Date: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Where: Hotel de Paris, Monte-Carlo, Monaco
For info/tickets: D.Lamb@Nights-in-Monaco.com or call Danella Lamb +33 6 01318762
www.Nights-in-Monaco.com
Invitation / Information
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The MIT Museum will open Rivers of Ice: Vanishing Glaciers of the Greater Himalaya featuring the breath-taking photography of mountaineer and film maker David Breashears on April 13, 2012 (through March 17, 2013), with the support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
At the heart of Rivers of Ice – a collaboration between the MIT Museum, GlacierWorks, and the Asia Society, designed by ThincDesign, — are contemporary, state-of-the-art digital photographs taken by Breashears from the same vantage points as archival photos taken a century ago. Presented in large format and viewed alongside much older images — some taken from 19th-century glass-plate negatives — these high-resolution images make plain the threat posed to Himalayan glaciers. Formed by the collision of continents, the massive Himalayan mountain range is of profound historic, cultural and scientific significance. By experiencing the photography ‘in the round’ on a large scale and viewing artifacts from expeditions past and present, visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the beauty of these glacial mountains, and their significance to the water cycle that sustains lives.

“Rivers of Ice provides visitors with a realistic, tangible understanding of the devastating consequences of climate change. Through painstaking attention to detail by comparing century-old archival images with David Breashears’s stunning contemporary photographs taken from the same position and in the same season, this spectacular exhibition unmistakably documents the decline of the Himalayan glaciers that are the water reservoirs for something like 4 billion people,” said J.B. Kelly, President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation-USA.

In an uncanny parallel, at the turn of the last century Monaco’s Prince Albert I, photographed and documented the glaciers of the north polar regions, and 100 years later in 2006, his great-great grandson, Monaco’s current sovereign, Prince Albert II produced comparative research and photography during an expedition retracing his forebear’s footsteps.

To complement the Rivers of Ice exhibition, a unique cylindrical installation featuring a documentary-style broadcast juxtaposing both expeditions, followed by an up-to-date look at the global work of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, will be on view on the second floor of the MIT Museum through April 30, 2012.

The installation, an internally-lit 8ftx5ft cylinder (output is equal to just one 100W light bulb), blends creativity, cutting-edge design and energy efficiency. By combining AV techniques, architectural elements, graphic design, and an animated kaleidoscopic experience from the Hollywood-based special effects team who worked on “The Incredible Hulk” and “Spider-Man”, it seamlessly projects a cool image of a hot topic.

Historic footage chronologically recounts Monaco’s sovereigns from the first Prince Albert (the “Navigator Prince”) who sailed the oceans in the late 1800s and early 1900s seeking ways to preserve them, through to Prince Rainier III who guided the principality through remarkable economic and cultural change in the 20th century, up to today with his son, Prince Albert II who upholds Monaco’s preservation efforts and conservation stewardship through his foundation. The installation also details three North American projects supported by the Foundation by highlighting the three main areas of its focus and mission:

• Biodiversity: Strengthening conservation gains across the Solomon Islands – a partnership with The American Museum of Natural History in New York;
• Climate change: Establishing new conservation landscapes in Amazonian Peru – a partnership with The Field Museum in Chicago; and
• Water resource management: Water for the people in the tropics of Honduras – a partnership with One Drop of Canada

Commissioned by Maguy Maccario, Monaco’s consul general in New York and vice president of the Foundation’s US chapter, she said that Monaco has an illustrious record of environmental stewardship dating back more than a century to the first Prince Albert and encompassing the reign of Prince Rainier.

“Today Prince Albert has enhanced and extended that distinguished legacy with the establishment of his Foundation — with its huge international reach — and by implementing many sound conservation initiatives within the principality,” said Maccario.

“We have a special cross-cultural and educational affinity with MIT with the recent (2009) visit to the MIT campus by His Serene Highness Prince Albert and the subsequent hosting in Monaco in October 2010 of the Futurum/MIT Energy Initiative under His patronage, as well as the world premiere at the Monte-Carlo Opera House of the MIT Media Lab’s Death & The Powers opera by Professor Tod Machover.”

“This exhibition and related events which are proudly supported by the Consulate General of Monaco in New York, provides yet more welcome opportunities to advance our friendship and deepen our ties while collaborating on the vital topic of mutual interest, environmental conservation and education,” she said.

The exhibition, a related symposium being organized by the Cambridge Science Festival (through April 20-29) and other events throughout 2012, will provide insight to some of the most groundbreaking environmental research currently taking place, and offer the public the opportunity to engage with scientists and researchers.

