Instantly recognizable by its sleek glass and steel design, the Grimaldi Forum has been Monaco’s cultural epicentre for twenty-five years.
Named in honour of the ruling dynasty
Born from Prince Rainier III’s desire to position Monaco as one of the main business tourism destinations in Europe, the Grimaldi Forum now holds 100 events per year and welcomes an average of 3,000 people per day. The unique site offers an adaptable surface area of 35,000 m², reclaimed from the sea, for every type of event under the sun.
“For me, the Grimaldi Forum is like an astonishing vessel of modern times which, based on its programming, would go from show to exposition, from concert to opera, from ballet to conference, in search of new horizons and new knowledge,” said Prince Rainier III during the inauguration of the Grimaldi Forum in July 2000.
“The Grimaldi Forum holds a very special place in our hearts. We’ve had great aspirations for it, and it bears the name of our Family,” says his son, Prince Albert II.
Home to local institutions like the Monte-Carlo Ballets, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco and the Théâtre Princesse Grace, the Grimaldi Forum also regularly hosts events which are inextricably woven into the cultural fabric of Monaco. The Monte-Carlo Arts Festival, the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, EVER Monaco, Top Marques Monaco, as well as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League events all take place within its walls.
The Grimaldi Forum is one of the main strategic tools for business tourism in the Principality. Operating in a wide variety of sectors including sports, medicine and luxury, the adaptable spaces and technical support make it perfect for company events.
Legendary Summer Exhibitions
Every summer since it opened, the Grimaldi Forum has hosted a new, awe-inspiring exhibition by collaborating with some of the most prominent cultural institutions in the world. Everything from Grace Kelly to Monet, Francis Bacon, Picasso and Warhol to exhibitions about Africa, China, New York, Ancient Egypt, Moscow and Japan have been featured in the Grimaldi Forum’s summer exhibitions. The choice of subjects is born out of a reflection on originality, impact and connection to local history. According to the Grimaldi Forum, “It is important to switch the genres every time.”
The summer 2024 exhibition showcased the work of J.M.W. Turner in dialogue with 15 contemporary artists and attracted over 65,000 visitors in just 58 days.
“This is an extremely satisfying result, the sixth-best attendance in nearly 25 years of exhibitions, for a subject that wasn’t initially expected to be among the most popular. The originality and quality of the theme were rewarded, and we are delighted. When measured by the number of days, this exhibition even ranks on a par with Dali, A History of Painting (2019), our third greatest success after Monet in Full Light (2023) and The Grace Kelly Years (2007),” said Sylvie Biancheri, Executive Director of the Grimaldi Forum.
Inaugurated by Prince Albert II, ‘Turner’s Sublime Legacy’ offered a unique possibility to see Joseph Mallord William Turner’s works, which rarely leave London. The Tate collection granted the Grimaldi Forum the largest loan of Turner paintings ever made, a selection of 80 oils on canvas and works on paper which revealed the artist’s sensitive and poetic landscapes. The exhibition also featured art workshops for children, adolescents, and young adults with autism.
The Turner Exhibition was the fourth summer exhibition to go “on tour”. The first Grimaldi Forum exhibition to be exported was the Princess Grace exhibition. In total, summer exhibitions have travelled to 18 destinations around the world.
Next up: “Colours, the masterpieces of the Centre Georges-Pompidou” and more…
This summer, the Grimaldi Forum will host “Colours, the masterpieces of the Centre Georges-Pompidou”, which will be the first exhibition outside the centre. About 125 pieces, including 60 known masterpieces will celebrate the greatest artists of the early twentieth century in a colourful display. The upcoming exhibition has been described as “multi-sensory”, with an original and inventive scenography.
In 2026, “Monaco and the Automobile” will be on display for the summer exhibition. The exhibition was initially postponed due to the pandemic in 2020. In 2027, the Grimaldi Forum plans to host a major retrospective of Belgian surrealist, Magritte.
Spotlight on Executive Director, Sylvie Biancheri
At the helm of the Grimaldi Forum since 2003, Sylvie Biancheri relies on ten departments to lead a team of more than 140 people, plus about 400 other staff (hostesses, ushers and technicians). More than half of the Grimaldi Forum’s employees have been in their positions for more than 10 years, and 25 % of them for more than 20 years! Just prior to the health crisis, 2019 was a record-breaking year for the Grimaldi Forum with 290,000 visitors, 120 events and only 10 days of vacancy during the year.
Award-winning
The Grimaldi Forum Monaco won an M&IT Award in September 2024 in the category of “Best International Conference Centre”. Awarded by M&IT in London, the centre received the silver award behind Spain’s Port Aventura Convention Centre and ahead of Dublin Convention Centre.
In 25 years, the Grimaldi Forum has amassed 25 awards, including 19 M&IT Awards (8 gold, 9 silver and 2 bronze). Other accolades include awards for economic impact and environmental initiatives.
At home in Mareterra
The Grimaldi Forum will be celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout the year, one of the main highlights having been, of course, the inauguration of its new extension. Mareterra’s ambitious 6-hectare eco-neighbourhood has allowed the Grimaldi Forum to increase its exhibition capacity by 50% with an additional 6,000 m² of indoor space plus 2,000 m² of outdoor space with views of the Mediterranean. The extension makes it possible to host larger events and to make the Grimaldi Forum more flexible. Accessible via a new outdoor entrance, the extension will connect to the rest of the building via the Diaghilev exhibition hall.
Since its opening 25 years ago, the Grimaldi Forum has been a flagship of the Principality both at home and abroad, with a rich and inspiring cultural program. With its brand new extension, the future of the Grimaldi Forum is bright and full of possibilities.
