KARACHI, Jan 25: Expansion would be carried out at the Alliance Francaise Karachi (AFK) to help meet the growing space needs for conducting the French classes as well as for organizing cultural activities on a larger scale.

This was stated by AFK director Nino Ciccarone here on Tuesday. Mr Ciccarone said that expansion would be carried out on the first floor of the AFK building located in Clifton area.

He said that a new art gallery would be built within the AFK premises, besides the existing one, adding that the auditorium would be built anew because the existing one had become non-functional due to the damage caused by the heavy rains in the city in 2003.

He said that the Pakistan-France Business Alliance would be approached to arrange sponsors for reconstruction of the auditorium, which might cost 150,000 Euros, 70 per cent of which would be raised by the AFK through sponsors, while the remaining would be made available by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He also gave detail of the cultural activities to be organized at the AFK in the coming days. Mr Ciccarone said that a French opera artist, Marion Baglan, would be performing in the patio of the AFK on Jan 27 at 8.30pm.

It was pointed out that Ms Baglan pursues a full time show at " Consevatoire National de Region de Tours" where her signing performances have earned her the first prize- " Prix de Musique de Chambre"- in 2000.

He said that on January 28 Ms. Baglan would perform to help raise funds for the treatment of children suffering from cancer. He said that on Jan 30 a grand 'Garage Sale' would be organized at the AFK in collaboration with the Karachi Accuer, where anyone could set up stall to put his or her products on sale.

He was of the view that if the idea worked, then more such activities would be organized at the AFK. He said that an exhibition of the works of the students of schools and art institutions would be organized at the AFK from Feb 25 to 28. The last date for the receipt of entries for this event was fixed as Feb 15, he addd.

AFK director stated that in March, a 'Franco phonie Week' would be organized to help promote the cultures and languages of a number of countries. A jazz group would perform at the AFK on March 21, while a week-long film festival would be organized towards the end of March, he said, adding that photo exhibition by Batool Mahmood would also be arranged. -APP