Celebrate fashion with an exclusive show at the French Cultural Center.
Join the French Cultural Center for a fashion show featuring seven emerging designers from across the globe, live music, and over 30 exclusive looks. (Plus, open wine bar!)
Curated by Lana Barakat of Beacon Hill’s December Thieves boutique, Boston-designer Christian Restrepo and Toronto’s Nuit Atelier will present their own creations during the show.
Event starts promptly at 7:00 PM with an open wine bar. The fashion show is comprised of two fashion collection showings with a 10 minute intermission in between. We will close the evening with a wine and hors d’oeuvre reception where guests can mingle and meet the designers. Complimentary light hors d’oeuvres and an open wine bar will be provided, hors d’ oeuvres crafted by Chef Cyrille Couet courtesy of Colette Bistro.
Designers included in the show feature: Rundholz Apparel and Trippen Footwear from Germany, Lurdes Bergada from Spain, NostraSantissima from Italy, Studio B3 from Poland, Nuit Atelier from Canada and Christian Restrepo from Boston.
An evening of remembrance, community, and support.
In light of the recent fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, the French Cultural Center will host an evening to honor and celebrate this iconic landmark.
Professor Antoine Picon of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design will join us for a presentation on the marvelous architecture of Notre-Dame de Paris, including what was lost in the fire, and its significance today.
The 25-minute presentation will be followed by a reception with light refreshments. Guests will have the opportunity to make a donation to support restoration efforts – from $5 to $5,000, every dollar counts!
All donations will benefit the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, an organization dedicated to restoring this iconic cathedral.
Click here to RSVP.
Somerville’s popular Bow Market comes to Precinct’s patio for one day only!
Precinct Kitchen + Bar invites you to join them on their patio for a one-day Bow Market pop-up. Vendors include:
- Adelante, custom shoes, handmade by craftsman in Guatemala
- Blue Bandana Relics, a curated collection of vintage Americana and quality American brands.
- Buenas, all sorts of South American goodness you can eat on the spot or take home to use in your own recipes. Think: take-n-bake empanadas, pastry dough to make your own empanadas (and other stuff), and sauces you can use for everything from roasting chicken and salmon, to topping oysters.
- In Season Food Shop, made-to-order meals and drinks, local food products, and a curated selection of grocery essentials
- Maca, chic and cheeky, regular and character macarons that range in flavors from vanilla to blueberry basil cheesecake.
- Peston, unique accessories, fleeky home goods and apparel.
- Happy Cactus, succulents, cacti, air plants, exotic plants, ethically sourced butterflies, crystals, gems, fossils and pretty much anything extraordinary Mother Nature creates.
- Additionally, guests will also enjoy soaps and creams from the Sentas Family Farm and much, more!
Precinct will be serving their regular breakfast, brunch and lunch menus all day long, so reserve your table and head over!
French Cultural Center’s French Innovation series looks at French fashion innovations.
Fashion plays a significant cultural, societal, and economic role in France. The second program in the French Cultural Center’s French Innovation series will explore this French staple, from the fashion of its royal courts to the country’s indefatigable status as a pioneer in fashion and luxury innovation today.
Gwen van den Eijnde, of RISD, will enlighten us on French contributions to the world of fashion, from the first mentions of style in the fifteenth century to the liberation of women by Chanel and Dior.
For a peek into new innovations in the fashion world, Christophe Guberan will introduce us to his Active Shoes research project, which explores the future of shoe production and performance with self-transforming textiles.
Event in English. A reception with refreshments will be provided after the discussion.
Guests are welcome to explore our eye-opening French Innovation exhibition in our gallery, featuring sketches, models, and more related to this series’ programs.
About the Panelists
Christophe Guberan is a Swiss industrial designer who teaches product design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The buzzing and innovative ecosystem of the Greater Boston Area allows him to augment his practice while experimenting with new research and technological development.
In 2014, Guberan began collaborating with the MIT Self-Assembly Lab and Founder & Director Skylar Tibbits, a pioneer in 4D printing, to create “active shoes” under the Minimal Shoe project for Design London Museum. Guberan has continued his exploration of material interactions, digital manufacturing, and self-assembly processes. His projects include Hydro-Fold, Liquid to Air, and his most recent collaboration with Tibbits, Rapid Liquid Printing, which tackles speed, scale, and quality challenges in 3D printing technology by printing objects suspended in a gel-like medium.
Gwen van den Eijnde is a Dutch-French designer working in the disciplines of fashion, fine art, and theatre. Through his expressive, avant-garde clothing and costume designs, he creates captivating characters and tells enthralling stories that stretch the imagination. A professor at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), van den Eijnde’s multi-layered approach is informed by his deep knowledge of fashion history and theory; his work is a commentary on the peculiarities of life, often finding subversive humor and fantasy rooted in fact. Van den Eijnde has studied and worked with some of the most esteemed practitioners in his field, including artist Edith Dekyndt in the Atelier Textile of the Ecole Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Strasbourg, costume designer Olivier Bériot, choreographer Robyn Orlin, and the revered Hermès atelier, Petit h. Before joining the faculty at RISD, he was visiting professor at the Fashion department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and Head of Textile Design at the Haute École des Arts du Rhin in Mulhouse.
