Montblanc Honors Maria Arena Bell with the 25th Annual Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award

Maison Celebrated Bell's Philanthropy and Patronage at Los Angeles Event

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Jun 07, 2016, 03:15 ET

LOS ANGELES, June 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Montblanc celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award last night at the legendary Sunset Boulevard Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles with an intimate cocktail reception attended by Actress Ashley Greene, Actress Bryce Dallas Howard, Photographer Caroline "Chuck" Grant, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Eli Broad, Actress/Producer Gisella Marengo, Robert "Bobby" Kennedy III, Artist Jonas Wood, Artist Thomas Houseago, Art Dealers Jackie & Irving Blum and more. The visionary award, which recognizes modern-day patrons for their work and contributions to the arts and culture, was presented to American novelist, television and freelance writer, and philanthropist Maria Arena Bell for her efforts that make the arts accessible to broader audiences. Director and Chief Curator at Large of MoMA PS1, Klaus Biesenbach, was joined by newly appointed Co-Chairmen of the Montblanc Cultural Foundation Till Fellrath and Sam Bardaouil to present the honoree with a Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim limited edition fountain pen encased in a trophy, along with 15,000 euros to benefit the arts at MoMa PS1.

Co-Chairman Sam Bardaouil, Actress Ashley Greene, Winner Maria Arena Bell, actress Bryce Dallas Howard, Co-Chairman Till Fellrath

The Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award is hosted in 16 different countries around the world. American honouree Maria Arena Bell was selected by an international jury of 44 celebrated arts influencers that were brought together by the Montblanc Cultural Foundation. The notable board of jurors evaluate each winner based on their history of personal commitment and contributions to the arts. This year's jury included contemporary artist Dustin Yellin, Spanish Academy Goya award winning actress Macarena Gómez, Columbian film director Simón Brand, world renowned composer Chiu Tsang Hei, Latin American photographer Flor Garduño and more.

As the former long-term chair and later president of Los Angeles' PS Arts, Bell has lead the charge to raise funds to provide arts education to over 25,000 low income Los Angeles public elementary school children. Bell chaired The National Arts Awards for Americans For The Arts (a nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington DC) for over a decade and served as its Vice Chair lobbying on Capitol Hill for increased funding for the NEA and art in schools. She created American's for the Arts' Bell Family Foundation Young Artist award, which has been given to artists such as actress Dakota Fanning, dancer David Hallberg and musician Josh Groban. Bell also served as the co-chair from 2009-14 at The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MOCA). During her tenure, she co-chaired the search for two directors and co-chaired the successful campaign to raise the Museum's endowment to over $100 million. In addition, Bell created five remarkable artist galas with artists such as Marina Abramovic, Francesco Vezzolli and Doug Aitken. In the fall of 2012 Bell was nominated by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and was subsequently sworn in on December 11, 2012 as Commissioner to the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Committee.

Every year since 1992, the prestigious Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award has recognized the outstanding achievements and important contributions of modern day patrons, reinforcing today's importance of patronage in making arts and culture accessible to broader audiences. Since the award's inception, over 4 million euros have been awarded to 230 projects across the world as a result of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award. Bell joins a prestigious list of past honourees, including Yoko Ono, Quincy Jones, Craig Robbins, HRH Charles Prince of Wales, Jane Rosenthal, Peter M. Brant and Queen Sofia of Spain.

About Montblanc

Guided by the pioneering spirit since 1906, Montblanc revolutionized the culture of writing with breakthrough innovations. Today, the Maison continues to push boundaries and evolve the expression of fine craftsmanship across each of its product categories: the pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, timepieces, leather goods, accessories, fragrances and eyewear. With every innovation, Montblanc offers new functionalities and groundbreaking designs imbued with the Maison's heritage of sophistication and crafted to the highest standards through the skills of its artisans in each of its manufactures. Reflecting its ongoing mission with fine lifetime companions born from the most pioneering ideas, the iconic Montblanc Emblem has become the ultimate seal of performance, innovation, quality and expression of style. With its origins deeply rooted in the culture of handwriting, Montblanc has set an international standard of cultural commitment, with the creation of wide-ranging initiatives to promote arts and culture in many forms, while paying tribute to the modern day patrons who support the advancement of the arts.

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