FEBRUARY 2009 Some of the month's highlights include:

RETROSPECTIVE

PRESENTATION DES VOEUX 2009 Le 21 janvier 2009, M. Jean-Baptiste Main de Boissière, Consul général de France à Chicago, a présenté ses voeux aux représentants de la communauté française, franco-américaine et américaine. Lire le discours.

Chicago (IL). Dec. 11, 2008, International Dinner at the Woman's Athletic Club Speech by Consul General of France Jean-Baptiste Main de Boissière. (Read).

Wauwatosa (WI). Coup de chapeau à la Red Raider Marching Band, fanfare de l'East High School de Wauwatosa qui a été selectionnée pour être l'un des cinq orchestres à représenter les Etats-Unis au Festival des Musiques du Nouvel An à Paris et à la Grande Parade de Chantilly en décembre 2008. (Lire) Congratulations to the Wauwatosa East High School Bands. They were selected to be one of five bands from throughout the United States to represent the country at the Paris Parade Festival and the Grande Parade de Chantilly in December 2008. (Read)

FRANCE / ACTUALITES

VOEUX DU PRESIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE AUX FRANCAIS Lire ou écouter le discours ©Service photo Elysée P.Segrette. Tous droits réservés.

PLAN DE RELANCE : 1 000 PROJETS DANS TOUTE LA FRANCE En déplacement à Lyon avec les membres du Gouvernement concernés, François Fillon a dévoilé, le 2 février, les 1 000 projets qui seront financés par le plan de relance de l’économie. (En savoir plus).

INFORMATIONS CONSULAIRES

CAMPAGNE BOURSIERE 2009 /2010 Les dossiers de bourses pour l’année scolaire 2009-2010 doivent être déposés auprès du Consulat Général de France à Chicago entre le 17 février 2009 et le 16 mars 2009, cachet de la poste faisant foi. Aucun dossier ne sera accepté après cette date pour les élèves relevant de la première campagne boursière. Pour l’année scolaire 2009-2010, les dossiers doivent être déposés auprès du lycée français de Chicago et transmis au Consulat Général au plus tard le 16 mars 2009 . Passé ce délai, aucun dossier ne sera instruit pour les familles qui résident dans la circonscription au 1er janvier 2009. En savoir plus.

SYSTEME ELECTRONIQUE D'AUTORISATION DE VOYAGE (ESTA) A compter du 12 janvier 2009, tous les voyageurs bénéficiaires du Programme d’Exemption de visa (VWP) seront tenus d’obtenir une autorisation de voyage électronique avant de se rendre aux Etats-Unis par une compagnie aérienne ou maritime. Cette procédure est appelée système électronique d’autorisation de voyage (ESTA : Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Informations complètes.

Plus d'informations en page Infos consulaires.

EVENEMENTS/EVENTS

CHICAGO (IL)

Mercredi 25 février à 18h30: Conférence de François NICOULLAUD, Président du bureau national de l'association Français du Monde-ADFE sur le thème "Faut-il avoir peur de l'Iran? ". François NICOULLAUD a été élu président de l’association Français du Monde-ADFE en 2005. Il est aussi Conseiller de l'Assemblée des Français de l'Etranger. Ancien diplomate, M. NICOULLAUD a été en poste à l'ONU, au Chili, à Berlin, à Bombay. Il fut également Ambassadeur de France en Hongrie et en Iran. François NICOULLAUD a également exercé au ministère de l'intérieur et au ministère de la défense. Alliance Française de Chicago - 54 W. Chicago Avenue. Pour plus d'informations, visitez le site de l'ADFE - Français du Monde - Section de Chicago.

IOWA CITY (IA)

Thursday, February 26: Conferences by Jean-Baptiste Main de Boissière, Consul General of France in Chicago at the University of Iowa: - "France and Europe: Perceptions and Relations with Obama's Administration of Change" - "Europe on the Move, Strengths, Challenges and Its Influence in the World" The program “Europe in the World. Identities, Networks, Challenges” is presented by the European Studies Group co-organized and co-sponsored with the Crossing Borders Program. Information or contact rex-honey@uiowa.edu or michel-laronde@uiowa.edu

CLEVELAND (OH)

