History and Aims
The Society of the Friends of the Institut français d’Écosse was recognised as a Scottish Charity in August 1999, registered under the number SCO29352. The objectives of the Society are twofold: first, to advance the education of the general public in Scotland about France by encouraging Franco-Scottish cooperation in cultural activities; second, to generate funds on behalf of the Institut français d’Écosse to help the latter be as ambitious as it possibly can.
Who we are
Members of the Management Committee
The charity is administered by a Management Committee in accordance with its Constitution (available on request). The members who serve on the Management Committee are currently as follows:
Honorary President: Magnus Linklater, Former editor of The Scotsman, columnist for The Times
President: Belinda Thomson, Honorary Professor, University of Edinburgh, writer, art historian
Vice President and General Secretary: Camilla Toulmin, Professor University of Lancaster, Senior Fellow Africa-Europe Foundation
Treasurer: Tom Wight, President, Edinburgh Branch of the Franco-Scottish Society
Alastair Duncan, Former Senior Lecturer in French, University of Stirling
Dr Geoff Hare, Former Senior Lecturer in French, University of Newcastle
Richard Mowe, Director, French Film Festival UK, arts and features journalist
Dr Anne Pritchard, Art historian, former Senior Curator, Historic Art, Amgueddfa Cymru – Museums Wales
Odile Hughson, Historian, tour guide
Sylvia Davidson, International liaison, French Film Festival UK
Patron: Sir Ian Rankin, Novelist and Scottish crime writer
How your money can help
Money from Friends’ subscriptions and fund-raising goes towards supporting the cultural and educational projects of the Institut français d’Écosse, as well as its practical requirements. In recent years we helped with the equipment of the new theatre in the Salle Emilienne Moreau-Evrard (retractable raked seating) and the purchase of the grand piano.
The Friends’ membership is made up of subscribers who have the option to join at several levels. Here are the current subscription rates:
Individual Friend: £75
Couple Friend: £100
Benefactor Friend: £130 or more
Group Friend: £300
Corporate Friend: £500
Your advantages as a Friend
As well as helping the Institute you will be joining a community of fellow Francophiles. Friends become automatic members of the French Institute. Here is the complete list of advantages of membership:
- Hiring of conference and lecture rooms in the Institute at concessionary rates
- Full borrowing rights at the Institute’s multimedia library
- Reduced rates for cultural events; free admission to weekly cinema screenings at the Institute
- Full access to the online digital platform Culturetheque from your home
- Concessionary prices for the first year of membership at the Cameo Picturehouse + concessionary rates on European matinees
- 10% discount on all purchases at L’Escargot bleu, La Barantine, Chez Roger
- 20% discount at Le Bistrot
- Invitations to events specially organised for the Friends by the Institute and the Management Committee
- Admission, at concessionary rates, to all other events supported by the Society of the Friends
Contact us
Society of the Friends of the Institut français d’Écosse
Belinda Thomson: thomsonbelinda8@gmail.com
Camilla Toulmin: camilla.toulmin@iied.org
Tom Wight: t.wight@btinternet.com