Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene joined nearly a thousand guests celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Grimaldi Forum in grand style. The 16 January event in Monaco drew media from the Principality, France and Europe.
A highlight of the evening was a performance narrating the human journey of the Grimaldi Forum presented in the Salle des Princes. Combining dance and video, six short scenes summarised the institution’s achievements. This performance was created with the collaboration of Jean-Christophe Maillot, choreographer-director of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo.
The inauguration of the venue extension was officially made by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, while guests enjoyed a cocktail dinner in the Patio and Diaghilev Gallery spaces of the extension. Guests were also treated to an Electro Winter Party featuring DJ Baloo from Monaco.
As it celebrates its quarter-century anniversary, the Grimaldi Forum now offers a vast extension of its building within an eco-district featuring green spaces by the Mediterranean Sea. It also marks 20 years of collaboration with its official partner, CMB Monaco.
When it was inaugurated in 2000, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco was tasked with a dual objective: positioning Monaco as one of Europe’s premier business tourism destinations and becoming a major centre for artistic excellence. Twenty-five years later, the Principality’s cultural and conference centre hosts an average of 100 events per year, attracting more than 300,000 visitors annually, equating to 2,700 events and eight million visitors over 25 years.
In the field of business tourism and events, the Grimaldi Forum has organised over 2,000 events and received some 20 awards and distinctions. Satisfaction levels are high, with 45% of events recurring year after year, and flagship events include UEFA, AMWC, Luxe Pack, Les Assises, Top Marques, Sportel, and the Monte-Carlo TV Festival.
Some of the more unusual projects have included building an ice rink on the stage of the Salle des Princes, or tennis and paddle courts with grandstands in Hall Ravel. Beyond its own arts and cultural productions, the main cultural entities of the Principality – the Ballets, Opera, Orchestra, Théâtre Princesse Grace, Audiovisual Institute, and Printemps des Arts – frequently perform at the venue.
Economically, the Grimaldi Forum generates indirect economic returns estimated at €70m annually. The centre employs 140 permanent staff and 300 temporary staff.
The Grimaldi Forum’s environmental and societal commitment is referenced with its ISO 14001 and ISO 20121 certifications. Its carbon footprint shows a 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to its 2019 results.
Now a new era dawns, with the creation of Mareterra, Monaco’s new eco-district and the Grimaldi Forum reinvents itself in this new environment (six hectares by the sea, with 27,000sqm of greenery and 19,000sqm of pedestrian areas. The Grimaldi Forum now benefits from over 50% more flexible spaces, with 6,000sqm of new areas and 2,000msq of new outdoor spaces.
The extension, which is also accessible via a separate entrance, is connected to the existing building via a direct link to the Diaghilev exhibition hall.
[su_image_carousel source=”media: 2058585,2058584,2058580,2058583,2058582,2058581,2058578,2058577,2058576″ limit=”49″ slides_style=”photo;” controls_style=”light;” crop=”none” align=”left” max_width=”700″ dots=”no” target=”self”]
