Young photographers in Monaco aged 11 to 25 are being invited to capture images of cultural heritage at risk for a competition organised by the Direction of Cultural Affairs.
The contest, which runs until March 15th, asks participants to explore the theme ‘Heritage in Danger’. Photographers are encourages to think about what Monaco’s cultural legacy means to them and how it can be protected for future generations.
Organisers want young people to consider the various threats facing both tangible heritage such as historic buildings, archaeological sites, gardens and works of art, and intangible traditions including local customs, performing arts, craftsmanship, and culinary practices.
Climate change, natural disasters, urban development, mass tourism and social changes are among the challenges highlighted by the competition, now in its second year.
How the competition works
An expert panel will assess entries based on artistic merit and thoughtful engagement with the theme. The jury includes heritage champion Stéphane Bern and internationally acclaimed photographer and documentary maker Nick Danziger, alongside other figures from Monaco’s cultural sector.
Fifteen photographs will be selected for exhibition on the railings of the Saint-Martin Gardens from April to October. Three winners will be announced across age categories: 11-14, 15-18, and 19-25.
The competition is open to young Monégasques, residents, students and workers in the Principality.
Interested participants must complete the online form at culture.mc by March 15th at 23:59. For enquiries, contact infodac@gouv.mc
More than 5,000 jobseekers are expected to gather at the Grimaldi Forum next month as Monaco pour l’Emploi returns for its fourth edition on February 6th in the venue’s Diaghilev and Nijinski spaces.
The event brings together businesses from across Monaco’s economic landscape and while all sectors will be represented, from hospitality and luxury to construction and yachting, this year’s forum is putting technology and artificial intelligence on the spotlight with a dedicated space for digital careers.
It’s a notable shift for an event that previously focused heavily on Monaco’s luxury and service industries. The attention on tech roles derives from the Principality’s desire to diversify its economy and position itself as a hub of innovation beyond its traditional strengths in banking, real estate and high-end hospitality.
The forum, organised by the Princely Government, offers something unique: a chance for face-to-face meetings with managers and the opportunity to make an impression beyond a CV. For cross border workers from France and Italy, it’s also a rare opportunity to navigate Monaco’s complex job market and understand what employers are actually looking for.
“One day, a thousand opportunities. Direct exchanges, spontaneous meetings, unexpected discoveries…The forum is where professional projects come to life,” said Christophe Robino, Government Councillor and Minister of Social Affairs and Health.
Navigating Monaco’s employment system
However, beyond the company stands, the forum provides another rare opportunity. Monaco’s key employment institutions will gather under one roof and attendees will be able to speak directly with representatives from the Employment Service, the government’s Human Resources department, and the social security officers.
For anyone unfamiliar with how Monaco’s employment system works, particularly around residency and social contributions, this access to official guidance can be as valuable as the job opportunities themselves.
Industries participating include accounting and legal services, banking and insurance, commerce, construction and public works, education and training, energy, healthcare and personal services, hospitality and restaurants, industry, interim and security services, logistics, luxury goods, and yachting.
How to attend
The forum is free and open to all visitors. However, while walk-ins are welcome, advance registration is recommended through the official website at www.monacopourlemploi.com.
For businesses interested in participating who have not yet reserved their space, can contact the organising agency Lena Corporation (Denise Davide or Marie Barresi) at +377 97 97 35 55 or by email at info@monacopourlemploi.mc
Following a successful debut last year, Monaco’s Electro Winter Party is scheduled to return on February 6th with a fresh line up of electronic music acts.
The all-night event will take place at the Grimaldi Forum’s Ravel Hall, running from 9pm until 3am. Parisian duo Ofenbach, described as the world’s most-streamed French electronic act, will top the bill alongside Nice-based producer Feder.
Now, the February edition shifts the focus towards more mainstream electronic dance music. Ofenbach have built a substantial following since they formed, reaching billions of streams across platforms. Their 2022 debut album topped French charts and became one of the country’s most successful exports in recent years. The pair have performed hundreds of shows internationally.
Feder, on the other hand, gained attention nearly a decade ago when his debut track reached the top spot on iTunes in multiple countries. He’s since become recognised for his production work, including tracks used as sporting anthems.
Belgian artist Nathalie Duchene, whose work draws from disco and techno traditions, will also perform, with Monaco-based DJ Baloo closing out the night.
Tickets for general admission cost €70 and include a drink. Meanwhile, the venue also offers VIP table packages for groups of eight or 12, priced between €1,500 and €4,200 depending on the package tier.
Entry is restricted to adults aged 18 and over, with identification checks at the doors, which open at 9pm.
Health and Social Affairs Minister Christophe Robino joined staff at Monaco’s Direction de l’Action et de l’Aide Sociales Thursday morning to mark the department’s 10th anniversary, revealing the scale of social support provided across the Principality.
The department, which employs 180 staff across 15 professions with an annual budget of €51.4 million, handles around 3,500 cases each year through its Social Protection Office alone.
Speaking at the celebration at the new Honore II premises, Robino revealed the range of services provided since the department’s creation, including support for 500 minors and adults with disabilities, 250 child protection cases annually, and 1,500 people in professional integration programmes.
