THE Alliance Française de Durban is embarking on an exciting new phase as a language school and cultural centre after selling its Morningside property, the organisation announced.

President of the organisation Deborah Ewing said, “The sale of our premises provides great new opportunities for the Alliance Française. It means we can invest resources and energy into the educational and cultural life of Durban in creative new ways. We will continue to deliver our language courses and cultural programmes while we plan for our future home in the city.”

Founded in 1936, the Alliance Française de Durban is the oldest Alliance in South Africa. It is part of a network of 829 Alliances Françaises in 135 countries. The organisation moved to the site at 22 Sutton Crescent in 1991. Until Covid, the majority of French, Portuguese and isiZulu classes took place in the building. The cultural programme of the Alliance Française has expanded beyond events held at their own site and increasingly take place on the sites of Durban partner organisations. This means the Sutton Crescent site is rarely used to capacity, while incurring substantial costs to operate and maintain.

Alliance Française de Durban director Sarah M’bodji expressed excitement about the next few months. “It is true that we will be nomads for a while but that gives us a chance to think carefully about what sort of premises we need and where.

“As a result of the sale of the property, we have much greater flexibility than we have had in recent years. We are keen to hear from people with suggestions and will be conducting a consultation process. In the meantime, we have a full programme of cultural activities, and our French classes will continue online and at various sites.”

Treasurer Dr Raymond Perrier added: “Whilst we receive some support from the French government, we are an independent South African NGO and need to be financially sustainable. One of our major assets has been our building but we have not been able to maximise the value from using it. By selling Sutton Crescent, we have an opportunity to find premises that are better suited to our new needs and also release a substantial amount of capital, which will be invested to help underwrite our operating costs going forward.”

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Cultural events planned over the next month are as follows:
*Shadow Puppet workshop with Maris Stella Grade Nine with the French artist Clémence Barrès (May 9)
*French cine-club (May 13)
*Concert by French electro artist French79 at the Chairman (May 16)
*One-woman show Shika-Land written and performed by Shika Budhoo (May 17)
*Cine concert “Paris qui dort!” by French artist Stéphane Scharlé at the Centre for Jazz (20/05)

Contact details will remain as admin@durban.alliance.org.za / 031 312 9585 until further notice.

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