WORLD MONUMENTS FUND CELEBRATED 34TH ANNUAL HADRIAN GALA

The evening honored Maryvonne Pinault, The Krehbiel Family, and Tata Sons, and raised a record $1.8 million to safeguard monuments around the world

Last night, on Wednesday, October 25, World Monuments Fund (WMF) – the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places – hosted its 34th annual Hadrian Gala at the iconic Rainbow Room in New York City. The evening honored Maryvonne Pinault for her family's efforts to restore French monuments including Chancellerie d'Orléans and the Saint Sulpice; The Krehbiel Family for their dedication to the meticulous restoration of Ballyfin Demesne in Ireland; and Tata Sons for its generous support of cultural heritage projects in India. Since 1965, WMF has raised $300 million to support more than 700 diverse cultural heritage sites across 112 countries. The Hadrian Gala is WMF’s annual benefit to support these efforts, with this year’s event raising a record $1.8 million.

Notable Guests Included: Salma Hayek Pinault (Actress and Producer), Anna Wintour (Vogue), Christian Louboutin (Designer), Amy Astley (Architectural Digest), Derek Blasberg (Writer), Suzanne Deal Booth (Philanthropist), Vittorio Calabrese (Magazzino), Vira Capeci (Balenciaga), Laurent Claquin (Kering), Madison Cox (Garden Designer), Brant Cryder (Saint Laurent), Nathalie de Gunzburg (Collector), Lauren Santo Domingo (Moda Operandi), H.E. Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa (Politician), Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel Jr (Philanthropists), Peter Marino (Architect), Annabelle Selldorf (Architect), Susan and François de Menil (Collectors), Hélène Marie and Jake Shafran (Philanthropists), Pritika Swarup (Model), Federico Turconi (Gucci), and Kulapat Yantrasast (Architect).

To kick off the night, President and CEO of WMF Bénédicte de Montlaur stated: “We rally people around beauty and great cultural achievements. We celebrate and preserve local identities, we build connections between peoples, we encourage mutual respect for what makes each of us and each culture unique”... “I am happy to say that as we sit here tonight, WMF has never been stronger. We are continuing to grow both in size and scope, and that’s necessary because the needs are immense. We receive requests every single day from people around the world who don’t want to see their history––our common history––disappear.”

Maryvonne Pinault, who was selected for the award in honor of her tireless work advocating for French heritage in all its forms, commented, “Thanks to the expertise and generosity of its members, World Monuments Fund brings back to life the extraordinary abundance of ideas, creativity, and invention that have marked our history and formed the world’s heritage. In doing so, this magnificent institution pays a beautiful tribute to the history of humanity.”A Board Member of WMF France, she played a key role in the organization’s restoration of the Chancellerie d’Orléans and the recent relaunch of WMF's French affiliate. Ms. Pinault is a major supporter of many cultural organizations in France, including the Musée du Louvre, the Château de Versailles, and the Association des Amateurs de Jardins. She and her family are currently supporting the restoration of the Saint Sulpice Church, a former WMF project, and were leaders in the effort to support the reconstruction of multiple churches including Saint Michel de Brasparts chapel in Brittany, France, and Notre-Dame in the wake of the devastating fire in 2019, which led to the site’s selection for the 2020 World Monuments Watch.

Jay Krehbiel and Liam Krehbiel accepted the Hadrian Award on behalf of their late father, Frederick Krehbiel, for his lifetime of work in the service of preserving Irish architecture. Perhaps his greatest contribution in this regard is the meticulous restoration of Ballyfin Demesne, a nineteenth-century neoclassical manor that now operates as a luxury hotel. Commented Jay Krehbiel, “He took great joy in the fact that Liam and I took interest in his interests. I know that he would be thrilled that we’ve taken on the management of Ballyfin with some gusto.” The late Mr. Frederick Krehbiel served on the boards of a number of leading Irish cultural institutions, including the National Gallery of Ireland and the Trinity Foundation.

Tata Sons received the Hadrian Award for the organization’s support of heritage projects across India. For over one hundred years, the Tata Family have been involved in preserving and disseminating India's material culture, from excavations at the ancient capital of Pataliputra to the restoration of Emperor Humayun's tomb in Delhi. Most recently, Tata Consultancy Services has provided leadership support for WMF’s historic water systems of India project, which seeks to restore and rehabilitate traditional water infrastructure to build drought resilience as climate change stresses the region’s water security. The Award was accepted by Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of the Board of Tata Sons. Chandrasekaran remarked, “There are so many opportunities to make an impact if you do this right. We’ve made a beginning in some of these areas, but our ambition is to do this at scale, so that we are able to address these needs and make an impact.”

The 2023 Hadrian Gala is made possible by the generosity of Kering, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), and Tata Sons. Additional support provided by Christie's.

About the Hadrian Gala:
Each year, World Monuments Fund’s Hadrian Gala honors champions of conservation for their passionate commitment and extraordinary contributions to preserving and protecting the world’s shared cultural heritage. Since 1988, World Monuments Fund has presented the Hadrian Award to recognize leadership that advances the understanding, appreciation, and preservation of the world’s art and architecture.

Previous Hadrian Award honorees include: Elizabeth Alexander, Suzanne Deal Booth, and Christian Louboutin (2022); Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, and HRH Princess Dana Firas (2019); Prince Amyn Aga Khan, of the Aga Khan Development Network, and Dr. Eusebio Leal Spengler (2018); Deborah Lehr (2017); the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) (2016); Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain (2015); Mica Ertegün (2014); Roberto Hernández Ramírez (2013); Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express (2012); Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder (2011); Ratan Tata and the Tata Family (2010); David Rockefeller Jr. (2009); Houghton, Doreen and Graeme Freeman (2008); Rahmi Koç and the Koç Family (2007); His Highness The Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur (2006); The Right Honourable John Julius, The Viscount Norwich (2005); Carlos Slim Helú (2004); Eugene V. Thaw (2003); Hélène and Michel David-Weill (2002); The Honorable James D. Wolfensohn (2001); Harvey Golub (2000); Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover K.G., Hon. Simon Sainsbury, and Sir Timothy Sainsbury (1999); Richard Hampton Jenrette (1998); Phyllis Lambert (1997); His Highness The Aga Khan (1996); Lord Rothschild (1995); David Rockefeller, Sr. (1994); Dominique de Ménil (1993); Marella and Giovanni Agnelli (1992); Mrs. Vincent Astor (1991); His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (1990); Paul Mellon (1989); and Carlo De Benedetti (1988).

About World Monuments Fund:
World Monuments Fund is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places to enrich lives and build mutual understanding. For more than 55 years, working at more than 700 sites in 112 countries, its highly skilled experts have applied proven and effective techniques to the preservation of important architectural and cultural heritage sites around the globe. Through the World Monuments Watch—a biennial, nomination-based program—WMF uses cultural heritage conservation to empower communities and improve human well-being. In partnership with local communities, funders, and governments, WMF seeks to inspire an enduring commitment to stewardship for future generations. Headquartered in New York City, the organization has offices and affiliates worldwide.

Visit www.wmf.org for more information, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact:
Judith Walker, jwalker@wmf.org
Evan Lenox, evan@culturalcounsel.com