“I want, above all this morning to salute the women and men who work within the DASO,” Mr. Robino said. “It is thanks to you, thanks to your commitment, thanks to your humanity, that the Prince’s Government can support these thousands of people.”
The Princess Charlene Children’s Home welcomes between 20 and 25 children each year, while the department has introduced significant new benefits including minimum income support, autonomy assistance, and subsidiary medical coverage.
Director Marie Thouvenin-Rapaire, addressing colleagues and partners, explained that behind every case, every file, lies a human story. “Behind each file, each procedure, each decision, there is a story, an expectation, sometimes a worry,” she said. “And our role, collectively, is to find that delicate balance between administrative rigour, fairness, and attention to the person.”
However, she also acknowledged the challenges ahead, describing increasing complex situations, and told staff: “Our work requires technical skill, but also personal commitment, discretion, and often great inner strength. As director and former social worker, I know what that represents. I see your investment. I measure your professionalism. And I want to tell you today: thank you.”
Government Disability Delegate – Technical Adviser Lionel Galfré was also present in the celebrations, showing his appreciation for the department’s instrumental role in implementing Monaco’s handipact strategy, as well as its continuous development of specialist services, including a specialised educational centre for children with disabilities.
The minister’s visit was then followed by a public open day running until 5pm, with staff celebrating the milestone with anniversary cake and drinks.
Students from Monaco’s Lycée Albert 1er will return to full in-person teaching by January 26th, the government announced on Tuesday, after structural concerns at their l’Annonciade campus forced an emergency evacuation before Christmas.
The 840 students began remote learning on Monday January 5th, with officials determined to minimise disruption and restore classroom teaching as soon as possible.
“We want this period of distance learning to be as short as possible,” said Lionel Beffre, Government Councillor-Minister for the Interior. “We know that distance learning can work, but over a long period, it can have negative effects, particularly for students who are less attentive when teaching is done through a computer.”
Relocation plan
The government faces the challenge of relocating approximately 950 people (840 students, 102 teachers and 50 non-teaching stuff) across multiple temporary sites within three weeks.
Most facilities will be concentrated around Promenade Honoré II, using available classrooms at Collège Charles III and Lycée Rainier III, supplemented by two purpose-built modular buildings erected immediately beside Collège Charles III. Each temporary building will contain 11 classrooms with heating and air conditioning.
Additionally, the International School of Monaco’s former premises at Quai Antoine 1er will house higher education students from January 12th, freeing up space at Lycée Rainier III. The ISM building will also accommodate support services including careers counselling, psychology support and library facilities.
“To give you an idea of the complexity, there are 499 different class groups,” explained Jean-Philippe Vinci, Director of National Education, Youth and Sports.
Lionel Beffre and Jean-Philippe Vinci during the press conference, photo credit: Stéphane Danna
Gradual return
From January 12th, exam classes and students requiring laboratory facilities will begin returning to in-person teaching.
Meanwhile, students struggling with remote learning can access a dedicated space at Collège Charles III from this week, particularly aimed at younger students who may have poor internet connections or feel isolated.
“We have the experience of Covid,” Vinci noted. “We know that some students who live further away have connection problems, especially with video.”
School meals will be available at both Collège Charles III and Lycée Rainier III for students attending in-person classes.
Exams to proceed normally
The baccalauréat examinations will take place at the renovated Lycée Albert 1er building at l’Annonciade, expected to be ready by late April or May following accelerated renovation works.
“This is already enough to reassure people that they will find premises that they know and a renovated space, obviously suitable for hosting the baccalauréat exams,” Beffre said.
Continuous assessment tests will resume from next week in proper examination conditions at the temporary sites.
Structural work continues
Reinforcement work on the wall at l’Annonciade continues, with three additional anchor bolts now fully active to stabilise the structure. Government data shows pressure levels remain well below alert thresholds.
Sport facilities and community spaces in the neighbouring former Lycée Technique building reopened on Wednesday January 7th, along with public access to the Annonciade car park.
For now, students and parents are advised to check Pronote – the school’s digital platform – daily for updates.
The Direction de l’Action et de l’Aide Sociales (Department of Social Action and Assistance) is marking its 10th anniversary this week with a special celebration and public open day on Thursday January 8th.
The department, led by Director Marie Thouvenin-Rapaire, handles everything from child welfare and disability services to emergency housing and financial assistance for those in need.
Health and Social Affairs Minister Christophe Robino will visit the department to meet its staff on Thursday morning at its offices located at 5 Promenade Honoré II, Hall A, 4th floor.
Later that day, the public can drop in between 11:30am and 5pm to find out more about the wide range of support available to Monaco residents.
The department operates four main divisions: Social Inclusion and Disability, Childhood and Family Services, the Princess Charlène Children’s Home, and Financial Social Assistance. Staff process applications for state benefits, work with the courts on child protection cases, and provide emergency accommodation for families in crisis.
Teams will be available throughout the open day to explain how residents can access help, whether they need disability support, are facing financial difficulties, or require urgent housing assistance
