La Nuit Des Idées

Night of Ideas is Villa Albertine’s (Cultural Services of French Embassy) flagship nocturnal marathon of philosophical debates, performances, readings and more. It was first introduced in the United States in 2015 by the French Embassy. Today, Night of Ideas is a nationwide phenomenon, drawing tens of thousands of people to events across the country. 

The Night of Ideas

Portland 2026

Mapping Ideas, Charting Futures

Saturday, April 25
Various locations

The Alliance Française de Portland is delighted to present its second Night of Ideas, centered on the theme “Enlightenment Now: Independence at 250,” under the banner “Mapping Ideas, Charting Futures.” This special day invites the community to explore ideas, creativity, and civic engagement through a curated program: a guided exhibition tour, a panel discussion and a movie screening followed by post-screening discussion. Together, these events trace a journey from how we map and understand the world, to how education shapes informed citizens, and ultimately to how access to knowledge influence participation in a democratic society.

This event is free to attend. One RSVP per location is requested, as capacity is limited. Last-minute attendees are welcome as space allows.

Programs are held in English.

This is a free event. Donations are accepted. 



Schedule

Sessions Theme/TitLe
 Time
 		Location
Guided Tour "Mapping Familiar Territories, Charting New Paths" 1-2pm
 Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU
1855 SW Broadway Portland, OR 97201
Panel Discussion "Education as Liberation: Cultivating Minds for Democracy" 3:00-4:30pm
 Alliance Française de Portland
1425 SW 20th ave, Portland, OR 97201
Movie Screening
 "La Voie royale" 6:15-8pm Lincoln Recital Hall
Room 75, in the basement., 1620 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Post Movie Discussion Reflections and conversation on La Voie royale 8-9pm Lincoln Recital Hall
Room 75, in the basement., 1620 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97201


PROGRAM

Guided Tour

Mapping Familiar Territories, Charting New Paths

1-2pm
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU
1855 SW Broadway Portland, OR 97201

This exhibition brings together artists who expand the idea of mapping beyond traditional cartography, exploring themes of place, identity, and power. Through diverse media, the works reveal maps as cultural and imaginative constructs, addressing personal histories, collective narratives, and environmental concerns while inviting viewers to reconsider how we understand space and belonging.

RSVP required to attend.

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 RSVP

PANEL DISCUSSION

Education as Liberation: Cultivating Minds for Democracy

3:00-4:30pm
Alliance Française de Portland
1425 SW 20th ave. Portland, OR 97201


How can access to education and opportunities to develop critical thinking skills empower citizens?

What has become of the Enlightenment ideal that knowledge liberates individuals and strengthens rule by the people, and for the people?

Taking a comparative view across the Anglo- and Francophone worlds, our panel will ask whether 18th-century philosophies of freedom and personal development through education can illuminate youth engagement and civic education, highlighting differences and similarities in civic formation, educational structures, and approaches to democratic participation in cross-cultural perspective. 


Please RSVP as space is limited. Walk-ins are welcome if seats remain available, but priority will be given to guests who have RSVP’d.

