What is the Fonds Baudelaire  ?

 

It’s in May 2018, that the Fonds Baudelaire started in Grasse, in order to rehabilitate, promote and publicize this heritage, through events. Here is in a few words, the Fonds Baudelaire’s mission. The endowment fun dis, certainly, a human adventure with Christine Monpoix, Eric Montvoisin, Jean-Denis Oreel and Jonathan Turrilo. This is why Jonathan Turillo took some time, to reveal to me the mysteries and whay is all behind the scene.

 

As Grassois by adoption, Jonathan Turillo came to Grasse, at the age of six. Today, he practises as a lawer, but he keeps in his memory odours of flavours of strawberries and onion, which hovered onto the courtyard of the Lycée Admiral  of Grasse ! In fact, it was the period when the perfume factories were located in the old town. As a regular customer to Terre d’Hermes, his perfume, the work of art of the famous grassois, Jean-Claude Elena, he has discovered the world of perfume by taking part to the jury of the Prix du Jeune Parfumeur. But, Jonathan admits that besides the team of the Fonds Baudelaire, the festival could not be carried out, without the precious help of Véronique Wittling(Argeville), Fabrice Pellegrin (perfumer at Firmenich) and Sandrine Pellegrin, Jean-François Laporte and Stéphanie Bidault (Le Cerisier Blanc) all members of the steering committee.

 

How the Fonds Baudelaire started ?

 

It all began, two years ago, during a lunch with Christine Monpoix, communication and relation press manager of the town of Grasse. As we are lovers of the town of Grasse, we all wanted to do something. For my part, I wished  to go on as a citizen, work and put forward the Grasse heritage. More, as  previous Deputy Assitant of the Cultural Affairs of Grasse and President of the Bar of Grasse, I was able to raise private funds.

 

 

On the other hand, it was dear to Christine’s heart to reveal all the treasures of the town, with a living performing act (President ot the Didascalies of Grasse). Today, we are supported by Eric Monvoisin (Director of the 100°company Theater in Grasse) and Jean-Denis Ozeel, a childhood friend.

 

What is the mission of the Fonds Baudelaire started ?

 

We have two objectives : on one hand,to rehabilitate and value designated buildings, in collaboration with the town, thanks to private funds. Therefore, to organize cultural events, around themes linked the history and the industry of perfume. However, beyond this mission set by the Beaudelaire fund, there is also communication work. In fact, we want that each Grassoismakes the history of Grasse his own, and participate.

 

Why this name Fonds Baudelaire ?

 

It was Christine Monpoixand Eric Montvoisin idea. Everybody knows  about Baudelaire’s  devotion to perfume. As a matter of fact, the perfume has a special place in his work, Les Fleurs du Mal. I appreciate, personally his poem »Les bijoux », published in 1857, part of Les Flzurs du Mal. I am fond of Baudelaire, for his irrevent and iconolastic side. Any way, Les Fleurs du Mal are one of my bedside books !

 

 

 

 

Furthermore, the logo represents the Porte Neuve. An historical  entrance of the town, a symbol of the opening onto the world and welcome into the heart of Grasse.Then, the coat of arms « Grasse-Arts-Heritage »  is a reminder of the fundamentals of the Baudelaire Fund,

By means of the mix of the art with a reference to the material and human heritage. Finally, the colours of the logo are the ones of the town of Grasse.

 

The Hugues Ainé front facade is the first project done by the Fonds Baudelaire. Why this choice ?

 

The first project consisted into the renovation of the 1885 facade, of the legendary Hughes Ainé perfumery, on the Mirabeau street. It’s the Robertet-Charabot company which subsidized the entire work. More, this old factory is located  near the old Grasse, and figures out among  one of the jewels of the Grassois heritage. Therefore, the remarkable facade of the old Hugues Ainé factory (established in 1885 ) deserved to be enhanced. Ultimately, the Mirabeau street was repaved, at the same time.

 

 

 

The Fonds Baudelaire organizes two event : The exhibition “Le parfum dans tous les sens” from the Fragrance Fondation and the first festival Grasse au Pays des Merveilles

 

To this effect, we have been approached  by the Fragance Foundation to acquire the exhibition of « Le parfum dans tous les sens » that was shown in 1995, in the Palais Royal gardens. This exhibition lay out of 50 photographs around the perfume ( the art of making perfume, the perfumer’s kit, inspiration and formulation, desire of exceptions) will be on stage on the Avenue Thiers, in Grasse.

 

 

Then, the Festival « Grasse au Pays de Merveilles » will take place during ten days, from July 19th 2019. The entire program is conducted by Christine Monpoix and Eric Monvoisin. As for them, it is most impotant to open this heritage to the natives of Grasse. Therefore, the key moments wil be the exhibition of the Fragrance Fundation ; the Price of the Young perfumer, under the leadership of Fabrice Pellegrin and Veronique Wittling, as well as music on the streets.  In order to know more about the program of the festival, click herewith.

Partenaires de l’événement: Symrise, Firmenich, Argeville, L’Oréal Luxe, Fleurs d’Exception, Fragrance Foundation, Fonds Baudelaire, Ville de Grasse, 06 Département Alpes-Maritime