2024 OLYMP’ARTS Annual Awards Ceremony Grandly Shines in Paris

The Gustave Eiffel Lounge, Paris, France – 2024 OLYMP’ARTS Annual Awards Ceremony

The 2024 OLYMP’ARTS Annual Awards Ceremony, held at the iconic Gustave Eiffel Lounge on the Eiffel Tower, brought together a constellation of global artists, cultural leaders, and innovators. Centered on the theme “Beauty Will Save the World,” the event celebrated art’s transformative power to bridge divides and inspire collective progress. This grand global celebration illuminates the timeless and captivating allure of art and culture.

"Beauty Will Save the World" - the core philosophy of this grand event. The World Olymp’Arts Council (WOAC) emphasized art’s universal power to break down cultural and linguistic barriers, fostering collaboration and unity among people from all walks of life. Art, described as the most resonant form of human expression, was celebrated as a catalyst for global cooperation and social transformation.

Art as a universal language fosters deeper cooperation and integration among nations, reaching new heights.

The ceremony featured speeches by distinguished guests, including: Marc Verrière, WOAC Founding President; Rachel Qin, WOAC Executive President; Alexandre El Ghoul, French Minister for Disabilities; Mathilda May, French actress and OLYMP’ARTS Support Artist; Stéphane Freiss, French actor and OLYMP’ARTS Support Artist; Anja Linder, renowned French harpist and disability advocate; Prince Charles-Joseph de Ligne and Princess Ran Lee of Belgium; Wang Ying, Deputy Representative of China to UNESCO; Zheng Dengqiao, Director of Yuyao Boyan Art Museum

In the opening remarks, Marc Verrière highlighted art’s mission to dismantle cultural divides and promote global understanding. “Art is not merely a tool for pursuing beauty—it is a bridge for international cooperation, transcending language, culture, and geography to foster peace,” he stated.

WOAC Founding President Marc Verrière delivers his keynote speech

Tsalachouris Filippos, Director of the Athens Conservatorie, drew parallels between art and the Olympic spirit, emphasizing creativity as a driving force for human advancement. He shared his journey as a musician, underscoring how art inspires hope and unity.

Athens Conservatorie Director Tsalachouris Filippos addresses the audience

Derek Brown, acclaimed American director, praised the WOAC’s support for independent filmmakers and showcased a short film exploring how artists express societal and spiritual reflections across cultures.

American director Derek Brown speaks at the ceremony

Rachel Qin, WOAC Executive President, emphasized the profound significance of "creativity" and "goodwill" in art. She also announced plans to expand global art initiatives, particularly in underserved regions, to nurture creativity and empower communities.

WOAC Executive President Rachel Qin outlines future projects

The ceremony recognized four luminaries with the OLYMP’ARTS Honorary Trophy for their outstanding contributions. This recognition celebrates their remarkable achievements in their respective fields and encourages them to continue contributing to global artistic and cultural exchange.

The “OLYMP’ARTS Honorary Trophy” was awarded to honor their exceptional contributions to the field of art and cultural exchange. The four recipients were renowned French harpist Anja Linder, Belgian artist Julien Deboubert, President of the China Society Art Association Qiu Xinjian, and Swiss emerging pianist Melodie Zhao.

Anja Linder receives the OLYMP’ARTS Honorary Trophy

Belgian artist Julien Deboubert receives the OLYMP’ARTS Honorary Trophy

President of the China Society Art Association Qiu Xinjian receives the OLYMP’ARTS Honorary Trophy

Swiss emerging pianist Melodie Zhao receives the OLYMP’ARTS Honorary Trophy

During the Awards Ceremony, the World Olymp’Arts Council highly recognized Anja Linder, not only as an outstanding artist with a disability but also as a symbol of WOAC’s deep commitment to supporting and empowering artists with disabilities. WOAC firmly believes that the power of art is universal - anyone can achieve self-expression and spiritual elevation through art. Anja Linder's work is a true reflection of this philosophy. Anja Linder’s presence symbolized IOAC’s commitment to inclusivity. “Art transcends all barriers—it is a universal language of the soul,” she remarked during her acceptance speech.