Rivers of Ice: Vanishing Glaciers of the Greater Himalaya, which opens April 13, 2012, has been funded in part by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Farvue Foundation. The MIT Museum is open daily from 10:00am – 5:00pm (closed on major holidays). Admission: Adults: $8.50; under 18, students and seniors: $4.00. MIT ID and children under 5: Free admission.

Sundays (10:00am-Noon) and second Fridays of each month (5:00pm-8:00pm): Free admission.

Photos of the exhibition for press may be found at: http://web.mit.edu/museum/about/pr/2012/vanishing-glaciers.pdf

About the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

Launched in 2006, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation focuses on three major environmental challenges: climate change and renewable energies; biodiversity; and water resource management. The Foundation is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development on a global scale and supports initiatives of public and private organizations in the fields of research and studies, technological innovation and socially-aware practices. The Foundation — with chapters in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada — has allocated grants totaling more than $US23 million to 185⁺ projects around the world, specifically in the Mediterranean Basin, the Poles, and in the Least Developed Countries. www.PA2F.org

About the M.I.T. Museum
Robots, holography, MIT history, and cutting-edge exhibitions blending art and technology draw visitors from around the world to the MIT Museum. Located in the center of Cambridge, MA the MIT Museum features some of the latest MIT research, the history of artificial intelligence at MIT, holograms from the Museum’s collections, and regular demonstrations by MIT researchers and inventors in addition to changing exhibitions. The mission of the MIT Museum is to engage the wider community with MIT’s science, technology and other areas of scholarship in ways that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Photo: In 2005, Prince Albert compares a 100 year-old photograph taken during his great-great grandfather’s expedition to Spitzberg in the North Polar region

Abdellah Karroum is an independent Artistic Director. He was born in the Rif, Morocco, in 1970.  From 1993 to 1996 he worked at the CAPC Museum of Contemporary art in Bordeaux.  More recently, he was associate curator for various international art biennials, including Dakar in 2006, Gwangju in 2008 and Marrakech in 2009.  He also initiated the Le Bout du Monde (The Ends of the Earth) art expeditions, with artists and researchers in several continents.  His most iconic project was L’Appartement 22 (Appartment 22), an independent art space. This unique space in Rabat, Morocco, was created in 2002 and is still used today for exhibitions and an “artists in residence” programme.  Abdellah Karroum was also the creator of Délégation artistique (Curatorial Delegation), a methodology for collective artistic projects.  He founded the research laboratory Art, Technologie et Ecologie (Art, Technology and Ecology) and is still its Director.  This laboratory is a “micro academy” and is linked to L’appartement 22. It operates in association with various institutions, including the Cinematheque in Tangiers.  Abdellah Karroum is also associate curator of the 2012 Triennial at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, and curator of the 2012 Cotonou Biennial.

The International Contemporary Art Prize (PIAC)
The International Contemporary Art Prize is now awarded on a three-yearly basis.  It is given for a recent work, nominated by an expert (for ex. an art critic, exhibition curator, researcher, etc.)

Since 2005, the prize has been awarded to Carlos Garaicoa, Saâdane Afif, Candice Breitz, Didier Marcel, Su-Mei Tse and Guido van der Werve.

The prizewinner receives 40,000 euros, of which 20,000 euros is in the form of funding for a new artwork or artworks.

The winner will be announced in spring 2012.

The awards ceremony will take place in Monaco and in 2013 the winning work will be on show at a special exhibition, as part of an international event.

Two awards have been created to complement the PIAC

A prize for a text on the subject of art, to be awarded annually. The text is selected on the basis of its informative and/or critical approach, its contribution to the development of art criticism and the links it creates between art and other areas of research.

The winner will receive an award of 5,000 euros.

Also new is a prize in the form of funding, to enable the prizewinner to attend or give lectures, with a view to encouraging the sharing of knowledge.  It will be awarded on an annual basis to a researcher, exhibition curator or artist and amounts to 2,000 euros.

The Artistic Advisory Board
President
H. R. H. the Princess of Hanover.

