American Center for Art and Culture

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American Center for Art and Culture
Avenue de New York Paris - Entree de l'American Center for Art and Culture 1.jpg
Paris department land cover location map.svg
Reddot.svg
Location in Paris
Former name
Mona Bismarck American Center
Established1986
Dissolved12 December 2022 (2022-12-12)
Location34 Avenue de New York
75116 Paris, France
Coordinates 48°51′47″N2°17′41″E / 48.863107°N 2.294819°E / 48.863107; 2.294819
PresidentKaren Altuzarra (U.S.)
Anne-Hélène Monsellato (France)
Public transit access Iéna Metro-M.svg Paris metro line 9 symbol.svg
Alma-Marceau Metro-M.svg Paris metro line 9 symbol.svg
Website americancenterparis.org

The American Center for Art and Culture, formerly known as the Mona Bismarck American Center, was a cultural institution in Paris, France, that was active from 1986 to 2022. It was dedicated to the presentation of American creation and culture. [1]

Contents

The center was launched in 2011, based on the legacy of the Mona Bismarck Foundation, which was established in 1986 following the death of its founder and sole benefactor, Countess Mona von Bismarck. She was an American philanthropist who donated her Parisian townhouse and the majority of her estate to found the Mona Bismarck Foundation, as "her desire was to establish a Cultural Centre in Paris to enhance the cause of American/French friendship upon her death". [2]

On 4 July 2019, the Mona Bismarck American Center became the American Center for Art and Culture. [3] On 12 December 2022, it was announced that the center was selling the property, with proceeds going to the American Library in Paris. [1]

History

The Center

Located near the Seine, across from the Eiffel Tower, the hôtel particulier (French for 'townhouse') at 34 Avenue de New York was built at the end of the 19th century. The building was featured in a 1928 issue of Vogue. [4] It was reconfigured for Mona Bismarck during the late 1950s by French interior decorator Stéphane Boudin.

Programming

Exhibitions

One exhibition of American art was presented each year, in partnership with international institutions. Exhibitions focused on a single artist or theme and represented a range of artistic styles and movements.

Notable exhibitions

Exhibition samples

Public programs

The American Center for Art and Culture invited the public to discover American culture through a program of concerts, performances and discussions Archived 2021-05-09 at the Wayback Machine . The center was also often rented out for private events at night.

Education

The program Look & Learn aimed to broaden French students' appreciation of American culture and art while creating a friendly environment where students could feel comfortable expressing themselves in English.

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 "The American Center for Art & Culture" (PDF) (Press release). The American Center for Art and Culture. Heymann Associés. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  2. Rajakaruna, C. "Mona Bismarck Foundation: Its Background Information and the Role It Plays in the American Community Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine ." United States Embassy France. Retrieved 24 Apr. 2013.
  3. "Independence Day: les 5 sorties à Paris".
  4. "MONA VON BISMARCK." Voguepedia. Vogue, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. <http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Mona_von_Bismarck Archived 2013-05-31 at the Wayback Machine >.

Further reading