2015 annual report afm

AllianceFranรงaise de Melbourne

AllianceFranรงaise de Melbourne Association of the Alliance Franรงaise of Victoria (Trading as Alliance Franรงaise de Melbourne) A.C.N. 005 140 385 | A.B.N. 91 005 140 385 51 Grey Street ST KILDA VICTORIA 3182 AUSTRALIA (P.O. BOX 2042 ST KILDA WEST VICTORIA 3182 AUSTRALIA) t: +61 3 9525 3463 | f: +61 3 9525 5064 e: info@afmelbourne.com.au | w: www.afmelbourne.com.au

2015 Report Annual

MELBOURNE AUSTRALIa

Association of the Alliance Franรงaise of Victoria Trading as

Alliance Franรงaise de Melbourne A.C.N. 005 140 385

2015 ANNUAL REPORT (Year ending 31 December 2015)

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The year ending 31st December 2015 was another significant year for the Alliance.

In August, we farewelled Sally Lefevre who, after four years at the Alliance, left with her family to Paris to continue her career. Her professional dedication, leadership and management of the financial affairs of the Alliance was very much appreciated by the Board.

Whilst there was a tinge of sadness to see Sally leave, the Board was delighted to welcome Michel Richard to our Alliance in September this year. Michel brings a wealth of experience to the Alliance. Michel’s leadership skills, artistic flair and speedy ability to familiarise himself with the operations of the Alliance have already impressed the board.

Teaching French is at the core of the Alliance’s mission and we are delighted that in 2015, enrolment continued to grow with 4,800 enrolments and the participation of 2,849 different students. The opening of the CBD branch of the Alliance in late 2014 proved to be an overwhelming success beyond our expectations. This has contributed to the healthy financial position of the Alliance, as indicated in the financial report of this Annual Report, as at 31 December 2015. We are grateful to the professional work done by Aurelie Pierre, Head of Education, who continues to be imaginative in creating new courses to ensure that the students’ experience remains stimulating and enjoyable.

On the cultural front, the Alliance offered a varied and rich program in 2015. You will find a detailed list of the Cultural Activities held at the Alliance in this Annual Report. Nevertheless, I would like to mention some of them.

We were delighted to have Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton as the 2015 patrons of the Alliance Française French Film Festival which has become a key event in Melbourne’s cultural calendar. This year’s attendance again surpassed everyone’s expectation by enjoying yet another record with 157,484 spectators nationally truly making it one of the most significant festivals of French cinema outside of France. In Melbourne, we had 48,168 admissions which represented a 28 % increase on 2014. Françoise Libotte, Deputy Director of the Alliance, continues to work tirelessly to make this festival such a success. Thank you to all our national and local partners of the Festival whose support is immensely appreciated.

The Alliance continued with its stimulating program of exhibitions which included the partnership with the Yalukit Wilum Ngargee St Kilda Festival to present YULENJ (Knowledge), an exhibition by three experienced Aboriginal artists living in Melbourne.

We were honoured to have the visit of two well-known and award winning artists from France. Thanks to a new partnership with Dancehouse and the French Embassy, the Alliance hosted an exhibition about contemporary dance and experienced a memorable performance by the very talented Xavier Le Roy. François Garde, the winner of nine literary awards in France including the Prix Gongourt in the first novel category for his page-turner “Ce qu’il advent du sauvage blanc” gave a public presentation in a Q&A session with the literary critic Mike Shuttleworth.

Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria trading as Alliance Française de Melbourne - 2015 Annual Report

We thank Professor McPhee, a specialist in the French revolution, for bringing back to life, momentarily, some of the events and protagonists of the French revolution including the controversial Robespierre and for making the Alliance’s ballroom come alive with passionate debate surrounded by the thought provoking exhibition by Lucia Rossi, “Echo Chamber”.

Our annual collaboration continued with a number of organisations including RMIT University and ISFAR with the stimulating colloquium “The Melbourne Salon” and the Victorian College of the Arts Graduates Alliance Award exhibition.

The Fête de la Musique program continued to resound in the City of Port Philip Library and the Prince Bandroom thanks to the financial support of the City of Port Phillip and the participation of many talented musicians and ANAM (the Australian National Academy of Music).

The Berthe Mouchette poetry competition, which began in 1893, continued to flourish this year with 14,995 students from 112 Victorian secondary schools participating in the competition.

The Alliance was a partner in the inaugural Bastille Day Festival at the State Library of Victoria, a 2-day event organised by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with the support of the Honorary French Consulate.

Other regular cultural activities of the AFM calendar continued including the musical concerts in the basement, the monthly cine clubs and the two day Christmas Market/Open Day that attracted more than 6,000 visitors this year.

I would like to thank all the directors of the Board as well as the Chairs of the subcommittees for their professionalism, tireless work and expertise that is crucial to the successful management of the affairs of the Alliance. I particularly thank the Chairs of all the Finance, Governance, Building and the Jean Marie Violette sub-committees for their leadership and hard work without whom my job would be considerably harder. We welcomed Heather Knowles to the board this year and were sad to see Katherine Wynn step down from the board.