Vice-President
Marie-Claude Beaud,
Director of the NMNM, Nouveau Musée National de Monaco

The Board
Philippe Rahm, architect
Maria Lind, exhibitions curator
Michel Enrici, Lorenzo Fusi, Chantal Pontbriand, art critics and exhibition curators
Hou Hanru, an independent exhibitions curator, will be invited to take part in the 2013 session.
The Artistic Director also consults regularly with a consultative committee with members like Clémentine Deliss (Director of the Weltkulturen Museum, Frankfurt), Bartomeu Mari (Director of the MACBA, Barcelona), Aruna D’Souza (art historian and writer) and Xenia Kalpaktsoglou (Co-Director of the Athens Biennial).

A meeting area with a library and the PIAC archives will be established at the beginning of 2012, and developed further in the future.
A studio will also be opened, offering residencies for artists. These artists will be selected as a result of collaboration with the Principality’s cultural institutions.

Prince Pierre of Monaco Foundation
4, bd des Moulins – 98 000 MONACO
www.fondationprincepierre.mc
T + 377 98 98 85 15

Signed on March 9, the agreement will help reduce deforestation and degradation of the region while providing education, health, and fire prevention for the community of Carmelita at the center of the reserve in Guatemala’s northern Peten region.

The community is located at the gateway to the archaeological site of El Mirador. This concentration of ancient Mayan cities that archaeologists call the cradle of Mayan civilization is threatened by human activities, including illegal logging, farming, and ranching in protected areas, as well as drug trafficking, poaching and looting of Maya artifacts.

“Drug trafficking money is fueling a massive ranching industry, which has virtually destroyed the Maya Biosphere within the past five years,” says FARES (the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies).

Now, instead of facing further devastation, the community has attracted the protection of conservation groups from Guatemala and abroad.

In exchange for protecting the surrounding forest, the Carmelita community will receive support for education, health and fire prevention. The deal includes the enforcement of bans on hunting of jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, tapir, howler monkey, spider monkey, scarlet macaw, ocellated turkey, harpy eagle, and other endangered wildlife.

While the Mirador Basin has been plundered and looted for decades, a powerful group of international and local conservationists and foundations is turning the situation around.

Signatories to the new agreement include: Carmelita Cooperative, the Carmelita Community Development Council, Asociacion BALAM with the support of the Guatemalan Protected Areas Council, the Association of Forest Communities of Peten, the Rainforest Alliance,The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society.

On April 20, 2011, Prince Albert II of Monaco visited Mirador to witness the conservation progress led by Dr. Richard Hansen of FARES and to show his support for PACUNAM in the Mirador Project.

“We have to save this place,” the Prince said during his visit, before signing a cooperation agreement with PACUNAM. His foundation, The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, adds the Mirador conservation initiative in the Maya Biosphere Reserve to its nine other forestry projects.

The Mirador basin is one of the most biodiverse sanctuaries for wildlife in the Western Hemisphere. The reserve was created in 1990 to protect the largest area of tropical forest remaining in Central America and is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

WCS’s work in the region is made possible through the support of the New York-based Prospect Hill Foundation and the Governance and Transparency Fund of the UK Department for International Development.

Another signatory is PACUNAM, which stands for Fundacion Patrimonio Cultural y Natural Maya, a Guatemalan foundation made up of 13 corporations and families wishing to preserve the country’s natural and cultural heritage through sustainable development. PACUNAM is the Global Heritage Fund’s conservation partner in Guatemala.

For Mirador, PACUNAM has secured US$3 million in funding for conservation and sustainable development. A key goal of the GHF Mirador project is to assist the Guatemalan government in securing permanent protection and UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for the park.

In 2009, Wildlife Conservation Society and the nonprofit Conservation International formed a partnership with Guatemala’s Protected Areas Council to implement the country’s first community-based conservation incentives payment system.

This contract among local communities, the Guatemalan government, NGO partners, and donors was intended to help stem deforestation and provide annual economic incentives to be designed and managed by local communities.

Money started to flow into the community and by 2010, the Mirador had 80 full-time rangers and funding for enforcement.

The Carmelita agreement is the third such agreement in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, with other successful examples in the Uaxactun Community Forest Concession and the community of Paso Caballos in Laguna del Tigre National Park.

“Conservation agreements are a win-win for both the people and wildlife of the Maya Biosphere Reserve,” said Julie Kunen, director of WCS’s Latin America and Caribbean Program. “The agreements address pressing development needs and provide real incentives for the people living in and around the reserve to protect its animals and conserve its forests.”

