CHRISTCHURCH.- French Ambassador Jean-Michel Marlaud will visit Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu next week to present a free public lecture on France`s newest museum, Musee du Quai Branly.

Musee du Quai Branly, recently opened in the heart of Paris, bridges global cultures with its showcase of art and civilisation and cultural, religious and historical influences from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.

Among the museum`s collection is photography by New Zealand artists Fiona Pardington and Michael Parekowhai.

Mr Marlaud will be at the Gallery on Wednesday, 16 August, to present a lecture in the auditorium at 1pm on the new, modern and multi-faceted institution which is a forum for scientific and artistic dialogue.

Situated on the banks of the Seine and at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the Musee du Quai Branly exhibits 3500 objects from its permanent universal heritage collection and has 5000sqm devoted to temporary exhibitions.

Designed by architect Jean Nouvel, the museum boasts a 500-seat theatre, screening room, several classrooms, a reading room and a multi-media library.

The Museum is enveloped in an 800sqm garden of 15,000 plants from 150 species gathered from throughout the world.

Christchurch Art Gallery Acting Director Hubert Klaassens said the Musee du Quai Branly was an impressive new concept in museum design that had generated much global excitement.

The museum combines research and education with its research centre and university, and through its theatre a programme of living shows, theatre, arts, dance and music.

Mr Marlaud`s visit is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the future of world museum design as displayed in the Musee de Quai Branly, Mr Klaassens said.