Learn about France’s contributions to aerospace.
It has been 50 years since the supersonic Concorde took flight, and France’s significance in the aerospace industry continues today. In fact, last year the French aerospace industry was ranked second in the world.
For the culmination of our French Innovation series, we invite you to learn more about this top-ranking industry. Specifically, we will focus on French on aeronautic advancements, from hot air balloons and a plane shaped like a bat to current efforts to reduce aircraft emissions.
Aaron Lewis of Arianespace, the world’s leading commercial satellite launch provider, will tell us what it takes to reach for the stars. Vik Kachoria of Spike Aerospace will uncover the secrets of the next generation of supersonic commercial jets.
Event in English. A reception with refreshments will follow the discussion.
Guests are welcome to explore our eye-opening French Innovation exhibition in our gallery, featuring sketches, models, and more related to this series’ programs.
About the Panelists
Aaron Lewis is Vice President Corporate Communications & Government Relations at Arianespace, a leading satellite launch company. Aaron is also Associate Director of Future Space Leaders, a foundation aiming to advance learning and professional enrichment of young space professionals and future leaders pursuing careers in the fields of space and satellites.
Prior to joining Arianespace, Inc., Aaron was a press secretary and legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Dana Rohrabacher – who is Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics subcommittee. Aaron graduated from St. John’s College Annapolis, Maryland where he studied the History of Math and Science, and Philosophy.
Vik Kachoria, CEO of Spike Aerospace, Inc., is a seasoned aerospace executive with 30 years of industry experience. Vik’s career has included management of, and consulting for, high-growth ventures including supersonic jets, VLJs, air taxis, charter flights, sub-orbital rockets, and solar-powered satellites.
The French Cultural Center is proud to host the Boston regional competition of the French Founders Worldwide Startup Tour.
The French Founders Worldwide Startup Tour, a global competition for entrepreneurs wanting to expand globally. Join the French Cultural Center to hear pitches from five local startups looking to advance to the final competition in New York.
Selected Boston startups will pitch to a jury comprised of Consul General, Arnaud Mentré; Laurent Audoly, President & Founding CEO of Kymera Therapeutics; Yannick Ouvrard, Chief Financial Officer at Keolis Commuter Services; and Damien Balsan, General Partner at Conexo Ventures.
Event in English, followed by a cocktail reception with complimentary refreshments.
About The Startup Tour
The Startup Tour is a unique opportunity for startups to connect and pitch in 12 cities in front of a powerful audience of business leaders based in Europe, the Americas, and APAC. The three regional competitions are supported by the strong network of the French Founders community with its 3500+ members and leaders.
In the Americas, a French Prize will be awarded to a Francophone entrepreneur willing to expand in the Americas and an Americas Prize is awarded to an Anglophone entrepreneur willing to expand in France.
About French Founders
Founded in 2014, French Founders is a next generation business club that connects global Francophone leaders with one another through a digital platform enhanced by a team of more than 20 relationship managers. Their mission is to facilitate business exchanges within their exceptional community of CEOs, top executives, and entrepreneurs. French Founders is headquartered in New York, New York but exists in San Francisco, London, Paris, Shanghai, Montréal, and São Paulo.
Bastille Day Returns to Back Bay
The French Cultural Center’s signature Bastille Day celebration returns to Marlborough Street on Friday, July 12 with a nod to homegrown French heritage via live NOLA music. Each year, this street party welcomes 2,000 people for dance-worthy music, festive food and drinks, and an emphasis on embracing diversity. After sold-out events for the past five years, this festival is not to be missed.
The musical lineup this year showcases two phenomenal acts straight from New Orleans: acclaimed vocalist and trumpeter Shamarr Allen, who has collaborated with the likes of Patti Labelle, Harry Connick, Jr., and Willie Nelson; and gypsy swing band Bon Bon Vivant, which pays homage to the New Orleans music tradition while infusing an indie/punk edge that attracts both swing dancers and indie-rockers alike.
Back Bay’s beautiful Marlborough Street will be blocked off between Berkeley and Clarendon Streets to accommodate attendees, volunteers, and vendors. Delicious food from some of Boston’s best French restaurants and drinks, including beer and wine, will be available for purchase. New this year, attendees can buy an all-access Garden Party pass, which offers admission to both the street festival and the Center’s private soirée featuring an open bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres and desserts.
Bastille Day in Back Bay is fun for all! The event is free for children under 10, who will enjoy the Center’s activity table for kids with face-painting, art-making, and more from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
For tickets and more information, click here.