The archeologists at FARES say the Mirador Basin contains the earliest and largest Preclassic Maya cities known in Mesoamerica. “These cities are filled with massive constructions including pyramids, temples, palaces, causeways, and other remnants of a highly evolved and complex society,” the foundation says.

www.fpa2.com

At a series of related “bi-coastal” events, VIP guests and members of the company celebrated at elegant receptions and cast parties, and previewed beautiful exhibitions showcasing the cultural legacy of the Principality, the artistry of Les Ballets and the exceptional contribution to the art and support of young artists by Princess Grace of Monaco.

The New York exhibition, A Legacy of Grace continues through March 31 at The Forbes Galleries – 60 Fifth Avenue @ West 12th Street.

Centered on the 2012 US tour of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, under the Presidency of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover and directed by Jean-Christophe Maillot, the celebrations will take place from February 2 through 12 in Costa Mesa, CA and from February 11 through March 31 in New York City to benefit Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.

The acclaimed troupe was founded in 1985 by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover to fulfill a long-held wish (to form a national ballet company in Monaco) of her mother, the Academy Award® winning actress, Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco.

“With myriad cultural, sporting, and lifestyle experiences, the Principality of Monaco has attracted discerning visitors for centuries,” said the Honorable Maguy Maccario, Consul General and Director, North America, Monaco Government Tourist Office.

“Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo exemplifies the Principality’s rich artistic heritage and regal traditions, and we are delighted to invite residents from coast to coast to embark on a magical journey as Les Ballets celebrates a triumphant return to the USA with an exclusive West Coast engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts and then onto New York City’s Joyce Theater in the 30^th anniversary year of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.”

The following events will take place throughout the February tour:

Costa Mesa, California

Under the direction of director-choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will perform a mesmerizing modern rendition of Prokofiev’s Cinderella from Thursday, February 9 through Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA. Performances are scheduled at:

• Thursday, February 9 – 7:30 pm
• Friday, February 10 – 7:30 pm
• Saturday, February 11 – 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
• Sunday, February 12 – 2:00 pm

Individual tickets are now on sale at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts starting from $13.60 and may be purchased by phone at (714) 556-2787 or online at www.scfta.org.

Throughout the week a number of events will also be open to the public, including Monégasque-inspired treats at participating restaurants, luxury sweepstakes including a grand prize trip to Monaco at South Coast Plaza where an audio-visual and photographic display in their Jewel Court will feature unique items from Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, and an exhibition of Monaco’s artistic legacy. For more details, please visit www.monacotakesus.com.

Audiences can continue their Monégasque cultural journey with a number of exclusive events in the Costa Mesa area, including a Monaco-inspired dinner and a cast after-party on Saturday, February 11, as well as a farewell brunch on Sunday, February 12. The following packages are available for purchase:

• FAIRYTALE WEEKEND: Priced at $750 per person, this package includes a ticket (orchestra seating) to the Saturday evening performance, an invitation to the “Magic of the Arts” dinner and to the cast after-party and the farewell brunch plus an invitation to a VIP cocktail reception hosted by Montblanc and South Coast Plaza on Thursday, February 9.  Also included (but reserved for the first 15 ticket purchasers) is a ticket to attend the ballet rehearsal on Friday, February 10.

• AT THE BALL: Priced at $500 per person, this package includes a ticket to the Saturday evening performance and invitation to the Magic of the Arts dinner and the cast after-party.
• GLASS SLIPPER SOIREE: Priced at $300 per person, this package includes a ticket to the Saturday evening performance and an invitation to the cast after-party.

Space is strictly limited. For more information or to purchase packages, please call 800 753 9696 or email info@visitmonaco.com.

New York, New York

From February 15 through February 19, 2012, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will present two contemporary productions, Altro Canto I and Opus 40 at each performance from acclaimed director-choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot at The Joyce Theater in New York City. The performance schedule follows:

• Wednesday, February 15 – 7:30 pm
• Thursday, February 16 – 8:00 pm
• Friday, February 17 – 8:00 pm
• Saturday, February 18 – 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
• Sunday, February 19 – 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

Starting at $10, individual tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at The Joyce Theater box office at 175 Eighth Avenue (@ West 19th Street), New York City, by phone at 212-242-0800 or online at www.joyce.org.

Audiences can also experience true Monaco style by attending a number of public and private New York City events held under the High Patronage of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover, including a free exhibition at the Forbes Galleries called A LEGACY OF GRACE. From February 11 through March 31, 2012, visitors can glimpse Princess Grace’s lasting cultural legacy from the ballet company created in her honor, to the ongoing support of emerging artistic talent through the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which celebrates its 30^th anniversary in 2012.

