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Month: April 2024

The wonder of nature: Monaco unveils its plans for 2025 World Expo in Osaka

by: Stephanie Horsman
19/04/2024
world expo monaco

Drawing inspiration from the 2025 World Expo’s future-focused theme, the Monaco Pavilion in Osaka will invite visitors to “rediscover and reclaim nature as wonder”. 

The 2025 World Expo is set to be an extraordinary event. Under the theme of ‘Designing the Society of the Future, Imagining our Life of Tomorrow’, nations from across the globe will gather on a purpose-built island called Yumeshima – Dream Island in English – near the Japanese city of Osaka to share their ideas and visions for life in the future.  

The Principality of Monaco, the first country to receive official approval from the Expo’s organisers for its final design and concept, is leading with a sustainability and nature-focused approach for its pavilion. 

The space will combine Monaco’s interests in environmentalism and conservation with the beauty of the Japanese Garden, an element that is already a feature of the Monegasque landscape. The pavilion’s mission will be to inspire visitors to ‘Take Care of Wonder’. 

“Taking Care of Wonder means realising that by taking care of nature, we also take care of ourselves, and that by taking care of the fragile wonder of this planet, we contribute to the maintenance of our species,” say representatives of the Monaco project. “Take Care of Wonder invites each of us to rediscover and reclaim nature as wonder.” 

The Monaco exhibit at the World Expo will be split into three distinct spaces. The first will invite visitors into an immersive semi-circular environment that sends eye skyward and offers views of the Principality.  

The second will focus on the technology industry in Monaco as well as its agricultural roots, while the third looks to the sea, an enduring source of inspiration for Monaco’s sovereign, Prince Albert II, in a nod to the Principality’s ongoing commitments to ocean protections and preservation. 

Visitors will also be able to explore iconic Monaco landmarks, such as the Palais Princier, the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the cellars of the Hôtel de Paris and the Musée Océanographique, through interactive exhibits.  

The World Expo 2025 Osaka will take place from 13th April to 13th October 2025.  

 

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Photo credit: Jérôme Architecte & Atelier Pierre 

Prince Albert and Med Donors’ Roundtable announce €57 million pledge to protect the Mediterranean Sea 

by: Elsa Carpenter
18/04/2024

A conscientious group of philanthropic organisations that includes the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco have come together under the banner of the Med Donors’ Roundtable to pledge a massive €57 million towards marine conservation efforts in the Mediterranean Sea over the next five years. 

Monaco’s Prince Albert II was front and centre at the recent Our Ocean conference in Athens on 17th April, where he took to the stage to announce the landmark funding achievement attained by the Med Donors’ Roundtable. 

Along with his eponymous foundation, the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco (FPA2), the group of associations and organisations who have contributed to the major sum includes the likes of the Conservation Collective, Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund, Global Environment Facility, Oceans 5, Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy, Segré Foundation, Thalassa Foundation, The MedFund and Shark Conservation Fund, as well as numerous anonymous donors.  

Each has been inspired and motivated by Monaco’s ardent conservationist sovereign to join in with his cause of campaigning for widespread protections in the Mediterranean Sea. Prince Albert’s overarching goal is for 30% of the Mediterranean Sea to be protected by 2030. 

“Efforts to protect the Mediterranean Sea have grown over the years, but not fast enough,” he told his audience at the Our Ocean conference’s plenary session on ‘The Challenges and Solutions of the Mediterranean Countries’. “Last year, countries committed to achieving the global 30×30 target. Urgent action is needed at all levels if we are to meet this ambitious target. With this pledge, private and public donors call upon others to join the effort. We are committed to push for an effective 30% protection by 2030, including 10% strict protection.” 

According to the FPA2, a full €266 million in funding will be needed if Prince Albert’s ambitions are to be achieved in the Mediterranean. 

As it stands, just over 8% of the Mediterranean Sea currently has protected status, but regulations are often weak, if present at all. The FPA2 estimates that just 0.23% of the Mediterranean benefits from a fully protected status.  

“The Mediterranean region, renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and status as a global hotspot for endemic species, is facing mounting threats from climate change, pollution and unsustainable fishing practices,” reads a statement from the FPA2. “Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, the [Med Donors’ Roundtable] funders emphasise the need for decisive action to preserve the Mediterranean’s fragile ecosystems. This includes phasing out destructive activities like bottom trawling and strengthening the management of existing marine protected areas, such as the Pelagos Sanctuary, which constitutes nearly half of the region’s protected marine space.” 

