,, Total) who believe in the programs and partnerships we keep developing and without whom the project would not have been possible.
A big Merci and bravo to you All!
What I have just described is a growing web and support networks that allowed the realization of a dream and the possibility of positive developments and change for these 110 young musicians, a positive change that will go beyond this week in Paris and the concert itself. Next year, the young French musicians will travel to Houston to partner with their Texan friends. Wonderful bridges have been built, it is up to us to continue to build more!

Once Upon A Door

OUAD

Feb. 28/March 1 2015

“Once Upon A Door” – Event & Workshop for adults & kids: Once upon a Door is an invitation to open the door to the creative resources we have at our disposal in order to transform the world as we see it. Music, visual imagery, theatre, video, lights, games … and of course doors will create a sensory 360-degree environment for appreciating art and the bridges it builds between us, kids being the co-hosts of the event.