Without the students and the members, the Alliance would not exist. I thank them for their continuing support and participation in the Alliance’s courses and cultural activities.

The high reputation as a French language centre that the Alliance enjoys would not be possible without the highly qualified and competent teachers at the Alliance whose dedication has maintained the interest of the students in their quest for increased language proficiency and their many varied cultural pursuits.

I would also like to acknowledge the professional, dedicated and hardworking team at the Alliance including the work that is done by our many volunteers.

Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria trading as Alliance Française de Melbourne - 2015 Annual Report

Last but not least, I would like to thank all our partners without whom we would not be able to offer so many exciting and varied cultural events that contribute to making this Alliance thrive in this exciting city.

Gilbert Ducasse Chairman

Association of the Alliance Franรงaise of Victoria trading as Alliance Franรงaise de Melbourne - 2015 Annual Report

2015 ACTIVITIES EVENTS

Date

Type of Event

Title of the Event

4-Feb 12-Feb 26-Feb 27-Feb 4-Mar 8-Apr 24-Apr 29-Apr 12-May 27-May 28-May 30-May 3-Jun 5-Jun 13-Jun 18-Jun 19-Jun 24-Jun 24-Jun 3-Jul 22-Jul 23-Jul 26-Jul 29-Jul 31-Jul 8-Aug 20-Aug 27-Aug 4-Sep 14-Sep 30-Sep 7-Sep 10-Oct

Exhibition Music Cinema Diner in French Cinema Exhibition Exhibition Cinema Theatre workshops Book Presentation Cinema Lunch in French Exhibition Cinema Book presentation Music Music Cinema Book presentation Cinema Exhibition Talk Open Day Cinema Cinema Talk Talk Cinema Cinema Book presentation Book presentation Exhibition Cinema

22-Oct

Talk

29-Oct 6-Nov 12-Nov 26-Nov 27-Nov 5-6 Dec 11-Dec Various Various

Cinema Cinema Music Cinema Exhibition Market Cinema Book presentation Café conversation

Yulenj (Yalukit Wilum Ngargee St Kilda Festival) Jeudi Vibes concert: Madame Andrée (cabaret) Cine-Club: Gadjo Dilo (St Kilda) The French Brasserie 26th Alliance Française French Film Festival Florence Metgé 14/18 Cine-club: La pirogue (St Kilda) Les passeurs de mots by Philippe Guinet The Truth about French Women Cine-Club: 9 Mois ferme (St Kilda) at Chez Olivier 2014 VCA Graduates AFM Award Exhibition Cine-club: 9 Mois ferme Savoir-vivre in the 21st Century, a guide to the art of living in France Fete de la Musique at the St Kilda Library Fete de la Musique at the Prince Bandroom cine-club: La cour de Babel (St Kilda) Ransaking Paris cine-club: La cour de Babel (CBD) Desert Dreamings by the Clark Art Project The Melbourne Salon: La traduction avec Catherine de Saint-Phalle et Eden Liddelow Open House Melbourne Cine-Club: Amities Sinceres (St Kilda) Cine-Club: Amities Sinceres (CBD) Artist talk: From idea to Execution - Lucia Rossi Revolutionary Lives: Characters with a cause Cine-club: Timbuktu (St Kilda) Cine-club: Timbuktu (CBD) Francois Garde in conversation with Mike Shuttleworth Matthew Sharpe/Camus Philosophe: To Return to our Beginnings Noctambule by Camilla Tadich Cine-club: Mia et le Migou (St Kilda) The Melbourne Salon: Bruce Scates - A kiss from France: emotional labour, the Great War and untold stories from the Somme Cine-Club: Maestro (St Kilda) Cine-Club: Maestro (CBD) Jeudi Vibes concert: Elle et la contrebasse Cine-club: Lulu femme nue (St Kilda) Xavier Leroy in Public - Exhibition & Screenings French Xmas Market Eildon Mansion, St Kilda Special screening France Alumni "Mustang" at Cinema Como 10 x bookclubs 26 x Various locations

Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria trading as Alliance Française de Melbourne - 2015 Annual Report

SECRETARY’S REPORT Following the 2015 Annual General Meeting I was appointed Board Secretary. I take over from Katherine Wynn who, at last year's AGM, stepped down as Board Secretary and later in the year resigned from the Board. Thanks are extended to Katherine for her ongoing service to the Board in various roles and her warm supportive approach. At its December 2015 meeting the AFM Board welcomed Heather Knowles as a co-opted member.

In 2015 the AFM Board met seven times. The meetings were conducted with due attention to good governance chaired by the Board President Gilbert Ducasse. Minutes, resolutions and actions were recorded faithfully with the support, in the second half of the year, of a minute secretary. All relevant documents, together with the agenda prepared in consultation with the Chair, were distributed in advance of meetings and, following the meeting, uploaded to a shared website restricted to Board members. This website was established with the assistance of the Deputy Director, Françoise Libotte. A Board meeting planner was created to identify critical issues for inclusion at Board meetings.