Featuring stunning photographs by photo-journalist Marie-Laure de Decker and Monaco-born art photographer Silas Shabelewska, original costumes from Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s wardrobe, Princess Grace video highlights as well as a collection of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA’s 30-year history, the exhibition will be open to the public on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and is reserved for group tours on Thursdays. The Forbes Galleries are located at 62 Fifth Avenue at West 12th Street.

Related events available for purchase (in exclusive packages) include a VIP reception at one of Manhattan’s most breath-taking private townhouses with a chance to mingle with Les Ballets members on Tuesday, February 14 followed by the New York premiere of Altro Canto 1 and Opus 40, and the cast after-party (where guests can bid on luxury silent auction items) on Wednesday, February 15. Packages include:

• AVANT-GARDE EXPERIENCE: Priced at $450 per person, this package includes an invitation to the VIP cocktail reception, a ticket to Les Ballet’s premiere performance of Altro Canto I and Opus 40 on February 15 and the cast after-party. (The first 10 ticket purchasers can attend Les Ballet’s rehearsal on February 16 at The Joyce Theatre at a time to be advised).
• VISIONARY Experience: Priced at $250 per person, this package includes a ticket to the NYC premiere performance on February 15 and an invitation to the cast after-party.

Space is strictly limited. For more information on pricing or to purchase a package, please call 800 753 9696 or email info@visitmonaco.com.

The Consulate General of Monaco and Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York acknowledge and thank their partners and sponsors participating in the 2012 Monaco takes US events including Champagne Paul Goerg, Fairmont Monte Carlo, Forbes Media, Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, Hotel Plaza Athenee (New York), Le Club Diamant Rouge de Monaco, Mr. & Mrs. Juan Pablo Molyneux, Montblanc, Nespresso, Oceania Cruises, Roger Dubuis, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Silas Shabelewska Photography, South Coast Plaza, Swiss International Air Lines, The Wall Street Journal (as of January 10, 2011).  Partners of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: CFM (Crédit Foncier de Monaco) (Official Partner), Suissecourtage Assurances, Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, and Rolex.

Proceeds raised during Monaco takes US will benefit Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the Princess Grace Foundation – USA. For more about Monaco takes US events and activities, visitwww.MonacoTakesUS.com; call 800 753 9696 or email info@visitmonaco.com.

Under the Presidency of H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover

Les Ballets De Monte-Carlo
Choreographer-Director Jean-Christophe Maillot

This distinguished company of 50 dancers consistently delights audiences with breathtaking performances on the world’s greatest stages, thus highlighting the Principality’s cultural and artistic virtues. Les Ballets became the official company of the Principality of Monaco in 1985, founded by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. Since 1993, under the direction of Jean-Christophe Maillot, the company has continued to delight international audiences with award-winning, awe-inspiring performances.www.balletsdemontecarlo.com

Princess Grace Foundation-USA The Princess Grace Foundation-USA was founded 30 years ago by Prince Rainier III of Monaco as a not-for-profit, publicly-supported organization, in honor of his wife Princess Grace [Kelly]. Headquartered in New York City, the Foundation carries on the legacy of Princess Grace by awarding scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships to emerging artists in theater, dance and film. Since its inception, the Foundation has bestowed more than 700 Awards, totaling more than $8.5 million in grants.www.pgfusa.org

Consulate General of Monaco & Monaco Government Tourist Office
The only accredited Consulate General of Monaco in North America (www.Monaco-Consulate.com) provides consular services, cultural and general information. The Consulate also organizes exclusive promotional and philanthropic events and activities to benefit charitable endeavors, many of which are held under the patronage of the Princely Family, including the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation-USA. The Monaco Government Tourist Office (www.VisitMonaco.com/us) offers personalized tourism advice and information for individuals, group and business travel as well as access to Le Club Diamant Rouge for VIP travel membership within the Principality of Monaco.

The 29th Annual Princess Grace Awards Gala will take place in the presence of TSH The Prince and The Princess of Monaco, marking their first U.S. visit since their July wedding. The evening will be chaired by Dr. Jon Turk (PGF-USA Trustee) and Carolyn Gusoff Turk. This year’s Awards Gala will be highlighted by the unveiling of a unique tribute to Princess Grace by Montblanc. Presenting Sponsor for the Gala is Hermès; Platinum Sponsor is Noelle and Dick Wolf; Crown Sponsor is Lily Safra; American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Princess Grace Awards Gala and 1-800-Flowers.com is the Official Florist.

