Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Association Launch topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Association Française of Little Rock launches; French consul visits MacArthur Museum
Summary
Beatrice Moore announced the founding of an Association Française chapter in Little Rock (founded January 12, 2026) and introduced France's consul general for the region, who praised Arkansas–France ties and French business investment in the state.
Beatrice Moore, introduced as the honorary consul of France in Arkansas, used the MacArthur Museum event to announce the founding of the Association Française of Little Rock and to recognize volunteers who helped launch the chapter. "This is why January 12, 2026 was born the Association Française of Little Rock," she said, calling the organization a node in the wider Alliance Française network that will connect local residents to exhibits, lectures, films and cultural programming.
Moore described recent Franco–Arkansas collaborations, including a ceremony at which France awarded the Légion d'honneur to four World War II veterans. She also recounted historical ties — including early French exploration and place naming along the Arkansas River — to situate the association as part of a broader effort to highlight French heritage in the state.
Frank Mari, the visiting consul (introduced by the program), said he was on his first trip to Arkansas and praised the state’s history and business links with France. He noted visits to Dassault Falcon Jet and referenced L'Oréal among French companies active in Arkansas, adding that France is a significant foreign investor in the state. He thanked local officials and partners for their support and said he looked forward to further activity from the new association.
The event included thanks to museum staff and local partners and concluded with an academic lecture by Nathan Marvin on French and Creole history in Arkansas.
