Monaco City Hall and the Monaco Sustainable Development Association (MC2D) will be collecting toys for underprivileged children in an effort to make the holiday season brighter for all.
Monaco Sustainable Development Association has been working hard to stop waste in the Principality. They’ve held past events which allow people to bring in unwanted appliances, books and food. Now, just in time for Christmas, they are asking people to donate unwanted toys.
Any toy that is clean, intact, functional and in good condition will be accepted and can be dropped off on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th December between 1pm and 6pm at the Espace Léo Ferré.
Scooters, bicycles, board games, dolls, plush toys, video games, and toy cars and trucks are some examples of the type of things that may be lying around the house no longer being used as the children have outgrown or don’t play with them anymore.
Monegasque organisation Mission Enfance and the Monaco Red Cross will be delighted to accept these items will find grateful homes for them, putting smiles on more than a few faces.
The countdown is on for the 12th edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum, as well as the awards ceremony and gala, set to take place in December.
This three day event will see over 600 decision-makers, including heads of state, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, business and sports leaders, representatives from international organisations and young talent converging together under the theme ‘Investing in Peace, Acting Through Sport’.
Speakers from 90 nations will share solutions in master classes and debates to look at ways of ramping up investment to change the fates of societies under pressure through sport programmes designed to get people working together as teams, building relationships between disparate groups within regions and neighbourhoods.
The event will culminate on 12th December in the Peace and Sport Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in the Salle Garnier at the Opera House which honours those who have devoted themselves to using sport as a tool for positive change in troubled areas.
Founded in 2007 by Joël Bouzou, under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II, Peace and Sport is a Monaco-based organisation that puts sports and the values instilled by playing them in the spotlight for communities estranged from one another and struggling to find ways to move forward together.
The association puts sport at the centre of local development projects in communities in crisis around the globe by going into post-conflict zones, areas of extreme poverty, and places where social cohesion is failing or has never existed and forging bonds through teamwork and sport utilising their core values of inclusion, neutrality, independence, equity, dialogue and resilience.
It was a nail-biter, but AS Monaco Basketball pulled off a big win on Wednesday night at Salle Gaston Médicin, ensuring their spot in the in the EuroCup Top 16.
The playoffs are now in the bag for Roca Team, but not without seriously having to work for it against Israeli basketball titans Maccabi Rishon at home. It was a close game from the start and both teams were ferocious in their determination to win.
The first half was a back and forth shuffle between the two teams, but Monaco managed to take a decent 40-33 lead by halftime.
Maccabi came out strong in the second half though, and after two three-pointers in quick succession, they nearly evened up the game. From them on, it was anyone’s to win, and up until the very last seconds it could have gone either way. Only a superb ball recovery by Will Yeguete, preventing a final shot by Maccabi, gave Roca team the definitive win.
Despite the win, the game was clearly a bit too close for comfort for team coach Sasa Obradovic who said after the game, “I like aggressive play, racing, flying, fast … We did not see much of that during this match. We will focus on the next, on these last two games without pressure and on this top-16 which promises to be very contested and exciting.”
EuroCup Top 16 playoffs start 8th January after the holiday break.
Monegasque Optimist sailors will have the chance to test their talent against teams from all over Europe throughout the next three days. The Monaco Optimist Academy is a one-of-a-kind regatta that allows coaches to follow their charges on the water and give advice, helping them to hone their skills in race conditions.
Over 150 young sailors from Bulgaria, France, Italy, Monaco, Switzerland and Ukraine have registered to take part in fleet races in the 3rd Monaco Optimist Academy. Of those, 100 are in the younger “minimes” category (born between 2006 and 2008) and at least 30 in the older “benjamins” group (born between 2009 to 2010).
The weekend is an opportunity for sailors to train under real race conditions and benefit from their coache’s one-on-one expertise and advice “as it happens”. For the French teams, the regatta is also a qualifier for the international Monaco Optimist Team Race, now in its 11th year, which takes place 8th to 12th January 2020 and pits the best national Optimist race teams against each other.
Second in the previous Monaco Optimist Academy regatta, the YCM’s Leonardo Bonelli has his sights set on clinching the title this year, but faces strong competition from Zou Schemel, the big winner last year.
Also at the meeting are Ariadni Verevis and Bodhi Van der Linden from the YCM. This is their last competition on Optimists before they progress into another class.
Building an art collection can bring huge enjoyment and pride for a lifetime. When done well it can be one of the most satisfying, creative and lucrative ways you can invest. Yet, like most worthwhile pursuits, it has complications and considerations, not least the volume of cowboys who may try to sell you what they want to sell rather what would make sense for you to buy. Here are a few simple yet smart ways to avoid the pitfalls.
Buying vs. Collecting
Collecting is not necessarily synonymous with buying art, however the general approaches to either are very similar. A collection could be a diverse range of styles and artists, yet connected thematically, or a commitment to an artist’s evolving work over a career. You may collect Oceanic art, or Postminimilism, Paul Klee or marble sculptors for example. While buying art is slightly broader, it is still best to think cohesively. You may buy multiple materials, artists and styles, yet all should fit together aesthetically in your home.
John Hoyland, ‘Kingdom’
Ask yourself why
There are two primary reasons for buying, the pure joy of owning the work, or for investment return. Most people’s motivations lie somewhere between these two positions. Your motivations may change over time, however it is always useful to return to the question when deciding on a potential purchase.
