MONTBLANC Celebrates 25th year of Arts Patronage Awards
Against the grandiose backdrop of Venice’s canals and palazzos, Montblanc celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, the visionary award that has been recognizing the work and contributions of modern day art patrons since 1992.
Giorgio Marconi, recipient of the 2016 Award for Italy was honoured at a ceremony held on the roof of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in recognition for his work with the Marconi Foundation for Contemporary and Modern Art, a non-profit institution for the promotion and diffusion of contemporary art and culture.
New Montblanc Cultural Foundation Co-Chairman Till Fellrath and Sam Bardaouil joined Montblanc CEO Jérôme Lambert to present the honouree with a Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim limited edition fountain pen encased in a trophy, and 15,000 euros to be donated to a cultural project of Marconi’s choice.
Over 130 selected guests attended the intimate Dinner including Socialite Chloe Delevingne, model Amber Le Bon, designer Jasmine Guinness, actress Camilla Rutherford with Dominic Barker and actor Jack Guinness.
The Italy ceremony marks the kick off of the 25th anniversary of the award with further ceremonies hosted in 15 countries around the world over the coming months. Each winner is selected by an international jury of art influencers, a network of the world’s most creative individuals brought together by the Montblanc Cultural Foundation to evaluate the candidates based on their history of personal commitment to the arts, and a concern that the wider public should benefit from cultural projects.
The cocktail party was held on the roof of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection at the 18th century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal, once inhabited by the great patron of art Peggy Guggenheim and now home to her significant collection of modern art.
“We are very excited to host the first of the 16 international award ceremonies here in Venice, being a city of particular significance for the arts, culture and architecture with a flourishing artistic community since many centuries,” said Montblanc CEO Jérôme Lambert. “Furthermore, Venice became the home of Peggy Guggenheim, one of the great patrons of the 20th century, a pioneering woman who understood the cultural importance of nurturing creative talent just like the outstanding patrons we will be honouring around the world this year.”
Giorgio Marconi joins a prestigious list of honourees who have been presented with the award including Robert Wilson, Quincy Jones, Renzo Piano and Yoyo Maeght. Every year since 1992, the prestigious Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award has recognized the outstanding achievements and important contributions of modern day patrons, reinforcing today’s importance of patronage in making arts and culture accessible to broader audiences.