French renowned harpist Anja Linder

Anja Linder expressed that, as an artist, it is both her responsibility and honor to convey love and peace through music. She believes that the power of art transcends time and space - no matter where one is, art has the ability to evoke the deepest emotions and resonate with people on a profound level.

Looking ahead to 2025, the WOAC unveiled major partnerships for 2025, including collaborations with: Nanjing University of Science and Technology; World Digital Art Fair (Shanghai); Global Chinese-Poker Art Association; Industrial Culture Development Center of MIIT; CCPIT Commercial Sub-Committee. To note that, 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the OLYMP’ARTS Charter, with a series of celebratory events to be held at UNESCO.

In addition, the World Olymp’Arts Council launched the China Design Award, aimed at encouraging and discovering more young designers, while promoting Chinese art and design on the international stage. In 2023, the final evaluation of the OLYMP’ARTS China Design Award was successfully completed, with 12 artworks receiving gold awards and being showcased on-site. The successful execution of this award was strongly supported by the Beijing International Design Week and the Weiqiao National Science and Technology Joint Laboratory Industrial Design Center. It not only strengthened the exchange and cooperation between Chinese and foreign designers but also provided a more influential platform for Chinese design to reach the international stage, fostering design innovation and industry development.

Weiqiao National Science and Technology Industrial Design Center representative Wang Yan presents award-winning designs

Interactive Design: The Wonders of Luo | Winner: Wang Zhi’ou

Environmental Design: Rain & Shine Tea Lounge | Winner: Ma Yao

Interactive Design: Udo | Winner: Qian Fengying

During the recognition ceremony, WOAC also presented the "Innovative Artist Certificate" and the "Excellenct Benevolence Award" to two distinguished individuals: Zheng Dengqiao, Director of the Yuyao Bohan Art Museum, and Zhou Lingfei, President of the Lu Xun Cultural Foundation. These awards were given in recognition of their outstanding contributions to art innovation and social philanthropy.

Zheng Dengqiao, Director of Yuyao Bohan Art Museum - Innovative Artist Certificate

Zhou Lingfei, President of Lu Xun Cultural Foundation - Excellent Benevolence Award

At the conclusion of the evening, the event was graced by a spectacular musical performance. The OLYMP’ARTS Support Artist, French harpist Anja Linder took the stage. Her harp solo seamlessly blended classical and modern art forms, delivering a poetic and visually captivating musical experience that deeply moved every attendee. Following this, Filippos Tsalachouris, the Director of the Athens Conservatorie, presented a piano solo, showcasing his profound musical expertise and unique interpretation of art. Lastly, the Chinese Phoenix Quintet performed the classic arrangement of "Auld Lang Syne," with its melodious tune bringing the entire grand event to a perfect close.

French harpist Anja Linder performs a harp solo

Director of the Athens Conservatoire Tsalachouris Filippos performs a piano solo

Chinese Phoenix Quintet performes the classic arrangement of "Auld Lang Syne"

As a surprise egg for the guests, the event featured a unique moment. Guests collectively painted 99 stars on a 2.025m x 1.995m canvas, symbolizing unity through art. All guests, including staff, were invited to take a paintbrush and fill in their personal star with their chosen colors. The artwork, preserved by WOAC, was titled Artistellar (“Art Stars”).

The ceremony solidified WOAC’s (World Olymp’Arts Council) position as a global leader in the arts and underscored its distinctive mission to champion cross-cultural dialogue. As a pivotal force in global art and culture, WOAC reaffirmed its indispensable influence through this landmark event. By offering artists worldwide a dynamic platform for collaboration, the celebration showcased art’s unparalleled capacity to transcend borders and catalyze social progress and cultural cohesion. Echoing the guiding principle of WOAC: “The true value of art lies not only in the beauty and depth of creation but in its power to bridge divides across time, space, and culture. Art connects the world—and art will illuminate it.” This unwavering belief in art’s transformative potential - and WOAC’s steadfast dedication to it - fuels the Committee’s relentless pursuit of progress and innovation on the world’s cultural stage.