Celebration of Francophonie Week, March 17-24, 2005
Francophonie Week, a celebration of the French-speaking world will be held from March 17-24. In Australia, a number of events have been organised for Francophonie Week thanks to the involvement of a number of Diplomatic Missions and Alliance Françaises.

La Francophonie is the term used to describe the community of French-speaking countries, and from 17 to 24 March 2005, French-speaking and French-loving peoples across the world will celebrate the French language. The love of this language constitutes a link that brings together some 170 million French-speakers with the 500 million people who live in the 63 Member States and Governments of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF).

The theme of 2005 Francophonie Week is "French, the language of scientific endeavour". This year we will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of author Jules Verne.

Event highlights include:

Thursday 17 March, 10.30am - Official launch
Speakers Square, Commonwealth Place, Canberra Official launch and flag raising by the students from the French-Australian Telopea Park School. The event will take place in the presence of the Heads of Diplomatic Missions of the Francophone States represented in Canberra. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Heads of Mission will be available for interview.

Wednesday 23 March
Science Day at Questacon for ACT students: exhibitions with activities in French, workshop with scientists, screening of scientific films: "Une Minute de Science, SVP!" (Science, please)

Events will also take place at the Alliance Francaise in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.

Source: http://www.ambafrance-au.org/article.ph ... rticle=954

"...Pissarro, The First Impressionist
A Retrospective Exhibition
March to 28 May 2006..."

Une exposition intitulée "Camille Pissarro : le Premier impressionniste" se tiendra à la National Gallery of Victoria à partir de mars 2006. L'exposition est accompagnée d'un supplément éducatif en français, préparé en collaboration avec l'Ambassade de France. Lien plus bas avec le site de l'exposition.

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/pissarro

"...Regarded by many as the father of Impressionism, Camille Pissarro (1830 – 1903) is the subject of this major retrospective exhibition. A radical painter and prolific printmaker, Pissarro had a profound effect on many of his contemporaries such as Paul Cézanne and Paul Gauguin among others with whom he worked in 19th century France. Despite being a principal exponent and tireless advocate of the Impressionists, Pissarro strangely never enjoyed the universal acclaim associated with others. His revolutionary approach to painting and innovative compositions however, greatly influenced the Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist movements and helped shape the future of Modern art..."

"...Charting the breadth of the artist's career, the exhibition assembles more than 100 works including major paintings, prints and drawings as well as lesser known works. Comprehensive in scope, the exhibition presents Australian audiences with an unprecedented opportunity to gain insight into Pissarro's experimentation and artistic development..."