Created in 1961 by HSH. Prince Rainier III, the Monte Carlo Television Festival endeavours "to encourage a new art form, serving peace and understanding between people". The Nymphe d'Or is awarded to the best audio-visual creation. www.tvfestival.com/

The Monaco Red Cross Ball is unquestionably the high point of the summer in the Principality. This unique charity gala evening brings together high society as well as donors from all over the world at the Salle des Etoiles at the Monte-Carlo Sporting Club.

Since 1957, every 4 years, amateur actors from around the world meet in the Principality for the World Amateur Theatre Festival. Every night for ten days, over one hundred novice actors perform three plays in their mother tongue originating from different countries. A true cultural world tour without leaving your theatre seat.

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During the reign of HSH Prince of Monaco, the National Day is held on 19 November, Saint-Rainier day. This joyful day starts with a Te Deum in the Monaco Cathedral attended by the Grimaldi family. The Monegasque people take this opportunity to honour their Princes.

Festivities are organised throughout the town, including a magnificent fireworks display, concerts, parades on the Place du Palais and medal ceremonies. The fun fair is in full swing for the delight of children and adults alike; it comes to an end one week after the National Day.

Towards the end of autumn, Port Hercule turns into an entertainment venue in preparation for the End of year festivities. Every year, the town hall produces features around imaginative themes such as "2000-2001 Monaco Lights", "Monaco Nativity" to celebrate the last days of the year. For guaranteed enjoyment an ice skating rink appears opposite the sea in place of the Rainier III swimming pool.

The town boasts a multitude of Christmas decorations and giant Christmas trees, including a fully decorated Place du Casino and Christmas lights as far as the eye can see. Later, to welcome in the New Year, many establishments in the Principality organise special evenings for New Year's Eve.

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The Feast of Sainte-Dévote, Patron Saint of the Principality, is celebrated on 27 January. According to the tradition, a small boat is set alight on the harbour, in front of the "Vallon des Gaumattes", in the presence of the ruling family. This very symbolic celebration is explained by the story of Sainte Dévote who was most certainly born in Corsica, in the year 283 A.D. She was hounded and tortured because of her Christian faith. When her wounded body was being burnt at the stake, confessors of the faith snatched it away and escaped by boat with the intention of going to Africa. Unfortunately, the winds were not favourable and the sailors fell asleep. A dream instructed them to continue their journey and follow a dove. They finally arrived near Monachon, in a small valley known as the Vallon Gannates (Vallon des Gaumattes) where the body of the martyr was laid to rest. Subsequently, a few miracles occurred, people spread the news and Dévote became the Patron Saint of Monaco.

Endorsed throughout Europe for new images, animations and special effects technologies, Imagin@ is a fantastic opportunity for world-wide digital image professionals to meet and exchange ideas. Producers, creators, tutors, suppliers and agents look forward to this not-to-be-missed event which gives a glimpse into tomorrow's world.
Website : www.imagina.mc

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Throughout the year, the Ballet Company, the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Monte Carlo Opera and the Princess Grace Theatre present original and high quality performances.

Time to dance

From the Russian Ballet of Diaghilev to today's company directed by Jean-Christophe Maillot, the Ballets de Monte Carlo have gone through a century of dance history with passion. Artistic director and choreographer, Jean-Christophe Maillot has led the Ballet Company towards contemporary creations including his own and also works by internationally acclaimed choreographers regularly invited to Monaco.

www.balletsdemontecarlo.mc

Orchestra stalls

Conducted by Marek Janowski, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra is now over 100 musicians strong. With an extremely varied programme, including Lunchtime Concerts, Symphony Sundays and Summer Concerts at the Palace, the orchestra offers music lovers a wide range of performances!
The Monte Carlo Opera offers virtuoso operatic art; with exceptional productions like Nabucco by Verdi performed in the Principality for the first time in 2002 with a choir of 120 singers, 60 extras, a large number of dancers, and 300 costumes; with baroque operas entirely re-arranged and light operas, the Monte Carlo Opera continuously renews its genre.

www.opera.mc

Raising the curtain

The Princess Grace Theatre celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2001. From comedy to jazz, classic plays to puppet shows, large productions to one-man shows, French to English, Italian to German, the Princess Grace Theatre, driven by the spirit of its creator HSH. Princess Grace boasts an eclectic programme.

www.tpgmonaco.com

Grimaldi Forum, ship of culture

Within the Grimaldi Forum, the latest addition to conference venues in Monaco, culture has found one of its most beautiful structures. Regular productions include ballet and opera performances and concerts, together with numerous exhibitions held indoors or outdoors. From the Air-Air 2001 exhibition, to the look back at Cesar, from the presentation of exceptional Chinese archaeological pieces dating back over 2,000 years, to the Circus Days exhibition, the Grimaldi Forum is a permanent gallery.

www.grimaldiforum.com

Many art galleries

All year round, there are frequent exhibitions, at the Salle du Quai Antoine Ier with a retrospective of the works by Gilles Aillaud or an exclusive exhibition of paintings by Marc Chagall, on show for the first time. Through all seasons, La Maison de l'Amérique Latine and the Marlborough Gallery also regularly host the works of various artists.

Along the Quai des Artistes, several workshops belonging to famous artists such as Sosno, Folon, de Sigaldi, sometimes open their doors and unveil some of their magic.

Only one Principality promotes culture and art in such an active fashion: the Principality of Monaco !

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