The Princess Grace Foundation-USA, a public charity, was formed after the death of Princess Grace in 1982. They present scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships to assist artists at the start of their careers. The Foundation has cultivated a diverse group of nearly 600 artists to date who continue to advance the spectrum of performing arts with innovative, cutting-edge, and vibrant theater, dance, choreography, film, playwriting and design. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than 700 Awards have been given to recipients, totaling more than $8.5 million.

This year, PGF-USA will honor Julie Andrews with the Prince Rainier III Award for her outstanding contribution to motion picture, television and theater arts. This Award is presented to eminent artists who have not only been highly successful in their careers, but have made significant humanitarian contributions to their fields. To date, Mikhail Baryshnikov (2005), Twyla Tharp (2006), George Lucas (2007), Glenn Close (2008), Mandy Patinkin (2009) and Denzel & Pauletta Washington (2010) have received this honor, which includes a grant of $25,000 to the philanthropic organization of their choice and a unique sculpture designed by the artist, Alex Soldier.

“Julie Andrews’ extraordinary artistic talent and distinguished career in theater, television and film has been a beacon of inspiration to countless creative young artists, many of whom we acknowledge at this celebration,” says Hon. John Lehman, Chairman of the Board, Princess Grace Foundation-USA. “In the spirit of Princess Grace, it is with great pleasure that we celebrate the achievements of Ms. Andrews and the creativity, passion and budding talent of our Awards winners.”

Past winners of the Awards for theater, dance and film who distinguish themselves in their artistic disciplines since receiving their initial Princess Grace Awards are eligible to win the Foundation’s Princess Grace Statue Award. This year, Jon M. Chu will be honored for his outstanding achievements. Mr. Chu received his first Princess Grace Award, a Film Scholarship at the University of Southern California, in 2001. In addition to a $25,000 unrestricted cash gift, these Awardees are presented with a bronze statuette of Princess Grace created by the Dutch artist Kees Verkade. To date, fifty-four artists have received this award.

At the Gala, The Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco will be premiered in the U.S.- a spectacular, new tribute collection to one of the most remarkable individuals of all time, celebrated for Her iconic, timeless style; Her artistic talent as an Oscar©-winning actress and Her unrelenting commitment to helping others. The Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco is a continuation of the privileged relationship the brand has enjoyed with the Principality of Monaco in recent years. Consisting of fine jewelry pieces, timepieces and writing instruments, the Montblanc Collection is true to Princess Grace’s enduring style and sophistication. Feminine and elegant, the pieces from this collection are some of the most exquisite ever crafted in Montblanc’s Ateliers, rich in details and inspired by this icon’s spirit and attention to style.

For the third year in a row, celebrated artist Alex Soldier, known for his mastery of precious miniatures, has created an objet d’art to symbolize the Princess Grace Awards. The Award symbolically combines the three art forms lauded by the Foundation: theater, dance, and film by using precious metals and Swarovski crystal accents. Presented as a sculpture for the Prince Rainier III recipient, this work of art is created for each Princess Grace Award winner to wear as a pin, a special reminder of their Award for the world to see.

The Gala will begin with cocktails, followed by a spectacular opening act; then a 3-course dinner catered by Cipriani 42nd Street; followed by the Awards presentations and finally, dancing to DJ Clockwork in the Chapel Room. At the Gala, guests will have the opportunity to support the Foundation by bidding on an extensive collection of exceptional silent auction lots including leather goods, jewelry and accessories, all spearheaded by the generosity of Montblanc. All auction proceeds will benefit Princess Grace Awards to advance its mission of providing crucial support to emerging artists in America.

2011 PRINCESS GRACE AWARD WINNERS
Each year, the Foundation presents the Princess Grace Awards to artists who show excellence and promise in the areas of theater, dance, and film. Students are eligible for scholarships; emerging artists working in companies qualify for apprenticeships and fellowships. A playwriting fellowship is available for individual artists through a residency at New Dramatists in New York City, which includes the opportunity to have the winning play be licensed and published by Samuel French, Inc. In addition to these, the Foundation also gives honorable mention grants to applicants through Honoraria.

The 2011 Princess Grace Awards winners (listed below) represent 20 colleges, universities, and not-for-profit theater and dance companies throughout the United States. The Awards winners exemplify both classical and experimental artistic disciplines and, while still considered emerging talent, already show exceptional promise in their areas of expertise. The Foundation’s support assists their theater and dance studies, helps pay their artistic fees at non-profit theater and dance companies and helps support their thesis film projects. In addition to the Awards, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA extends general operating monies to companies hosting an Awards winner.

