Au Courant —Spring 2018
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AU COURANT —Spring 2018 Special Edition Château de Carneville Grants & Preservation Trends 2018 Grants | Young Owners Rise to the Challenge | Dîner des Mécènes Stéphane Bern & Jean d’Haussonville | French Literary Award | Education —Message from the Chairman Vive l’amitié franco-américaine ! I was thrilled to be at the Welcome Ceremony for President Thanks to Yann Coantalem, Board Member of French Heritage Emmanuel Macron of France on the White House South Lawn on Society, who submitted my name to the French Embassy for atten- April 24th, 2018. It is not every day that one gets an invitation to the dance at this welcome to President Macron, I was honored to attend White House! This was the first official state visit of a foreign dig- this impressive ceremony as your Chairman of French Heritage nitary to the White House in President Donald Trump’s presidency. Society. It was full of pomp and circumstance and the inspiring music No matter what each nation’s political agenda is, this warm welcome of our military bands. Yann and I stood on the side of the lawn with was an admirable display of Franco-American friendship. I was proud the French Embassy attendees. I was so happy to have been adopted to be there holding miniature flags of each country as proof of our by France for this special day. Vive l’amitié Franco-Américaine! countries’ mutual affection. From the time of the American Revolution to the Battle of Normandy, France and America have been allies. French Heritage Society cel- ebrates this friendship. FHS not only restores bricks and stones in both France and throughout the USA in French inspired buildings, but we equally support student exchange between our two countries. Elizabeth Stribling, Chairman Friendships are forged through both restoration projects and summer French Heritage Society internships. These meaningful, and in some instances transforma- tive, foreign exchange contacts are just as important to us as beauti- ful restored walls or gardens. At French Heritage Society, we try to forge a better understanding of our respective cultures. —1 James Brooks Jr., Elizabeth Stribling, Yann Coatanlem (back row) at The White House —Message from the President For the veteran of saving the cultural heritage that I am, how much the sixties and the beginning of the seventies, when high quality Old Stones and Young Ideas this world has changed in half a century! historical heritage was sacrificed in the name of modernity and also to make easy money. In May ‘68, my baby-boomer generation spoke extravagantly with iconoclastic slogans that sometimes had the edge of genius. Among 50 years later, how all that has changed for the better. Stéphane the pearls of the time: “run comrade the Old World is behind you.” Bern, journalist and popular and iconoclastic columnist, within a Everyone could interpret the slogans in their own way, the general two-month span appeared on the covers of both the weekly maga- theme was to kill the ancient world to release energy, and “enjoy zines Le Point and then Paris-Match, with the same theme “I, like a without limits” ... modern-day Zorro” will save the heritage of France ! So, yes, really the world of heritage was truly the old world, to be Admittedly, he is allowed this immodesty because he has the ear of discarded ... Old stones and old people who occupied them, every- the Prince of the Elysée, Emmanuel Macron, who gave him the task thing smelled of mothballs and it was time to get rid of them, or at of bringing about this noble goal. By the way, the French President, least of get away from them ... just as iconoclastic, is certainly the first President of the French Republic to openly display, since his inauguration in May 2017 in This yearning for freedom was so universal that even Georges front of the Louvre, a Mecca of French Heritage under royalty as Pompidou, the Prime Minister on the other side of the barricades, a well as under the Republic, his attachment to the heritage of France “normalien” steeped in ancient culture, ostensibly turned his back and his commitment to defend it, as well as the whole European her- on the “France of yesteryear”, that of cheeses and wines, perfumes itage as a shared culture and history. He therefore made Stéphane and terroirs, to embrace modernity without nuance in all its aspects. Bern his “missi dominici” to save the Heritage of France. On both sides of the barricades, everyone lived in an illusion, and All this is not just a “gesture” by exceptional figures. This is the tide found common ground in the end in the rejection of the past. turning. This is what the veteran that I am has noted with relish. 