The Venetian Arts Foundation & the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation together for a charity event: "Dreaming in Azur", under the artistic direction of Antonia Sautter

Saturday October 1st, the Hotel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo hosted the first Gala Dinner Show, organised by the Venetian Arts Foundation, in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco. 

Opened by a performance by international singer and songwriter Mika, the event followed with a show conceived and directed by Antonia Sautter, creative soul of Il Ballo del Doge, the most famous Venetian gala in the world. An event within the event that, through the creative flair of the Venetian designer, gave the guests a spectacular artistic encounter between the two iconic cities: Monaco and Venice.

Proceeds from the event were entirely donated to support the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s coastal resilience and marine protection projects.

The Venetian Arts Foundation, whose mission is to protect and promote the figurative and musical arts, with a focus on Venetian talents, has chosen Antonia Sautter as artistic director of the show for the first charity and cultural event organized by the foundation on Saturday, October 1st. at the Hotel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo, in the Principality of Monaco.

"We are pleased to announce that the first cultural event organized by our foundation, to benefit the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, boasts an important charitable scope: fundraising to support specific projects of the renowned Monegasque foundation to support coastal resilience projects and to raise awareness on climate change and sea level rise" declared Mrs. Daniela Di Giorgio and Mr. Filippo Ghirelli, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and founders of the Venetian Arts Foundation. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to present a performance orchestrated by one of the most talented Venetian artists such as Antonia Sautter, a “Made in Venice” symbol in the world, to an international audience. This represents a fruitful official start to our Foundation, in accordance with our primary mission that is to promote Italian artistic and cultural excellence all over the world. "

“I am honoured and enthusiastic to be part of this project. Dreaming in Azur symbolizes the closeness of Venice to Monaco. An elegant tribute with great emotional impact, uniting these two similar cities in sharing a fragile beauty, given their bonds to the sea” states Antonia Sautter. “I believe that Venice - with its history, atmospheres, peculiar “liquid soul” that I staged with Dreaming in Azur – could really help us reflect on the effects of climate change and on what we, as humanity, could lose forever. I hope that the dreamlike immersion in its beauty that I created together with the artists of Il Ballo del Doge will concretely contribute to the charitable purpose of the evening and to remind all guests to contribute to the fight against rising sea level".

The cultural charity event organized by the Venetian Arts Foundation, in support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, took place on Saturday October 1st at the Hotel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo and opened with a special performance of multi award winner and international artist, Mika. The funds raised through ticket sales and the charity auction were donated entirely to support the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s projects aimed at strengthening coastal resilience and raising awareness on climate change and consequent sea level rise.

"Thanks to the Venetian Arts Foundation we will be able to strengthen our efforts in favour of coastal resilience, a common issue between Venice and Monaco, but also for many cities around the world. That is why the Foundation has launched an initiative dedicated to the Nexus Ocean-Climate-Biodiversity:  we namely support pathways for mitigation of climate impacts and adaptation, we also federate experts, scientists, entrepreneurs and mayors of cities most at risks, around innovative solutions." said Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Coastal areas are at the forefront of climate change. Rising sea levels, increasing ocean temperatures, the intensification of extreme weather events, and more erratic rainfall are amplifying economic, social, and environmental vulnerability in coastal zones. By 2050, one billion people living in low-lying areas are expected to be exposed to climate-related risks. Coastal ecosystems, when protected, provide key services to enhance climate resilience and safeguard both blue economies and human wellbeing.