OUR MISSION
The mission of Alliance Française d’Austin (AFA) is to encourage the study and appreciation of French language and Francophone cultures, and to promote and share the language and cultures of the French-speaking world in Austin and our surrounding community.
To fulfill its mission, AFA offers group language classes and private language classes as well as regular workshops, conversation exchanges, and cultural events. All sessions are taught by AFA’s experienced team of native French speakers.
AFA also provides members and students with connections to other Francophone and Francophile organizations in our community, and publishes a Community Calendar of events in the area as well as a list of Community Resources.
OUR VISION
Alliance Française d'Austin is the premier destination for French language and culture in central Texas, recognized for delivering exceptional language instruction and engaging programs and events that enrich the lives of our members and students. Alliance Française is part of the fabric of Austin, a longtime contributor to the status, prosperity, relevance, diversity and culture of the city, and an important internationally-connected resource for Austin residents.
OUR HISTORY
Alliance Française d’Austin is a proud part of the acclaimed international Alliance Française network founded in Paris in 1883 to promote the French language and francophone cultures and to foster exchanges between French speakers and local communities.
Currently, more than 800 Alliance Française chapters worldwide serve more than half a million members and students in over 130 countries. The Alliances Françaises Federation USA, founded in 1902, currently includes over 100 independently run Alliance chapters and more than 24,000 students.
The global Alliance network has earned a reputation for providing effective French language instruction and enriching French-themed cultural events, with a focus on understanding and speaking the language in a relaxed setting.
Though it is part of a bigger network, AFA is locally run, independent non-profit organization that has served the Austin community for more than 50 years. AFA was incorporated in Texas in 1970 and is registered as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit with the Internal Revenue Service.
In 2020, the AFA Board of Directors decided to move all class offerings to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to move to a virtual office space as well. During 2025, AFA plans to resume in-person group language classes on a limited scale, to offer more frequent in-person cultural and educational events, while also continuing to provide a robust selection of online courses.
OUR LEADERSHIP
AFA is currently governed by a 13 member volunteer Board of Directors and operated by a small, dedicated, part-time staff. AFA earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, a recognized charity watchdog organization. For more information, visit our AFA Legal and Financial Documents page.
OUR MEMBERS
Membership in the Alliance Française d'Austin is open to the public, and members are eligible to vote at the Annual Membership Meeting, helping to shape the organization’s future. The organization offers multiple membership levels, and all members receive discounts on AFA classes, events and workshops, as well as discounts and special offers from Community Partners.