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FEBRUARY 7-15, 2009 IT'S NOT JUST A SHOW - IT'S A DESTINATION! The 2009 Show Theme: "THE ROMANCE OF FRANCE" Join us for the 66th Annual Home and Garden Show "the Largest Show of its kind in North America" In partnership with the FACC - Northern Ohio Chapter. XI Center - Cleveland OH Complete information

Pour tous les événements visitez / More events on: ECONOMIE/BUSINESS & CULTUREL & EVENTS

CULTURE

ILLINOIS

Through April 5, 2009: Expo Jean Luc Mylayne Jean Luc Mylayne and his wife and co-collaborator, Mylène, have spent six months of each year since 2004 traveling throughout the Fort Davis, Texas area. A rugged and wild place nestled in the landscape of the Davis Mountains, it is a way station on the migration routes of animals and birds—specifically Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds. Complete information. Krannert Art Museum - Urbana Champaign.

February 5-June 7 : Art at Steppenwolf Theatre - Chicago In the play Art by French playwright Yasmina Reza a heated debate over modern art colors this rich comic study of male friendship. This witty, intelligent and often funny play explores the power of art to engage the imagination and the enduring bonds of friendship. Complete information.

OHIO

Columbus College of Art and Design February 25-April 25, 2009 : Combined group exhibitions Of Other Spaces & The New Normal

Of Other Spaces explores how the origins and functions of spaces shape human behavior. It considers the ways in which places become charged with socio-cultural authority to act in service and in suppression of our activity. Featuring French artists Alain Bublex, Laurent Montaron, Guillaume Leblon, Marylène Negro. The New Normal, featuring the works of Sophie Calle, mine the private sphere--domestic spaces, bodies, thoughts, communications and behaviors--for raw material and subject matter. Using information as diverse as leaked documents, Internet websites and home videos to create videos, photographs, and computer installations with web components, the exhibition offers intimate portraits of individuals who internalize invasive conditions of surveillance. Supported by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy – Chicago.

MICHIGAN Saturday, February 21st, 2009 : French Festival of Grand Rapids West Michigan residents will be able to enjoy all things French during Fête de la Culture Française at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art. French film, French food and wine, an art exhibit of selected French artists, an intensive French workshop, a French marketplace, give-ways and a silent auction are planned. Complete Information.

WISCONSIN

February 6-15, 2009: THE 12TH ANNUALFESTIVAL OF FILMS IN FRENCH at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) celebrates the diversity of French-language cinema, featuring films set in Sénégal, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Martinique and Québec as well as France. This year's festival features 12 films which will be shown at the Union Theatre, second floor, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd. To read the press release click here

For a listing of Cultural events in the MIDWEST click here For the CHICAGO AREA go to LIAISON, The Newsletter of the French Cultural Services in Chicago.

NOT TO BE MISSED IN MARCH 2009 / A NE PAS MANQUER EN MARS 2009

ILLINOIS

The Beethoven Project Trio performs A BEETHOVEN WORLD PREMIERE and two Beethoven American Premieres! Sang Mee Lee, violin - Wendy Warner, cello - Geroge LePauw, piano. Sunday, March 1st, 2009 - 6:30 p.m. at the Murphy Auditorium. For more information click here.

Saturday, March 7th at 6 p.m. the Alliance Française in Chicago kicks off the FESTIVAL DE LA FRANCOPHONIE 2009 A month of cultural programming with French music, food and fun. In celebration of the cultural and linguisitic diversity of the French speaking world which includes over 200 million people in over fifty countries. For a detailed schedule please visit www.af-chicago.org

Friday, March 6th through Thursday, April 2nd the Gene Siskel Center hosts the 12th ANNUAL EUROPEAN UNION FILM FESTIVAL with more than 60 films being premiered this year representing 25 different European Countries. The European Union Film Festival celebrates its twelfth year in 2009 and promises to be the Gene Siskel Film Center’s most popular annual film festival once again. Last year it drew more than 7,000 attendees.

CHICAGO - JUNE 8 - 11, 2009 JEUX-INTER-LYCEES LYCEES FRANCAIS GAMES NORTH AMERICA Building on the success of the first Inter-Lycées Games in June 2008, the Lycée Français de Chicago is again hosting and organizing the 2009 Lycées Français Games, an athletic competition between numerous French schools in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. We hope that this unique sporting and cultural event will become a tradition and will show what can be accomplished through true collaboration between schools. The Lycée Français de Chicago and the French community in Chicago wish to show their enthusiastic support for the city’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Information & Program.