The Institut français plays a central role in cultural diplomacy. How would you define this mission?

Our role is to promote French culture and language around the world, as well as to nurture intercultural dialogue between France and partner countries. This is done in close collaboration with the French cultural network abroad (Instituts français, Alliances françaises, embassies), numerous partners and other French operators. To use the concept of American academic Joseph Nye, we're fully into what's known as soft power, which can be summed up by the following formula: "winning hearts and minds by means other than pressure and coercion".

Some say that soft power is "the weapon of the weak". Do you share this view?
No, absolutely not. History shows that soft power has been and still is used by great powers. We can of course think of the United States as an obvious example.

In France, culture has been used for centuries as a tool for dialogue and influence. In the past, it was a matter of asserting cultural superiority. Today, we favor partnership and exchange between equals. Whether we speak of soft power, cultural diplomacy, outreach policy or influence policy - depending on what we really want to refer to - culture has long been at the heart of our relations with other countries.

Today, we could take the example of Saudi Arabia, which has chosen to place culture at the center of its "Vision 2030" development plan, put in place by its leaders in 2016.

That said, it's true that countries that have gone through periods of weakness have managed, brilliantly, to take advantage of soft power. South Korea, for example, after the crisis of the 1990s and being placed under IMF trusteeship, developed a strategy around culture and cultural creative industries to forge an internationally attractive image. Given the appeal of Korean culture in France and elsewhere, it's fair to say that the gamble has paid off.

Concretely, how does the Institut français work, in conjunction with the French cultural network abroad?

At the Institut français, we work closely with a unique network of over 1,000 establishments across more than 140 countries. The French cultural network abroad is made up of the Instituts français and the Alliances françaises. The Alliances, the oldest of which date back to the 1880s, are associations governed by local law, while the Instituts Français are attached to embassies. All share the same mission: to promote French culture and language.

From its base in Paris, the Institut français supports this network by providing expertise, making resources available, co-financing projects, organizing training courses and offering programs designed to support and develop the work of Instituts français and Alliances françaises around the world. This concerns all sectors of cultural creation: from literature to cinema, via music and live performance, design and arts and crafts, digital creation, the debate of ideas, architecture, the visual arts and the French language.

At the Institut français, we also directly manage the French presence at major international events. It is we who ensure the implementation of the French Pavilion at the Venice International Biennales of Art and Architecture, for example.

Finally, we also steer the organization of the Saisons culturelles, which have brought France into dialogue with over 100 countries since 1985. Currently, the Saison de la France au Brésil is in full swing, while the Saison du Brésil en France continues.

Why is cultural diplomacy, and by extension the work of the Institut français, so important for France today?

Cultural diplomacy, as its name suggests, is an integral part of diplomacy. It therefore plays a part in defending and promoting the interests of France and the French throughout the world.

Because we work internationally, in France we don't always know what we're doing or what we're for. Our work helps to shape France's image, in all its diversity, and serves our interests as well as those of our creators, cultural players and businesses in the cultural and creative sectors, whether they're in Paris, the regions or overseas.

The Institut français works with all territories. We are not "Parisian-centric", as evidenced by the many partnership agreements we have with local authorities. We can also mention our FOCUS programs, which we organize throughout France, with the support of major events (Chroniques in Marseille, the Salon du livre et de la presse jeunesse in Montreuil, the Festival d'Avignon, etc.). Each year, FOCUS showcases the French arts scene to 250 international guests, encouraging them to program French creators at their own festivals and events.

What we do internationally has an impact on all French territories. It's a job of representation, as well as sharing: we don't seek to impose French culture, but to make it known and give it visibility, and to dialogue with the world.

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