$2,349 raised by 25 donors
2% complete
$100,000 Goal
The mission of the Alliance Française de Denver (AFD), a 501c3 non-profit organization, is to encourage and develop the knowledge of the French language and Francophone cultures and to foster cultural, intellectual, artistic and friendly exchanges between the French-speaking world and our local community.
With this mission in mind, AFD plans to create a newly renovated Francophone Cultural Center to unify French speaking organizations in the Colorado community so they are better able to serve and reach them with the incredible gift of French language and culture.
What will the Cultural Center be used for?
AFD strives to provide a fully inclusive Francophone/Francophile community for Denver and the Rocky Mountain region. This facility will provide multi-purpose space for meetings, cultural and literary events, art exhibits, theater performances, and more to the community. They will continue the 126-year tradition of providing French language instruction and culture to Francophones and Francophiles. AFD will share their space with other Francophone/Francophile organizations to strengthen our relationships throughout the region.
What will this bring to the community?
1) Diversity: As the ONLY center for French language, culture, and the arts in the state of Colorado, AFD brings an added value to the Denver Metroplex. There are only 17,000 French speakers in Denver, compared to the 125,000 Spanish speakers. That being said, AFD strives to grow this number and add more value to French speaking cultures around the world by cultivating more programs in the new cultural center in downtown Denver.
2) Green Space: The Baker Neighborhood is in need of some more green spaces where people can convene and enjoy the outdoor areas. AFD plans to incorporate that with a Pocket Park at the corner of 6th and Galapago to improve the accessibility of green spaces in the downtown area.
3) Preservation of French and Francophone Cultural & Educational Resources: Access to the French language and Francophone cultures is not easy to find in the United States. AFD's role is to continue to promote, celebrate, and share these resources through our library, event spaces, cultural gatherings, and classroom activities.
4) Strengthening the ties of AFD with the Santa Fe Arts District & local organizations: Being situated two blocks from the Santa Fe street where First Friday takes places at the beginning of every month, AFD is looking forward to participating in the festivities by including artist shows featured in the Cultural Center Art Gallery, where the public will be welcome to gather and support local artists from different backgrounds. In addition, AFD plans to collaborate with local organizations to offer up affordable space for other non profits who may not have a location to host local events. This collaboration will foster community inclusion as well as diversify the events at the Cultural Center.
What is included in the new renovation plan?
-80 seat multipurpose cultural venue and art gallery for events (cinema, theater and music performances, cultural presentations, literary gatherings, meetings, wine tastings, arts performances, conversational events, and more)
-4 new classrooms wired for the latest educational technology
-new lobby and a French cafe
-a pocket park on the corner of 6th and Galapago
-a new basement space and an elevator
What is the estimated cost?
The total project is at an estimated cost of $1.5 million. The Alliance Française de Denver has committed to invest $500,000 of its own money in the project. In addition, AFD is negotiating a loan of $500,000 from a local bank. Finally, this leaves AFD to raise the remaining 1/3 of the project at $500,000.
The Alliance Française is a worldwide nonprofit culture and language center founded in Paris in 1883. A network of over 800 chapters in 137 countries, the Alliance Française has 118 locations in North America alone. The Denver branch, called the Alliance Française de Denver was founded in 1897 and shares a history with Titanic survivor Margaret Brown, who held some of the first meetings in her home. It is the only French language, culture, and resource center in Colorado. Annually, the Alliance Française de Denver hosts nearly 100 free or low-cost cultural events for Denver residents, awards scholarships, and teaches French to nearly 300 students each quarter.
The AFDenver was founded to promote the French culture and other French-speaking cultures, as well as the French language. Through the years, the AFDenver has become a center of listening and speaking, a provider of hands-on cooperative learning, a cultural gathering place, a local resource, and, through the natural extension of its mission, an agent for the advancement of greater cultural diversity. It is characterized by a strong respect for all cultures, a passion for cultural exchange, the pursuit of excellence in all of its activities, and a capacity for modernization and innovation.
Since its conception, the AFDenver has grown exponentially. In order to accommodate all of its students and members, the organization purchased its own building in 2003 to provide classrooms, a resource center and an art gallery/event space, all under one roof.
Organization name
L'Alliance Française de Denver
other names
Alliance Francaise de Denver, AFD
1897
Tax id (EIN)
84-6042159
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
571 Galapago StreetDenver County, CO, US