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Panelists

Elijah Joshua Panelist, Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
Elijah, aka Uncle E, is an elder guided by faith and ancestral wisdom. He has served as a drug and alcohol counselor for over 21 years, beginning in California (2004–2014). He has worked with probation, foster, and at-risk youth through LifeWorks R.E.A.L. at House of Umoja and later the Community Healing Initiative (CHI) at POIC, where he became known as Uncle E and received the Wakanda Song. Today he serves as a CADC counselor with Portland Public Schools, using the Wakanda model of healing to help young people rediscover identity, purpose, and hope through faith, unity, and love. Wakanda Forever. 🖤✨ 
Megan Sinclair Panelist, Multimedia Artist
Megan Sinclair is an Oregon based artist and educator. Through analog photography and audio she examines her relationship with memory, mental health, and environment; using vulnerability and image-making as tools for processing and navigating personal trauma. She currently teaches at Franklin Foto; a community darkroom in the St. John’s neighborhood with the mission of accessibility, community, and education. Franklin Foto offers classes, darkroom and scanning facilities, movie nights, exhibitions, and much more, and is a Portland hub for the community to come together, create art, and grow. https://www.megansinclair.com https://www.franklinfoto.org.
Isabelle DeMarte Panelist, Professor of French
Born and raised in France, she received her Licence d’anglais from the Université de Paris III-Sorbonne Nouvelle in 1990, and her Maîtrise de littérature anglaise from the Université Blaise Pascal de Clermont-Ferrand in 1992. She graduated from Michigan State University, where she received both her MA (1993) and her PhD (1999) in French Literature. She joined the faculty at Lewis and Clark College in 2001, where her teaching and research interests include eighteenth-century literature, literary genres, genre transgressions, literature & law/philosophy/history/epistemology, letter writing, the lord’s right, Diderot, and Olympe de Gouges. She has published on Diderot, Olympe de Gouges, and Sébastien-Roch-Nicolas Chamfort. Her current research deals with the letter form in polemical and philosophical letters to highlight the key role they played in carrying out the Enlightenment project of reforming the way people thought.
Virginie Vignolo Panelist, French Teacher
Virginie is from Nice, in the south of France. After studying Communication, she followed her dream of becoming an actress in Paris, where she spent six years on stage before returning to Nice to found her own theatre company and write and produce plays. After nearly 20 years in theatre, she turned to teaching French, combining her love of language, literature, and travel. She earned her DAEFLE diploma in 2020 and has since taught students of all ages in Laos, France, Europe, and now Portland. Her classes blend theatre and language, encouraging confidence and creativity. Virginie is also a certified DELF/DALF and DELF Prim examiner, and when she’s not teaching, she enjoys hiking, working out, and a good glass of wine.
Dr. Adam M. Goldstein Panel Moderator, Educator and Philosopher
Deeply committed to providing access to education and ideas, Dr. Goldstein is a PhD historian and philosopher of science, archivist, and digital librarian. After nearly two decades of college teaching, he noticed that an increasing number of his students were not college-ready, and decided that his skills and knowledge were needed at the secondary level. After obtaining an MA in Secondary science education, he taught biology in high schools in Brooklyn to economically disadvantaged students of a wide range of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. A thinker and researcher with cross-cultural experience in France and America, Dr. Goldstein will facilitate a deep discussion between our panelists, guiding our examination of education as a tool for collective liberation.

Movie Screening and Post Movie Discussion

La Voie Royale/The Path of Excellence (2023)

6:15-8:00pm
Lincoln Recital Hall
Room 75, in the basement., 1620 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97201



Please RSVP as space is limited.

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The Movie

Sophie is a brilliant student. Encouraged by her maths teacher, she leaves the family farm to attend a science preparatory class. Between new encounters, successes and failures, and faced with fierce competition, Sophie realizes that her dream of joining the Polytechnique represents more than an entrance examination but a true challenge of social climbing.

The movie is in French with English subtitles.

After the film, Dr. Perlmutter will lead a discussion on the film and its commentary on education's role in democratic society. 

POST-MOVIE DISCUSSION

Led by Dr. Jennifer Perlmutter

Professor of French, Portland State University

Jennifer Perlmutter holds a Ph.D. in seventeenth-century French literature from Duke University. Her research has explored the marginalizing impact of power on nationhood and individual identity. In particular, Dr. Perlmutter has published most recently on the portrayal of women and the construction of fictional Jewish characters in French literature. Her earlier work focused on the novella in the once widely-read journal Le Mercure galant and on the ‘ana,’ a little-known commemorative genre. She teaches courses at all levels in French literature, language and culture.




 

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PARKING

Street parking on SW 20th St. facing the Kamm House is limited. Free parking is available in Lot A at SW 18th and SW Columbia. Please obtain a parking pass from the office. After 6 pm weekdays, students may park in the Willamette Dental lot at SW 20th and SW Jefferson as available.

OFFICE HOURS

The Alliance office is open 10am-3pm Monday through Friday.
Call us at 503.223.8388 during business hours or leave a message.
Email us at  info@afportland.org.

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