As the evening breeze of the Seine swept over the dome of UNESCO Headquarters, an artistic feast spanning three decades painted a vivid chapter in the night sky of Paris. On July 16th, the "Art Connects the World" gala, hosted by the World Olymp'Arts Council (WOAC), celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Founding Charter which was signed in Paris in 1995. Over 230 distinguished participants from 70 countries and regions, including world-famous artists, young talents and representatives from UNESCO National Commissions attended. H.E. Mr. Yang Xinyu, Permanent Delegate of the People’s Republic of China to UNESCO, and Deputy Permanent Delegate Wang Ying joined other dignitaries in making the occasion. Creativity and passion ignited a new journey for the globalization of art!

Scene of the Founding Charter 30th Anniversary Celebration

Mr. Marc Verriere, Founding President of WOAC, and Ms. Qin Wen, Executive President of WOAC, co-hosted the ceremony and delivered inspiring speeches.

Marc Verriere, Founding President of WOAC

Qin Wen, Executive President of WOAC

In his address, Marc Verriere offered reflections on three decades of of journey since the Founding Charter's establishment in 1995, emphasizing art as "a bridge connecting shared human values." Qin Wen, Executive President, highlighted that amidst growing global division, art should serve as a spiritual bond fostering shared understanding. Other distinguished speakers included former President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former Minister of Culture of Peru Susana Baca, American writer Lang Ong, Australian artist Charles Billich, Ghanaian musician Rocky Dawuni, and Bangladeshi designer Bibi Russell.

Signing Ceremony of the Olymp'Arts Manifesto

In the framework of the celebration, representatives from 70 countries and regions across five continents signed the *Olymp'Arts Manifesto, affirming their commitment to jointly advancing the preparation and hosting of the "2027 Modern Olymp'Arts 2027 Competition." This will be a grand event promoting global artistic diversity and integration, nurturing young talents, merging art with technology, deepening social responsibility, and expanding international exchange and cooperation. The event also featured a special "Global Art Tribute" segment honoring outstanding artists across various fields. During the "Youth Art Philanthropy Initiative Launch," young people from China, France, the USA, and Kenya took the stage to share their stories with art, demonstrating the new generation's passion.

At the event, the "World Low-Altitude Economy and Art Development Committee" was officially inaugurated. Mr. Rocky Shi and Ms. Pansy Ho were appointed as Global President and Honorary President, respectively. The Committee is aimed to fostering cooperation between low-attitude technological innovation and artistic practice-including the use of drone-based performances to strengthen intercultural dialogue ad artistic innovation.

The candidate host cities for the inaugural 2027 Modern Olymp'Arts Competition were announced. Projects including the "WOAC Global Art Foundation" and the "Olymp'Arts Schools Alliance" were launched. Notably, the City of Geneva, Switzerland, has formally expressed its intent to submit a candidature to host the 2031 Modern Olymp'Arts Competition.

As night fell, the celebration entered its key moment, a low-altitude light performance was staged up by a Chinese drone team over the Seine. Thousands of drones flew into the sky and ultimately coalesced into the three-dimensional "OLYMP'ARTS" logo. The bright lights illuminated the night sky while reflecting on the river, creating a magnificent scene. As the audience profoundly experienced the performance, the belief of "Art Connects the World" was etched into everyone’s minds.

Drones forming "OLYMP'ARTS" light up the Paris night sky over the Seine

This event served not only as a retrospective and summary of WOAC's thirty-year mission but also as an expression of hope and a call to action for art's future power. The World Olymp'Arts Council will join hands with creators worldwide to strive for a more beautiful, peaceful, and creative world.