A captivating photography exhibition featuring the work of young talents aged 11 to 25 has opened at the Saint-Martin Gardens, offering fresh perspectives on Monaco’s built heritage.
The ‘Architectural Heritage of Monaco’ photography competition exhibition was officially inaugurated on Thursday 5th June, transforming the railings of the Saint-Martin Gardens into an outdoor gallery that will remain on display until 5th October.
Organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs, the competition was launched to encourage artistic practice amongst young people. Meanwhile, it contributes to the preservation of Monaco’s architectural legacy. The initiative has successfully engaged the Principality’s youth in celebrating their built environment through the lens of photography.
An expert jury carefully selected 15 photographs from the submissions to feature in the exhibition. The distinguished panel included Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of Cultural Affairs; heritage expert Stéphane Bern; Jean-Philippe Vinci, Director of DENJS; Björn Dahlström, Director of the New National Museum of Monaco; Célia Bernasconi, Chief Curator of the New National Museum of Monaco and President of the Heritage Council; and renowned photographer, director and writer Nick Danziger.
Celebrating young talent
Four standout photographers emerged as winners from this selection: Adrian Blanchi, Andrea Brezzo, Léonie Massa, and Jeanna Grogorian. A youth jury comprised of students from the Principality—including Lily Coheur, Carla Giraldi, Joeline Kalbfleisch, Lou Nardi, and Gabriela Nencheva—chose the winners.
The Department of Cultural Affairs, with support from SOGEDA Monaco, has also rewarded all 15 featured photographers with a special masterclass led by Nick Danziger. This professional development opportunity aims to help the young artists refine their photographic skills and artistic practice.
The timing of the exhibition’s conclusion is particularly significant. It coincides with the European Heritage Days on 5th October, which will focus on the theme of Architectural Heritage.
However, the journey for these young photographers’ work does not end here. Monaco will take the exhibition to Strasbourg in 2026 as part of its presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
See more in our video reel below…
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