Prince Albert II of Monaco was also present at the signing of an important partnership agreement between the Monk Seal Alliance, The MedFund and the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA). Photo credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco

While in the Greek capital for the Our Ocean conference, Prince Albert also attended an event that highlighted the work of the Monk Seal Alliance, an initiative co-founded by the Prince and his foundation back in 2019. 

It was announced at the event that the Monk Seal Alliance and The MedFund will be joining forces with the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA) in a bid to strengthen conservation action locally in Greece.  

The collaboration will focus on efforts to support and bolster the powers of the National Marine Park of Alonnisos Northern Sporades, Greece’s largest marine protected area and a crucially important zone in the region for species such as the critically endangered Monk seal.  

Read related:

Monaco Ocean Week tackles the role of philanthropy in saving the ocean

 

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Photo credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco

Between Earth and Heaven: Mina Papatheodorou Valyraki’s sustainability-focused exhibition at Yellow Korner

by: Niki Borisova
18/04/2024

Coinciding with International Earth Day, Monaco’s YellowKorner Gallery is set to unveil its latest exhibition, a collection of works by Greek artist Mina Papatheodorou Valyraki, next Monday. Tying in with the theme of nature and sustainability, the artist and the gallery have pledged that a portion of the proceeds of the exhibition will be donated to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. 

In Between Earth and Heaven, which will be on display at the YellowKorner Gallery on Monaco’s Avenue Henry Dunant from Monday 22nd April until the end of May, Papatheodorou Valyraki portrays the symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature through depictions of trees.

Hosted by the Hellenic Community of Monaco, the exhibition also takes place at their new headquarters located at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.

A portion of the proceeds gleaned from sales of the artist’s works will go to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Photo courtesy of YellowKorner Monaco

“Throughout history, trees have held a prominent place in art, mythology and culture, symbolising growth, renewal and the cycle of life,” says curator Elya Tsouvelekakis. “In the face of environmental challenges such as deforestation, habitat loss, and pollution, Mina is harnessing her creative talent to raise awareness and inspire action.”

Tsouvelekakis continues, “The viewer steps into a realm where art and the environment intertwine, where every stroke of paint and every splash of colour reflects the majesty and diversity of our planet. As seen through the lens of an artist’s palette, the trees evoke a sense of awe and reverence for these vital natural environments. They stand tall and proud as they continue to grow higher towards the sky in a display of strength and vitality… Through the skillful hands of the artist, trees are transformed into vessels of expression, conveying messages of resilience, harmony and the fragile balance between humanity and the environment.”

A portion of the proceeds generated through sales of Papatheodorou Valyraki’s Between Earth and Heaven pieces will go to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (FPA2), which is dedicated to biodiversity conservation projects, climate change mitigation and sustainable development programmes.  

This is not the first time that the Greek artist has supported the FPA2. At a fundraising event in 2019, Papatheodorou Valyraki generously donated an artwork, signed by Prince Albert, as an item for auction. The proceeds of the sale were given to the FPA2. 

Aside from the main exhibition at YellowKorner, the Stelios Foundation headquarters on Quai Antoine 1er and the offices of the FPA2 in the Principality will also be hosting an array of Papatheodorou Valyraki’s works, until 7th and 30th May respectively. Visits to the FPA2 are strictly by appointment only.  

Read related:

Kamil Art Gallery hosts Kenneth Blom’s Silhouettes Unveiled

 

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Photo courtesy of YellowKorner Monaco

A gastronomic revival: The French plan to breathe new life into the nation’s culinary heritage

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/04/2024
culinary heritage

As the historical home of haute cuisine, France’s gastronomy scene has a lot to live up to, and as the world embraces the cuisines of countries from across the globe, the French government is keen to ensure that its culinary heritage and identity retain top-tier status.  

In 2023, the number of eateries in operation in France reached 175,000 and the sector is believed to employ 800,000 workers. On top of that, eating and dining out is something of a national pastime, and fine food and ingredients are a part of France’s national identity. But if the culinary scene is lauded at home, what about abroad? 