2015 Board business included an emphasis on fiduciary responsibilities, namely: 1. strong financial oversight of all AFM activities, especially those of the new CBD campus 2. focussed legal and governance responses including: • establishing a new Employee Handbook • responding to the Post-Secondary Award • a review of the AFM Constitution including responses to guidelines of the Fondation Alliance Française de Paris • establishing and reviewing Board policies and processes • establishing a risk analysis matrix and risk response document • undertaking a Board review.

The 2015 Board meetings also engaged with the AFM's operational activities reported on to the Board by the Director and Head of Education. Many operational activities were reported on quarterly to the Board through the Operational Plan whose outcomes align with the goals of the 2013-2016 Strategic Plan. Specific operational business for the Board included: • teaching numbers and class trends • promotional and marketing activities • neighboring planning responses and planning permits • the completion of the glazed link • key cultural events, especially those which contributed significantly to the profitability of the organisation such as the French Film Festival and the Christmas Market • handover requirements between the new incoming AFM Director, Michel Richard, and those of the outgoing AFM Director of four years, Saliha Lefevre.

The number of AFM members has now increased to 712 and statutory filings and returns to ASIC have been undertaken in line with the regulations of the Corporations Act. Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria trading as Alliance Française de Melbourne - 2015 Annual Report

Finally, I warmly thank the two Directors of the Alliance for 2015, the Deputy Director and the AFM managers for their assistance with key issues relating to the Secretary's role. I also thank all of my Board colleagues for their help with various processes and policies relating to good governance.

Dr Kay Stevens Secretary

Association of the Alliance Franรงaise of Victoria trading as Alliance Franรงaise de Melbourne - 2015 Annual Report

TREASURER’S REPORT 2015 was the first full year of the Alliance Française de Melbourne teaching French in dedicated premises in the CBD, our second site in Melbourne. The enrolments in the Swanston St premises went from strength to strength during 2015 and kept on surpassing our initial expectations in terms of student numbers.

Conversely, the enrolments for French lessons at our St Kilda premises declined in 2015, in particular for adult and teenagers customers for whom the Swanston St location appeared to be more convenient.

Total revenues, at $2.3m, increased by 1.2%, with the following highlights: • French tuition generated $1,533,719 revenues, a 2.6% increase over 2014; • The French Film Festival generated $226,914 in gross revenue, up 26% on 2014, making the 2015 Festival a remarkable success.

The net financial result for 2015 was a profit of $36,998. Careful management of the core operations of AFM has meant that we have traded profitably in all but one of the past six years, as follows: • • • • • •

2015 - $36,998 2014 - $58,977 2013 - ($37,499) 2012 - $165,553 2011 - $106,610 2010 - $36,739

The key elements affecting the financial performance for 2015 were: • a moderate increase in tuition revenue, with adult and teenager groups remaining strong, • a very successful year for the French Film Festival, • increased, but contained, maintenance and staff expenses, • the completion of the glass link and fencing between the 2 buildings in St Kilda, • accounting adjustments of items carried forward from previous years, in relation to unaccounted-for credit notes (-$19,361) and assets write-off (-$12,745).

The balance sheet remains strong with no debt and a cash position of $287,625 at December 31, 2015, up from $247,080 at December 31, 2014. Following an independent assessment of the St Kilda premises, the Directors agreed to increase the value of the land and buildings: the new value is based on a conservative approach since the Heritage listing of the property limits potential for land value increase.

For the budget of 2016, AFM management, with Board approval, is targeting a conservative net profit of $5,065 and will monitor closely the enrolment trends at the St Kilda premises.

Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria trading as Alliance Française de Melbourne - 2015 Annual Report

The 2016 budget is based on the following key assumptions: • continued tight control over costs, • continued growth in our CBD site, • ambitious growth in children and adolescent classes, • continued maintenance of the Eildon mansion in St Kilda, • potential investments in a multimedia centre, etc., to be only undertaken after careful consideration of our current and projected cash position over the year.

Saliha Lefèvre was the CEO of Alliance Française de Melbourne until August 2015 and handed over to Michel Richard, the new CEO. Penny Matthews continues to convey a wonderful dedication to her joint task as Finance and General Administration manager and I thank her for her tenacity when dealing with the implementation of the data feed between the website sales and the accounting software.

I also would like to thank the other members of the Finance sub-committee, Robin Brett, Peter Rohan and Katherine Wynn, for their active contributions throughout the year.

Sabine Dejey - Treasurer

Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria trading as Alliance Française de Melbourne - 2015 Annual Report

AllianceFranรงaise de Melbourne

AllianceFranรงaise de Melbourne Association of the Alliance Franรงaise of Victoria (Trading as Alliance Franรงaise de Melbourne) A.C.N. 005 140 385 | A.B.N. 91 005 140 385 51 Grey Street ST KILDA VICTORIA 3182 AUSTRALIA (P.O. BOX 2042 ST KILDA WEST VICTORIA 3182 AUSTRALIA) t: +61 3 9525 3463 | f: +61 3 9525 5064 e: info@afmelbourne.com.au | w: www.afmelbourne.com.au

2015 Report Annual

MELBOURNE AUSTRALIa