Building Relationships

The centerpiece of our work has been our cultural partnership with Croissy-sur-Seine, France, a beautiful town on the banks of the Seine outside of Paris. Croissy boasts the 13th century St. Leonard's Chapel and formerly "La Grenouillere" a floating cafe where Monet and Renoir met in 1869 to commence their Impressionist paintings, working "en plein air."

Geneva's International Cultural Exchange Committee (ICEC) forged the relationship in 2006 and began hosting our French friends the following year. The ICEC has had the pleasure of extending invitations to French artists, musicians, museum curators, business leaders, and city officials on seven delegation visits.

The French artists have exhibited their work locally at Gallery 28 and Water Street Studios. In subsequent years, the committee has facilitated further cultural exchanges and hosted 20 Croissy friends, including six musicians from the Rive Droite-Rive Gauche Swing Band. They joined an impromptu concert with the Geneva High School Jazz Band in 2012.

Students from Geneva elementary schools have painted scenes from the Fox River and sent them for an exhibition in a French School, while French children sent their Impressionist artwork of the Seine in return.

To continue the artistic exchanges, Croissy friends curated a photo exhibition of historic Geneva taken by local photographers. The French exhibition returned to the Tri-Cities for a successful reception at Water Street Studios in the spirit of true intercultural partnership.

Committee Highlights

• Recognize AFS Students at a Geneva City Council meeting each fall;
• Partner with the Geneva Public Library to showcase "Foreign Films Sunday" on the third Sunday of each month;
• Organize Croissy/Geneva art exchanges for elementary, middle and high school students; and
• Create a quarterly newsletter highlighting ICEC events as well as Croissy-Geneva news and information.

Board Members

How To Get Involved

Stay connected with the latest ICEC happenings by subscribing to the committee's online newsletter. Check out the Agenda Center for upcoming meeting dates. If you are interested in becoming involved in the next delegation or ICEC activities throughout the year, contact Cynthia Albright or Pam Cabeen via email.