Haute Event: Montblanc de la Culture Awards

Last night on December 1^st, the Art Basel celebrations continued on with the 2011 Montblanc honored Craig Robins, longtime supporter of art, design and culture, in the 20^th anniversary year of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Awards. The always dapper Pharrell Williams presented the award at a gala event in the Miami Design District during Miami Beach’s celebrated Art Basel show in the company of numerous design and fashion stars. There was also a performance by French top band Yelle and a live art piece created by Jona Cerwinskie.

Guests at the gala included: Craig Robins, CEO of Dacra and co-founder of Design Miami; Design, music and fashion stars including Chris Bosh, Eva Green, David Adjaye, Zaha Hadid, Dan Carten and Dean Carten, DJ Paul Sevigny and more.

Robins joined a prestigious list of award winners from the 12 participating countries in this anniversary year including: Yoko Ono (Japan), His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales (United Kingdom), Her Majesty Queen Sofia (Spain), Liao Chang Yong (China), Yoyo Maeght (France), Harald Falckenberg (Germany), Chung King Fai (Hong Kong), Andree Ruth Shammah (Italy), Young Dal Yoon (Korea), Aurelio Lopez Rocha (Mexico), and Valery Gergiev (Russia).

Robins was chosen by an international jury in honor and recognition of his role support of art, architecture, design and culture in civic, institutional, educational and commercial contexts, as well as his leadership in the redevelopment and revitalization of South Beach, the Miami Design District and other projects instrumental in improving the lives of the city’s residents. A native of Miami Beach, Robins has been at the forefront of city’s cultural and architectural resurgence for more than 25 years.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, which has celebrated the work of outstanding private patrons of the arts throughout the world each year since 1992.