50 years later we have turned away from the atmosphere of “old 50 years later how the world in general, and the world of heritage stones, old people” to enter that of “old stones-new ideas, and gen- in particular, have changed! The sweeping aside did take place, the eral solidarity.” old-timers (we post-war baby boomers) have grown old physically, but intellectually and morally we have metamorphosed, we have rec- For lovers of old stones, especially my generation, it is Christmas onciled ourselves with the past because we have rediscovered it with every day .... Because every day a new idea surfaces and the cre- new eyes, freed from the codes of the past. And now we pass it on ativity dreamed of in our youth seems to be multiplying today. to the world of thirty-somethings, very different from us because of Everywhere today young people in their thirties, at ease on the web the technological innovations they use for a “new deal” for heritage. like an old squire who knows all the nooks and crannies of his old stones, invent new concepts to create enthusiasm and solidarity Let’s measure the “gust of youthfulness” experienced in the world of to save and give new life to these old stones. “I love my heritage”, cultural heritage. When Eric Mansion-Rigau, renowned scholar and “Adopt a château”, “Patrivia” and “Dartagnans” are innovative heritage specialist, released his book The Life of Châteaux, Development initiatives that create new avenues, generating income to restore and and Uses of Private Châteaux in Contemporary France: Adaptation and support heritage in “the spirit of the times,” while giving a refreshing Conversion Strategies, (1999) he described a world of the old, in stones boost to these old monuments, referring to today’s revered values, and in arteries, nostalgic for a bygone era, reluctant to enter a new new mantras of “living together”, sharing but also associated with The 13th-century Château de La Mothe-Chadeniers, purchased for 500,000 euros by 6,500 internet users. It took just 80 days to raise the needed funds with this innovative campaign to save heritage in peril. world, a world of openness and sharing in which they had already financial viability ... been invited, as of 1924, by the founder of La Demeure Historique, Joachim Carvallo. The new generation of “owners / entrepreneurs” approach the issue of heritage with a new spirit and tools that their predecessors did not Yes, we, the young people of the sixties, turned our backs on this old benefit from. Finally, after the decadence, the rebirth? world, very old-fashioned in our eyes, with its circles and old-fash- ioned clubs, its dusty châteaux, its old stones that no longer made us dream, as they were engulfed in a world of conventions and con- straints that saturated us. Even the Pompidou generation, with their degrees from Normale Sup and / or ENA, was working to torpedo these old stones in the name of modernity, profitable business, in the spirit of the so-called Denis de Kergorlay “Gaullism real estate,” that destroyed so much in so little time. It was, to give them the benefit of extenuating circumstances, a gen- eral movement in Europe and in the world: never was so much de- stroyed in Europe, in peacetime, then in these years at the end of Translated from French by Karen Archer —2 —3 —Table of Contents LA BOUTIQUE ARLAUX Champagne time in Paris 01 Message from the Chairman 02 Message from the President 05 Table of Contents Events 06 Dîner des Mécènes 08 Dîner des Mécènes - The Ritz 09 Dîner des Mécènes - Charitybuzz 10 Stéphane Bern 12 Jean d’Haussonville Preservation Trends 14 Passing the Torch—A New Generation of Châteaux Owners Grants 18 2018 Grants in France 23 2018 Grants in the U.S. Education 24 Student Program 26 Literary Award Cultural Trips 30 Trip to Bordeaux 31 Trip to Savannah & Beaufort Past National & Chapter Events 32 Past National Events 34 Past Young Friends Circle Events 37 Past Chapter Events The maison Arlaux, famous for its elegant champagnes, has just opened its new boutique in the heart of Paris, an enticing place to indulge in the French life style. 44 Salon du Patrimoine / Corporate Patrons Located at 350 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 1er, near the Place Vendôme, the Arlaux boutique offers delicious gourmet food, chocolates, biscuits, elegant champagne glasses, tableware and, of course, the Arlaux Champagnes. Upon reservation, the shop turns into a tasting workshop for groups of 5-10 people. Discover the history of Champagne, wine making and the art of tasting with three different cuvées from the Arlaux winery. FHS Members and Au Courant readers can purchase the curée spéciale “Dîner des Mécènes” champagne served at the Ritz Paris for the dinner on May 28, 2018. With the first purchase, you will receive as a gift the limited edition French Heritage Society champagne stopper.