Today the grand palace hotel on rue de Rivoli launched its 5th annual prize for contemporary art with a press conference in the gilded Salons du Meurice. Luxury Travel Advisor was on site to applaud General Manager Franka Holtmann’s presentation. Ever since Salvador Dali took up residence at Le Meurice, the Parisian hotel has been a patron of the arts. Now Le Meurice is celebrating the fifth year of its non-profit annual competition, which showcases young French artists and propels them onto the international scene. After clinching the 2010/2011 prize, Eric Baudart exhibited his “Atmospheres” project—five different objects submerged in aquariums filled with oil—at FIAC and Art Basel Miami. Then the Museum of Fine Arts Boston acquired one of these aquariums.
The Meurice Prize has an impressive jury, including Henri Loyrette, Director of the Louvre; Marta Gili, Director of the Jeu de Paume; and Jennifer Flay, Director of FIAC (the prestigious contemporary art fair that’s a mecca for serious collectors). Artists involved in all disciplines of the visual and plastic arts can submit an entry form by April 20, 2012 for this year’s competition. The winner is awarded €20,000 euros, and gets the opportunity to exhibit their work at Le Meurice—an event which is heavily promoted by the hotel, and attracts international curators. Since 2008, Le Meurice has purchased a work of art from one of the finalists to add to its collection.