CONNECTING PEOPLE THROUGH CULTURE
We work hard to give an innovative image of our country in showcasing the creativity of French artists in the field of digital art, video games and virtual reality, comic books, animated films, street art and art in the public space. Our aim is to reach new audiences, with a particular attention to youth
INTERVIEW
GUILLAUME COLIN
Director of the French Institute in Croatia and Counsellor for cultural affairs and cooperation at the French Embassy in Zagreb
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ince 2004, Croatia has been an observing member of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an organization that has 84 member states and governments (58 members and 26 observers), which together represent over one-third of the United Nations’ member states and account for a population of over 900 million people, including 274 million French speakers. But what does Francophonie actually mean for Croatia? About 10.000 learners from kindergarten to university; 250 teachers of French languages; 5 Alliances Françaises (Dubrovnik, Osijek, Rijeka, Split et Zagreb) and 3 Cercles Français (Koprivnica, Varazdin et Zadar); and more than 700,00 French-speaking tourists visiting Croatia annually. Apart from the incredible wealth and diversity of cultural resources provided by the French Institute at its premises in Zagreb, membership in the French Insti-
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FRANCE 2018
tute or in one of the 5 Alliances Françaises provides access to a number of actual online cultural resources – newspapers, magazines, comics, latest books edited in France, music… - via the portal http://www. culturetheque.com. We had the pleasure of talking to Mr. Guillaume Colin, Director of the French Cultural Institute in Croatia and a cooperation
OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AND HUMAN EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE CROATIAN AND FRENCH PEOPLE IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP
and cultural affairs advisor at the French Embassy in Zagreb.
You have been present in Croatia for a quarter of a century. What would you single out as the Institute's key contributions to the promotion of French culture and language in Croatia, as well as the promotion of science and higher education during this period? — Actually, it is a much longer story than that… We celebrated the 120 anniversary of the Alliance Française of Osijek last year in February. Now, there are five dynamic French Alliances in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Dubrovnik and of course, the one in Osijek! The story of the French Institute itself in Croatia began in 1922, when the first French lecturer, sent by France, founded the first French library located at today’s Marulić Square. In 1935, the French Institute settled in 40, Preradovićeva Street where it stayed until 2004. Furthermore, in 1946, the French reading room was