This year’s Princess Grace Awards winners are:

THEATER AND PLAYWRITNG
CarlosAlexis Cruz
Theater Fellowship, Grace Le Vine Award
Miracle Theatre Group

Miriam A. Hyman
Theater Scholarship, George C. Wolfe Award
Yale School of Drama

Matt Jones
Theater Apprenticeship, Robert & Gloria Hausman Award
Alternative Theater Ensemble

Hana Sooyeon Kim
Theater Scholarship, Fabergé Award
University of California, Los Angeles

Sarah Rasmussen
Theater Apprenticeship, Pierre Cardin Award
Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Sadieh Rifai
Theater Fellowship, Gant Gaither Award
American Theater Company

Johnna Adams
Playwriting Fellowship
New Dramatists, Inc.

DANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY
Alisa Alba
Dance Fellowship
The National Institute of Flamenco

Joseph Gorak
Dance Fellowship
American Ballet Theatre

Margaret Mullin
Dance Fellowship
Pacific Northwest Ballet

Jeffrey Van Sciver
Dance Scholarship, Chris Hellman Award
Dominican University/LINES Ballet

Casia Vengoechea
Dance Scholarship
The Julliard School-Dance Division

Frederick “Pete” Leo Walker
Dance Fellowship
North Carolina Dance Theatre

Zoe Scofield
Choreography Fellowship
DiverseWorks ArtSpace

Olivier Wevers
Choreography Fellowship
Spectrum Dance Theater

FILM
Valerie Bischoff
Film Graduate Scholarship
Columbia University

Emily Hyde
Film Undergraduate Scholarship
Pacific Northwest College of Art

Gina Marie Napolitan
Film Graduate Scholarship
California Institute of the Arts

Raul Paz Pastrana
Film Graduate Scholarship, Cary Grant Award
School of Visual Arts

Temra Pavlovic
Film Undergraduate Scholarship, John H. Johnson Award
California Institute of the Arts

Iva Radivojevic
Film Graduate Scholarship
CUNY Hunter College

HONORARIA
R. Davis McCallum
Theater Honorarium
The Public Theater

Jacqueline Burnett
Dance Honorarium
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Nigel Campbell
Dance Honorarium
Luna Negra Dance Theater

Chanel DaSilva
Dance Honorarium
Trey McIntyre Project

Shreyasi Das
Film Honorarium
Rochester Institute of Technology

Nick Twemlow
Film Honorarium
University of Iowa

SPECIAL PROJECT and WORKS IN PROGRESS AWARDS
Special Project Awards and Works in Progress Residencies at the Baryshnikov Arts Center are grants available to past Princess Grace Awards winners and Honoraria recipients for uniquely significant projects that advance their artistic development.

This year’s Special Project Awards and Works in Progress Residencies are:

SPECIAL PROJECT AWARDS
Rose Bond
Regina Garcia
Alex Ketley
Rashaun Mitchell
Jimmy Orrante
Alice Reagan
Amie Siegel
Karolina Sobecka

WORKS IN PROGRESS RESIDENCIES
Charlotte Brathwaite
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
David Neumann

About Prince Rainier III Award Honoree – Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews has been a beloved and much-honored star of stage, screen and television for more than half a century. She was already a Broadway legend when she made her feature film debut in 1964’s “Mary Poppins.” Andrews’ iconic performance in the title role of the magical nanny brought her an Academy Award®, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. The following year, she earned a second Oscar® nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her unforgettable portrayal of Maria Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music.” She received her third Academy Award® nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her “dual” role in “Victor/Victoria.” In addition to her stage and screen work, Julie has dedicated her life to her family and to serving important causes, including Operation USA, an international relief organization with which Julie has traveled to such places as Vietnam and Cambodia. From 1992 to 2006 she was honored as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which provides financial and technical support for low-income women in developing countries. Ms. Andrews received her honors as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on New Year’s Eve 1999. She was also a 2001
Kennedy Center Honoree.