If buying solely for the love of the work, with no concern over value appreciation or retention then you can skip on to the next tip. If buying for investment, consider your timescales, risk profiles and budget limits. Up and coming artists generally have a lower entry price but higher risk attached. Or you may choose to invest in more established artists who tend to be more expensive but have a better pricing history. Blue chip artists are more expensive again, though usually bring lower risk and greater liquidity as a broad market of collectors already exists.
John Kingsley, ‘Cap Ferrat’
Have a space in mind
Ask yourself what you are trying to achieve with artwork in the intended position, consider lighting and how you would install. The “where” is almost as important as the “what”. Consider the scale of the wall, if it is a large painting is there room to stand back and see the whole work? A more restricted space might only permit the viewer to see the art from up close – which may be powerful. A sculpture turned to a certain angle forces the viewer to stand in an exact spot and look in a specific direction, perhaps to highlight a favourite vista. A calming composition may work best in your bedroom, a controversial piece may provoke debate at a dinner party. Our clients often appreciate our ability to model their home in 3D and digitally imagine the proposed artwork inside, to see how it could look in situ before they buy.
Understand your tastes
The starting point of any collection is your own personal taste, and the way to refine this is through a process of introspection. When you see a piece you love try and ask yourself why. What drew you to it? Perhaps it reminds you of a time of your life, or the subject remains stuck in your mind days later. Maybe you hate it, which just as useful if you ask yourself why. This approach will help you build a collection that has a unifying perspective – your own. Art is everywhere, both good and bad – in public spaces, at friends’ houses, in film. If something grabs you take a quick photo for later to reflect privately upon. Art should be something that brings you pleasure so understand your preferences. There are no wrong choices.
Take it one step at a time
Starting a collection is fun and it will grow organically over time. Don’t try to be too prescriptive as your tastes will adapt. Buy one piece that you love and then live with it for a while. Do you still love it as much as you did one month later? You will learn invaluable lessons from these initial purchases and, as importantly, you will have started.
Rory Menage’s ‘Angular Men’
Seek advice
There is a vast amount of free information available. Ask friends and family who collect art. Go to exhibitions and chat to the curators, they are passionate people and will love discussing something they have worked on, so ask any questions you may have and you will learn a surprising amount. Do not be afraid to ask seemingly silly questions – the art world is full of jargon that needs deciphering. Decent art advisers are also a good option, a good one will take in as much information as you can provide, from other work you like or own, your budget, reasons for buying etc. They may also have a more direct route to an artist, without the higher cost base of traditional galleries, which can lead to benefits during negotiation. There may be upcoming exhibitions that are not yet public knowledge, these tend to lift prices and they will often have advanced notice that can help your selection.
Consider the practicalities
Start keeping records of your collection – where you bought it and for how much, the sales histories or certificates of authenticity. Provenance is key to preserving value. How to display and prevent damage to your art is also important: direct sunshine can bleach paintings, questions whether small can children reach the artwork, for example. How to install larger works can take some thought and eat into your budget. Sensible insurance cover is really key, so consider speaking with a specialist as well as your existing broker.
Living with art is a wonderful privilege available to all, a creative and endless hobby that can generate conversation, a profit, provide a creative outlet, as well as acting as a shorthand for your broader tastes to those who visit you. If we can be of assistance, then do get in touch.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Oliver Hawkins is a Director at Marshall Murray, an art advisory with years of experience in the curation of artwork for private collections, corporate collectors and design professionals. For further information he can be contacted via enquiries@marshallmurray.co.uk
A fresh batch of key macro data out next week from the main developed economies look set to be mixed as markets are bouyed by fresh optimism over declining trade tensions.
The second estimate of US gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to confirm that the economy expanded by 1.9% in the three months to September. The deceleration in US growth is evident compared to 2018 levels, but data out of the country continue to be expansionary and supportive of steady GDP growth. Protectionism-driven weakness in the corporate sector is still more than offset by strong consumer spending. October’s consumption, out next week, is expected to confirm this trend and will likely be lifted by increasing optimism around a “phase one” trade deal between the US and China.
In the eurozone, inflation remains subdued after further edging down in October on the back of the region’s anemic growth profile. There are unlikely to be large upside surprises in November’s harmonised index of consumer prices flash print, which should remain well below target and warrant loose monetary policy.
However, with European Central Bank measures losing their effectiveness and the central bank running out of ammunition, fiscal spending and structural reform is now expected to play a more important role in stimulating the economy. That said, we believe that a step up in fiscal loosening would only occur in the event of deteriorating macro data.
The week ahead looks quieter in the UK, where we expect key prints from the housing market to be mildly encouraging. UK house prices growth has been modest throughout 2019, with London becoming the slowest growing region amid Brexit-led uncertainty. However, we wouldn’t be surprised to see an uptick in the November’s Nationwide house price reading. Low interest rates and heightened hopes for a Brexit resolution are likely to have delivered much needed relief to the UK housing market.
Are markets buying the rumour and selling the fact?
The S&P 500 has broken record highs once again this month. More interestingly, the recent move has occurred simultaneously with volatility falling to noticeably low levels. But is the period of market calm set to last?
Improving sentiment stems from optimism around Brexit, after the increasing likelihood that a no-deal departure will be avoided, and reports of “constructive talks” between the US and China.
However, there are some caveats worth addressing in respect of this rosy picture. Firstly, as the chart shows, volatility at such low levels may persist over the short to medium term. But at some point it is likely to increase, often triggered by something as small as a presidential tweet.
Secondly, we have seen the US and China trade negotiation movie before. A similar rally occurred the last time President Trump and his counterpart President Xi negotiated, earlier this year, only for talks to fall apart at the last minute. The result was a spike in volatility and a market sell-off resulting from escalating trade tensions.
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