McAllen Public Library, IMAS partner with Villa Albertine and Instituto Francés de América Latina for free annual philosophy super-event that interrogates life at the border
Houston, TX, February 12, 2024 – Villa Albertine, Instituto Francés de América Latina – IFAL, the Consulates General of France in Houston and Monterrey, the McAllen Public Library and the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) today announced the full program for McAllen’s 2024 Night of Ideas on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Villa Albertine’s annual marathon of philosophical debates, performances, readings, and more, invites experts and the public to engage together in late-night discussions addressing major global issues.
This year, Night of Ideas returns across 20 U.S. cities. Leading thinkers, scientists, novelists, activists, and artists will engage with the theme “Outside the Lines” centering on urban life and development, and raising questions about the impact of climate change, new technologies, gentrification, and social and cultural activism.
In McAllen, Night of Ideas kicks off on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS), 1900 West Nolana Avenue and the McAllen Public Library, 4001 N. 23rd St., with experts and artists from border towns, the Latin-American diaspora, and France.
“The City of McAllen is proud to be an international event, that looks at different issues across our country, with the ultimate goal to not only understand the unique aspects of our community, but also, to celebrate them,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. “As an international city, we continue to expand our horizons and set our sights on new neighbors and communities around the world and welcome Villa Albertine, Instituto Francés de América Latina, the French Consulates General of Houston and Monterrey and our entire Rio Grande Valley region to be a part of this special night.”
The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. at IMAS and continue from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the McAllen Public Library, tackling the theme of “Borderlands,” with the aim to reveal the complexities and strengths of border communities. The detailed program for the McAllen Night of Ideas can be found here: https://nightofideas.org/mcallen-tx/schedule/
Villa Albertine McAllen: Night of Ideas
Some of the questions that will be explored include:
- What stories lie beneath the surface of the border?
- How do individuals navigate the intersections of culture, language, and heritage?
- In what ways can arts and sports encourage community bonding?
The borderlands are home to many narratives that will be explored through the night.
Through a lineup featuring talks, art exhibits, and performances (poetry readings, dance, music, virtual reality, drawing), Night of Ideas will bring together diverse voices, perspectives, and disciplines. The McAllen community will be able to engage in discussions about dual identities, the loss and reappropriation of the Mexican culture, and the cultural impact of iconic figures like Selena or basketball star Jesus “Chuy” Guerra. Audiences will also have the opportunity to take a scientific journey through geology and space as well as explore issues around urban development, and literature at the border.
Villa Albertine is a cultural institution with the mission to deepen cultural connections between the United States and the French-speaking world through a shared exploration of arts and ideas. With hubs in 10 US cities, Villa Albertine’s national programs, like Night of Ideas, make up one of the organization’s core pillars. The other three pillars are: exploratory, bespoke artist residencies in multiple cities across the US; grants and professional programs; and the annual bookazine States – issue two out now.
Mark your calendar for Night of Ideas McAllen on Saturday, March 2, 2024, and visit nightofideas.org for the latest news and programming announcements.
Night of Ideas 2024 is presented by Villa Albertine and Albertine Foundation thanks to the leadership support of the Judy & Peter Blum Kovler Foundation, and with the support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and The Carnegie Corporation of New York. It is coordinated worldwide by the Institut Français.
Contact:
Bettina Gardelles, Director of Villa Albertine in Houston
bettina.gardelles@frenchculture.org | +1 832-312-3377
About Villa Albertine
Villa Albertine is a cultural institution that supports exchanges in arts and ideas between the United States, France, and beyond. With outposts in 10 US cities—Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Washington, DC—Villa Albertine presents innovative programming nationwide including 50+ customized residencies for international artists, thinkers, and cultural leaders across disciplines each year; a series of cross-cultural dialogues and events; a magazine and podcast; and grants, resources, and incubator programs for professionals in the cultural sphere. Villa Albertine is an institution of the Embassy of France in the United States. Follow Villa Albertine on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. villa-albertine.org
About Institut Français d’Amérique Latine – IFAL
Founded in 1944 on the initiative of the French government, IFAL – Institut français d’Amérique latine, is a center for French language teaching and certification, as well as teacher training, translation and interpretation services. Under the supervision of the French Embassy in Mexico, IFAL is responsible for cultural cooperation between France and Mexico, promoting the French language, linguistic and academic cooperation, scientific and technical research, and organizing numerous cultural cooperation activities.
About McAllen Public Library
The McAllen Public Library is a dynamic civic resource that promotes the open exchange of ideas through free access to information and connects a culturally diverse population with the global community. It has won multiple state, national, and international awards for its events, programs, and services.
About International Museum of Art & Science
The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) located in the Rio Grande Valley inspires audiences of all ages to explore art and science through its permanent collections, exhibits, programs, and partnerships by empowering learners to discover their interests and pursue their passions.
About the Institut français
The Institut français is responsible for France’s international cultural program. Supervised by both the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and by the Ministry of Culture, it promotes French culture abroad through cultural exchange initiatives. Operating in a space where the arts, intellectual exchange, cultural and social innovation, and linguistic partnerships interact and intersect, it is also responsible for promoting the French language and the sharing of works, artists, and ideas all over the world. The Institut français is one of Villa Albertine’s main French partners.
About Night of Ideas
Initiated in 2016 during an exceptional evening that brought together in Paris foremost French and international thinkers invited to discuss the major issues of our time, Night of Ideas has quickly become a fixture of the French and international agenda. Every year, on the last Thursday of January, the French Institute invites all cultural and educational institutions in France and on all five continents to celebrate the free flow of ideas and knowledge by offering, on the same evening, conferences, meetings, forums and round tables, as well as screenings, artistic performances and workshops, around a theme each one of them revisits in its own fashion.