The Maison Française
For more than a century, the Columbia Maison Française has been a leader in fostering intellectual and cultural exchange between the United States and France, Europe, and the French-speaking world. The rich program of events at the Maison Française generates debate, spotlights original scholarship, promotes exchange across disciplines at Columbia and beyond, and contributes to international and cross-cultural understanding in an increasingly global world.
Housed in historic Buell Hall, and beautifully renovated for its 2013 Centennial, the Maison Française frequently hosts top thinkers, artists, and leaders for talks, roundtable discussions, academic conferences, seminars, and stimulating conversations across a range of topics and disciplines. In addition, the Maison offers film screenings, occasional performances and exhibits, a book club, a weekly café-conversation for students, and hosts dinners, receptions, and other special events. These attract Columbia students and faculty while also engaging broader audiences from New York City. Speakers in recent years have included Jeanne Balibar, Viggo Mortensen, Bill McKibben, Claude Lanzmann, Thomas Piketty, Maryse Condé, and Alice Diop.
The Maison Française has been directed since September 2009 by Shanny Peer and is guided by a distinguished Advisory Board chaired by Paul LeClerc. The Maison Française is part of a network of departments and programs that make Columbia a leading center for French and Francophone studies, furthering Columbia’s mission as a global university. These include the Department of French, the Institute for African Studies, the Alliance Program, and Columbia Global Centers / Europe in Paris.
Professor Emeritus Robert O. Paxton, a member of the Maison Française Advisory Board, with current Maison Director Shanny Peer
Ninety-three-year-old French Resistance leader Stéphane Hessel speaking about his book Indignez-Vous! (published in English as Time for Outrage!), September 27, 2012
Outdoor screening of Truffaut's Jules and Jim in front of Low Library, presented by the Maison Française and Cultural Services of the French Embassy as part of the latter's Films on the Green series, September 6, 2012
French professors Madeleine Dobie and Phil Watts in discussion with philosopher Jacques Rancière, September 19, 2012
French economist Thomas Piketty talking about the “1 percent” and economic inequality in the U.S., September 27, 2012
Associate Professor Emmanuelle Saada asking a question at a Maison Française talk, September 2012
New York Times correspondent Elaine Sciolino in conversation with Paul LeClerc, chairman of the Maison Française Advisory Board and director of the Columbia Global Centers / Europe, November 19, 2012
NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman and French Cultural Counselor Antonin Baudry in a conversation on national arts policies and practices in the U.S. and France, November 27, 2012
Franco-Cambodian artist Séra, painting a new artwork at the opening reception for Cambodia: The Memory Workshop, an art exhibit held at the Maison Française as part of the Season of Cambodia festival, April 10, 2013
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni visiting with Columbia President Lee Bollinger and Jean Bollinger before giving a lecture in Low Library, March 29, 2010