Celebrating 26 Years of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Awards at The British museum in London.

London, UK – 12 October 2017 – Tonight, Montblanc celebrated the 26th Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award honouring John Studzinski CBE and the work of the Genesis Foundation. The award ceremony took place at the majestic British Museum, which will host the exhibition ‘Living with Gods’ in the coming weeks, supported by Studzinski. The visionary award has been recognising the work and contributions of modern-day patrons of art and culture patrons since 1992. The Genesis Foundation, a charity with the aim, in collaboration with leading organisations, nurtures excellence among young artists working in the fields of music, theatre and the visual arts by funding specially created programmes that support young directors, playwrights, actors and singers. To date the Genesis Foundation has supported more than 1,000 artists, and has donated several million to enable them to develop their talents by financially supporting their progress.  Guests joining the celebrations on the evening included Sir John and Lady Frances Sorrell, Polly Staple, Zafar Rushdie, Harry Christophers, Peter and Tina Harf, Hadrian Garrard.

“I’m honoured that my work with the Genesis Foundation has been recognised with Montblanc’s Art Patronage Award. To join the illustrious list of artists and philanthropists that Montblanc has celebrated with this award is very meaningful to me. The Genesis Foundation believes in nurturing young artistic talent through working with inspirational partners. Montblanc’s ethos in supporting the arts mirrors ours and I wish to commend them for their work in creating networks of mentors to support young artists when they most need guidance and instruction. Art changes lives and the more we engage with artists across the world the more we all benefit.”  John Studzinski CBE

This year’s ceremony marks the 26th anniversary of the award with further ceremonies hosted in 17 countries around the world over the coming months. Each winner is selected by an international jury of art influencers, for the UK Polly Staple, Director, Chisenhale Gallery and Sally Tallant, Director of Liverpool Biennial, 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.

Studzinski received the award from Chairmen of the Montblanc Cultural Foundation, Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath. Each winner of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award receives €15,000. John Studzinski joins a prestigious list of honourees who have been presented with the award including HRH Prince Charles, Robert Wilson, Quincy Jones, Renzo Piano and Yoyo Maeght. Every year since 1992, the prestigious Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award has recognised 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.

Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, Chairmen of the Montblanc Cultural Foundation said: “It is a great honour to award John Studzinski with the Montblanc Arts Patronage Award 2017 for his life-long contribution towards the arts. We hope that his public recognition will inspire many others to get involved with the Genesis Foundation, and support the arts in their own ways where it is most needed”

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award

The Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award was established in 1992 to honour and support patrons of the arts who have made exceptional contributions to artists and their work. Every year, a select group of winners are chosen from a shortlist by an international jury of artists and art influencers. The jury, a sophisticated and passionate network of the art world’s most creative individuals, is brought together by the Montblanc Cultural Foundation to share thoughts and carefully evaluate the candidates in each country before casting their votes. The winning patrons must demonstrate a history of personal commitment to the arts and a concern that the wider public should benefit from cultural projects. Past recipients of the award include HRH The Prince of Wales, Russian maestro Valery Gergiev, American musician Quincy Jones, Italian architect Renzo Piano and Japanese artist Yoko Ono.

About Montblanc

Guided by the pioneering spirit since 1906, Montblanc revolutionized the culture of writing with breakthrough innovations. Today, the Maison continues to push boundaries and evolve the expression of fine craftsmanship across each of its product categories: the pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, timepieces, leather goods, accessories, fragrances and eyewear.  With every innovation, Montblanc offers new functionalities and ground-breaking designs imbued with the Maison’s heritage of sophistication and crafted to the highest standards through the skills of its artisans in each of its manufactures whether Hamburg, Germany for its writing instruments, the Swiss Jura in Le Locle and Villeret for its timepieces or Florence, Italy for its leather goods.  Reflecting its ongoing mission to create fine lifetime companions born from the most pioneering ideas, the iconic Montblanc Emblem has become the ultimate seal of performance, innovation, quality and expression of style. With its origins deeply rooted in the culture of handwriting, Montblanc continues to assert its cultural commitment around the world with the creation of wide-ranging initiatives to promote arts and culture in many forms, while honouring the modern day patrons who support the advancement of the arts.

Left: John Studzinski Right: Kevin Boltman, Sam Bardaouil, John Studzinski & Till Fellrath

Left: John Studzinski & Till Ferath Right: Nicholas Pinnock

Left: Zafar Rushdie & Natalie Coyle Right: Lady Frances Sorrell & Sir John Sorrell

Charlotte Paton, Elyse Dodgson, John Studzinski, Polly Staple & Hadrian Garrard

Sam Bardaouil, Kevin Boltman, John Studzinski & Till Fellrath

© David M. Bennett

See more images here.