Cultural Ambassadorship

What is ECF’s Cultural Ambassadorship Program?

Have you dreamed of representing your fabulous French culture while living near Venice Beach? Ambassadors enrolled in Ecole Claire Fontaine’s Cultural Exchange Program live with American families, work in a dynamic preschool, and participate in local and regional events. 

As a preschool with a strong French component, Ecole Claire Fontaine is in a unique position to host ambassadors to share the French culture with the American public, including music, language, food and art. ECF ambassadors are paired with local families, becoming immersed in daily American life. Being situated directly in the community deepens connections and provides ECF’s French Ambassador ample opportunities to share their cultural expertise throughout Venice Beach, Los Angeles and beyond, while engaging in a true exchange. By providing directions and information on where and how to visit securely and safely, ECF helps its ambassadors find what they need to live the experience.

With ECF’s established cultural exchange program, ambassadors work with children from the area while colleagues and neighbors become friends. The connections created during this 15-month program enrich the work that ECF does throughout the larger community, including hosting the annual celebration of the French language Fête de la Francophonie, graduation and holiday celebrations, art & craft exhibitions, and the Open Playground where families from throughout the district gather on weekends, and engage more broadly as active participants in the Abbot Kinney Festival, the Venice Oceanarium, and the Venice Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. Tell us about yourself, your ideas for projects, and let’s begin the exchange.

Details & Expectations

This is a paid 15-month cultural ambassadorship that includes affordable housing, homemade organic school lunch, additional family-style meals, and more.

ECF’s French Ambassador will give presentations on French culture, including language, clothing, music, art and food. If you are accepted, your knowledge of French culture will benefit the community at large – extended families, community members and stakeholders are invited to attend events where you will be presenting, including the French language at the Fête de la Francophonie, French art and music at graduation ceremonies, and an overview of French culture during career day. ECF’s Cultural Ambassador is expected to be mindful of their role at all times.

Accommodations

You will have your own room in a host family’s home in the Venice community near Ecole Claire Fontaine. You will receive specific assistance and guidance for local transportation, including bus and cycling routes. Your host will can bring you to school when they drop off their child, schedule permitting, and you will be provided a bicycle to use if you so choose.

Cultural Opportunities & Local Events

Visit Beaches: Marina del Rey, Venice, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Malibu.

Visit Galleries and Museums: California Heritage Museum, the Getty and Getty Villa, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Broad, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Sandra Zebi’s ceramics studio, and with full access to the galleries and exhibits of the monthly Venice Art Crawl.

Explore Natural Wonders: You will have access and directions to visit California treasures such as Yosemite, Big Bear, and the high desert.

Access, Participation & Presentations:

You will have opportunities to access and participate in local events while presenting the French culture: Abbot Kinney Festival, the Venice Oceanarium’s ocean museum and annual reading of Melville’s classic Moby Dick, the WAVE Awards gala, the Jacket of Excellence ceremony, Career Day presentation to high school students, Fête de la Francophonie, Graduation ceremonies, Open Playground, the Venice Art Crawl, art & craft exhibits, and more.

If you think that you have what it takes to represent French culture to the American public, please see below.