Founded in 1898, the French Institute and the Alliance Française de New York operated as two separate organizations, the first promoting French arts, the second teaching French.
Located on New York City's Upper East Side in a Beaux-Arts building reminiscent of the architecture of Haussmann Paris, FIAF presents a mix of arts programs and events in addition to two cultural platforms, Crossing the Line, presented each fall, and World Nomads, presented each spring.