The yearly "Rassemblement"
Every year, Franco American Programs organizes a “rassemblement” or gathering of Franco American artists, writers, and creatives. This annual event aims to create a culturally supportive space in which members of the Franco-American creative community can share their work.
Come join us! You can share your work in French, English or both. We aim to give each presenter an equal amount of time, and we welcome any attendee to present. We can arrange for some basic (google) translation support if we have the text in advance. We organize a potluck for Friday evening and provide food for Saturday and Sunday morning. We can help with lodging and travel costs for those who need it. Just let us know, and we will do our best.
This year’s Rassemblement will happen at the Franco American Centre in Orono on April 24, 25, and 26, 2020. Sign up here to let us know when you are coming and if you want to present. We will be communicating details about the Rassemblement to the email addresses we receive through the sign-up sheet.
This year’s theme is legacy. The dictionary definition of legacy is, “Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past.” As Franco Americans, what was handed down to us? And how does this gift act as both an impetus to create and as a restriction on our creations? What are we handing down to those who come after us? What was and is our legacy?
We have reserved a block of hotel rooms at the University Inn in Orono, 207-866-4921. The name of the room block is Franco American Writers Gathering and the rate is $107/night for a single or a double. The hotel will release any extra rooms on April 10, 2020.
As we have done in the past, we will be gathering together around 5pm for an informal dinner on Friday evening April 24, 2020. Lisa and I will bring a couple pots of soup. Bring something to share if you want but please don’t feel like you need to. We’ll organize presentations on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday morning and provide food for all day Saturday and Sunday morning.
Thanks to generous donors, we are able to offer this year’s retreat free of charge. That said, please do consider donating to Franco American Programs. We are able to do this only because of donor support. Anything you give helps us make these types of events happen.
Feel free to invite any Franco artist or creative that you think would like to join us in a weekend of Franco creative energy.
Contact Susan or Lisa with questions.