Event is rain or shine. Tickets non-refundable. Strollers and backpacks strictly prohibited.
An Ephemeral Exhibit with the Lasell Fashion Collection and Boston Fashion Week
Join the French Cultural Center in celebrating Boston Fashion Week with a unique look at curated French pieces from the Lasell Fashion Collection. This unique exhibit and separate private tour of the collection are for one evening only!
Free and open to the public, the general reception will start at 7:00 PM and run through 9:00 PM, with light refreshments.
Ephemeral Exhibit: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Fashion Collection team at Lasell University have curated an exceptional intimate fashion retrospective spanning two centuries and multiple designers. On display will be 17 pieces from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykiel, Jeanne Lanvin, and Comme des Garçons among others. These select pieces, including an original 1880 Parisian opera costume, will face each other in an exhibition that tells the story of their eras through their designs and the techniques used in their creation.
Jill M. Carey, Professor and Curator at Lasell University, Stephanie Hebert, Collections Manager, and their team of passionate students will be available to guide guests in this exceptional journey enriched by interactive components.
This event will mark the launching of the website and digital catalog of the University’s own permanent fashion collection.
Private Tour: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Limited tickets to a private tour and presentation of historic French hand fans with fan historian and collector Shelly Goncalves, former president of the Fan Association of North America, are available for purchase.
About the Lasell Fashion Collection
Established in 1996, the Lasell Fashion Collection (LFC) contains approximately 3,000 objects and currently resides in the Donahue Center for Creative and Applied Arts. While the collection spans 200 years of fashion history, the LFC is notable for its 20th century designer fashions, with an emphasis on couture. In 2018, over 1,200 artifacts were transferred to the LFC upon the closure of the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, MA. This important acquisition enriched the breadth and depth of the LFC’s holdings, specifically in 19th and early 20th century everyday wear, undergarments, and accessories.
About Boston Fashion Week
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Boston Week! Boston Fashion Week was founded as a civic initiative in 1995. The force behind the week has been dedicated to creating opportunities that increase the viability and visibility of the local industry. The series of fashion related events throughout Greater Boston and beyond serves as a platform for both established industry professionals and aspiring newcomers to showcase their work as well as network with peers and the public.
Discover all that the French Cultural Center has to offer.
C’est la rentrée ! The French Cultural Center invites all French speakers, Francophiles, and French-at-heart to join them for their annual Open House. Get a taste of their exciting offerings and take a sneak peek at the fall season. Sip on French wine and savor tasty treats. Come in, mingle, and discover a little piece of France right in the heart of Boston!
This event is free. No prior experience with French is necessary. An RSVP is recommended but walk-ins are welcome.
About this Event
BROWSE THE LIBRARY
Check out the latest arrivals, learn more about upcoming library programs, and visit their book sale with a large variety of books ready for your own personal French library.
EXPLORE CLASSES
Take a placement test and register for a fall class- at a discount! Meet their teachers and learn more about their classes for kids, teens, and adults.
DISCOVER OUR COMMUNITY
Join or renew your membership and explore their member perks and member-exclusive events. All those who join at the event will receive a free giveaway!
HAVE FUN
Enjoy complimentary refreshments (guests +21 receive 2 drink tickets/each), a mini wine tasting, a French conversation corner, tours in English and French, and BINGO with prizes. They truly have something for every Francophile!
TAKE A TOUR
Explore the beautiful historic brownstone with a guided tour- in English or en français. You’ll even get a sneak peek into their newly renovated space!
6:00 PM Tour in French
6:10 PM Tour in English
6:30 PM Tour in French
6:40 PM Tour in English
7:00 PM Tour in French
7:10 PM Tour in English
Join the French Cultural Center and the Boston / Strasbourg Sister City Association for a gallery opening.
“In the fields of science and art, new paradigms emerge only when we dare to go beyond what is established.” – Irene Georgakoudi, Tufts University, Biomedical Engineering
The French Cultural Center is exploring science as the catalyst for artistic expression and art as the catalyst for scientific observation! Join them for the launch of their fall cultural programs with an intriguing gallery opening presented in partnership with the Boston/Strasbourg Sister City Association. The gallery opening will include a reception with light refreshments.
Free and open to the public, registration required.
Event in English with French transcripts.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Art on Science: 26 études (AS26) is a collaborative international art project sponsored by the Boston/Strasbourg Sister City Association (BSSCA) that crosses the lines between art, science, and culture. Thirteen artists from Boston and Strasbourg each were paired with scientists from their home city to explore a scientific theme. The result? A testament to the power of curiosity and creativity and 52 incredible works of art accompanied by written scientific commentaries.
Artists took tours of laboratories. Scientists made studio visits. Some pairs worked shoulder-to-shoulder with live specimens, while others communicated virtually to share ideas and resources. Come explore the fields of art and science with us as we unveil these intriguing works!