About Princess Grace Statue Award Winner – Jon M. Chu
Jon M. Chu is the director of Touchstone Pictures/Summit Entertainment’s Step Up 2 The Streets (2008), and Step Up 3D (2010). Combined, these two films have grossed over $300 million theatrically. In 2011, Paramount Pictures released Chu’s third film, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, which has since garnered rave reviews and claimed the title as the highest grossing concert themed film of all time in the U.S. and the third highest grossing documentary of all time. Combining old school story telling with new school technology, Chu has managed to find a style that has been described as both innovative and ambitious. Besides his feature films, Chu is active in the online entertainment world. He is the writer and creator of The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, which is the number one original program for Hulu. With over 20 million hits on his YouTube channel and over 250 thousand followers on twitter, Chu’s success in the online space was recognized with the 2011 Digital Pioneer Emmy Award as well as AdAge’s Vanguard Award for outstanding web series. The webseries has been described as “groundbreaking” by the New York Times and “…by a wide margin, the most beautifully filmed, elaborately staged web series in the history of the medium…” from Advertising Age. Other points of recognition include the Jack Nicholson Directing award, the Princess Grace Award, an MTV Movie award, a Teen Choice Award and a coveted speaking invitation to the world renowned TED conference. Chu is currently in preproduction on the next film in the Paramount Picture’s G.I. JOE franchise that will be released in theaters Summer 2012.

ABOUT THE PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION – USA
The Princess Grace Foundation-USA is a not-for-profit, publicly-supported foundation, headquartered in New York City and founded more than 25 years ago by Prince Rainier III of Monaco in honor of his wife, Princess
Grace [Kelly]. The Foundation’s mission, that mirrors Princess Grace’s in Her lifetime, is to support emerging artists in theater, dance and film through the awarding of scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than 700 Awards have been given to recipients, totaling more than $8.5 million. Some notable Princess Grace Awards recipients in Theater include: 2008 Tony® Award winner for Best Direction of a Play, Anna D. Shapiro; Pulitzer and Tony® Award winning playwright Tony Kushner; and Academy Award® winner Eric Simonson. Film recipients include: Stephen Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants; Greg Mottola, director of Paul, Adventureland and Superbad; and Cary Joji Fukunaga, writer and director of Sin Nombre and Jane Eyre. Dance/Choreography Awards recipients include: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle; American Ballet Theatre’s Gillian Murphy, Ethan Stiefel and Sarah Lane; as well as choreographers Andrea Miller and Dominic Walsh.

About the 2011 Princess Grace Awards Gala
The 2011 Princess Grace Awards Gala is being produced by Scott Mauro of Scott Mauro Entertainment, Inc. for the seventh consecutive year. Tickets for the Gala start at $1,250 for Patron tickets and $2,500 for Benefactor tickets. Tables may be purchased for $15,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000. Approximately 500 guests are expected to attend. Those interested in tickets may contact Tamara Leuchtenburg at Event Associates at 212-245-6570 or tamaral@eventassociatesinc.com. A downloadable invitation and response card and additional
information can be found at www.pgfusa.org. For more information, please visitwww.pgfusa.org.

”Monaco’s consulate and tourist office in New York are once again thrilled to support Antiquorum and Luc Pettavino in his quest for a cure while shining the spotlight on the principality. He, and Monégasques like him, work very hard to spread goodwill and compassion far beyond Monaco’s small borders, always inspiring us to reach for answers to life’s challenges,” said Maguy Maccario, consul general and director of the Monaco Government Tourist Office, who are event sponsors.

Link to photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/visitmonaco/sets/72157627537170411/

© Suzanne Vreeland / Consulate General of Monaco

Link to video: http://youtu.be/Ne5lTvyRI84

Through the legacy of American-born Princess Grace, the Principality of Monaco and the United States have shared a long-lasting and enduring friendship. For over fifty years, the Principality has had representative offices in New York City and has collaborated with the United States on numerous business and charitable endeavors, humanitarian causes and cultural exchanges. In addition, Monaco enjoys the reputation as one of America’s beloved tourist destinations. Prince Albert not only attended college in New England but also lived and worked in New York City.

In the days following the attacks, the Consulate General of Monaco in New York conveyed the Principality’s solidarity through a message of support and launched – in cooperation with the Monaco Government – a Solidarity Fund. The local residents, including a large number of Americans living there, and the businesses of Monaco, along with the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, contributed to the Fund. On October 23, 2001, H.S.H. Prince Albert traveled to New York City to present Mayor Giuliani with the proceeds.

“The attacks that occurred on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacks not on New York alone but attacks on freedom-loving people all over the world,” Prince Albert told the Mayor. “The example of the American spirit remains an inspiration to all of us in Monaco. As we join with the United States in this time of sorrow, we hold dear our long-lasting and intimate friendship with America, her people and her ideals.”