The international reputation of French cuisine is something the government is keen to promote and a new scheme has just been launched that aims to boost its visibility and appeal in countries around the world.  

The Centre National de la Gastronomie Française (CNGF) is leading the charge of the three-point plan that hopes to export the trappings of French cuisine, its traditions and its techniques, to a global audience. 

First, the Centre National de la Gastronomie will be supporting the presence of French chefs at a number of international events and conferences. Second, it will be reviving the Goût de France events at overseas French embassies and backing a range of events that promote France’s gastronomic heritage. 

The third part of the plan is a six to eight-month international tour by 10 top French chefs, who are set to go on the road and share their insights into the country’s culinary heritage with audiences in places such as Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Macao, the UAE and Hong Kong.    

 

 

Another programme being put in motion will coincide with the Paris Olympics, which are scheduled to begin in July.  

The Ministry of Business, Tourism and Consumption, along with Atout France, recently put out a call for local initiatives that promote the nation’s culinary heritage. 

22 projects have now been selected for funding of up to €100,000. Their shared mission is to “demonstrate the creativity of national culinary know-how through the organisation of new or reinvented projects throughout France” between 8th May and 8th September in the French capital.  

For more information, click here.

 

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Photo source: Stefan Schauberger, Unsplash

Kamil Art Gallery hosts Kenneth Blom’s Silhouettes Unveiled

by: Niki Borisova
18/04/2024
kenneth blom

Silhouettes Unveiled, the dreamlike works of renowned Norwegian artist Kenneth Blom, have arrived at the Kamil Art Gallery on Avenue Princesse Grace for a limited time period. Here’s everything you need to know about the exhibition. 

Until 22nd April, the Kamil Art Gallery will be exhibiting Blom’s Silhouettes Unveiled thanks to a collaboration with Annette Birch, the founder of Birch Gallery Monaco. 

The solo show, Blom’s first at the gallery, features a range of abstract works full of blue and green hues and mysterious human figures. 

The Kamil Art Gallery was established in Monaco in 1984 by an Iranian architect, artist and interior designer of the same name. The gallery typically displays young contemporary artists who have caught the eye of this intriguing talent spotter, but it has also hosted major artists and photographers such as Ellen Von Unwerth, Damien Hirst and Phillipe Berry. 

“To display my work in this prestigious art gallery feels surreal,” Blom told Monaco Life at the vernissage last week. “Through this collaboration with Annette Birch and Kamil Art Gallery, I feel like we’ve managed to create something special together.” 

Silhouettes Unveiled will be on display at 3 Avenue Princesse Grace between 10am and 7.30pm from Monday to Saturday until 22nd April.  

Read related:

Norway’s Kenneth Blom to enjoy premiere Monaco exhibition at the Kamil Art Gallery

 

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Photo supplied

Explained: the new bus routes connecting Salines carpark to central Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/04/2024
salines bus

The two new bus lines from the Parking des Salines to Places d’Armes and the Monaco Tourism Office on Boulevard des Moulins are now up and running, making travel from the recently opened carpark to central locations in the Principality a cinch. 

Following the much-awaited opening of the new Salines carpark in the Jardin Exotique neighbourhood on Monday 15th April, the promised bus routes between the parking lot and Monaco’s city centre are now operational.  

Express Shuttle 1 connects the Parking des Salines to Places d’Armes while Express Shuttle 2 heads to the Monaco Tourism Office on Boulevard des Moulins in Monte-Carlo via the Pont Sainte Dévote.  

Both services run between the hours of 7am and 7pm from Monday to Friday, with buses departing their terminals every 10 minutes. 

Additionally, the CAM Ligne 2 bus between the Jardin Exotique and Monaco Ville is now offering extended hours of operation. A bus will be available every 15 minutes from 6am on weekdays, and every 10 minutes after 7am.  

For those who prefer pedal power over public transport, there are two new e-bike stations at the Salines parking lot: spaces for 63 Monabikes have been allocated on Levels –1 and –15.  

The new carpark is part of a national strategy to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on Monaco’s roads. There are nearly 1,800 carparking spaces at the vast new Salines park and ride facility as well as 100 dedicated spots for electric vehicles.  

To read more about the Salines carpark, see below: 

Monaco unveils new ‘park and ride’ facility, Parking Salines

 

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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department