American Friends of Blérancourt Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

French Ambassador Gérard Araud invited American Friends of Blérancourt’s major donors and Board members to celebrate its 30th anniversary at an elegant dinner at his private Residence on May 14th. This organisation was one of the very first of its kind to support a French cultural institution, and the Ambassador’s acknowledgment was appreciated.

There was also a happy coincidence: at the beginning of his career, Ambassador Araud served as an intern for Ambassador Anglès, the late husband of AFB president Eugénie Anglès. The 50 or so guests enjoyed the fine cuisine and wines, the mix of tasteful modern and classic artwork and, especially, the gratification of knowing the milestones they have accomplished over the past 30 years in support of the Franco-American Museum in Picardy, France.

AFB supporters will soon see the fruits of their labour. The Museum, which has been closed for nearly 10 years for restoration and expansion, is set to re-open in 2016 with state-of-the-art multimedia and educational spaces.

More about the organisation: The American Friends of Blérancourt, Inc. was established in 1985 to support the French National Museum in the Château de Blérancourt in Picardie, France. The Museum is dedicated to documenting the political, social and cultural contacts between the two countries, and particularly how they have viewed each other over three centuries. It is unique in that it is the only French National Museum dedicated to France’s relationship to another country. The collections include paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and photographs, documents, and memorabilia.