This sounds like such an exciting project and one that is right up my alley! I am an Art Teacher with many years of working with clay and the expertise to make it fun and interesting for people at all levels of artistic skill.
I have several ideas for the the main clay project.
This could be something somewhat abstract, with a dynamic feeling of freedom. Having this dynamic as the inspiration would be also freeing for those who do not feel comfortable sculpting realistically. Participants could have a feeling of success and would complete a sculpture that symbolizes freedom to them.
Another idea would play on the history of France and the US, with a sculpture that includes aspects of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. It would also incorporate other symbols of freedom from other cultures and throughout history.
A third idea would use a basic structure of clay called something like the Freedom Tower. Small sculptural parts that participants make separately would be joined to be part of this larger structure, resulting in a sense of unity and comaraderie.
I am familiar with Paris and some French. Most of all, I am a lively, reliable, and knowledgeable art instructor, able to organize a project of this scale and inspire a variety of participants to go away with a sense of accomplishment with their clay creations!
I hope we can talk about these possibilities. I can't wait to get started planning and preparing.