SOHO China - Zhang Xin Wins 2004 Montblanc Arts Patronage Award

Lord Douro, Chairman of the Montblanc Cultural Foundation, the eldest son and heir to the Duke of Wellington, announced on January 7 that Zhang Xin, co-CEO of SOHO China, has been selected by the international jury as the winner of the 2004 Montblanc Arts Patronage Awards for her more than ordinary degree of personal commitment and involvement in arts and cultural development in the society at large. Lord Douro will come to China in May to present the Montblanc Arts Patronage Award in person to Zhang Xin. The following is the text of the letter from Lord Douro to Ms. Zhang Xin.

Dear Miss Zhang,

It is my very great pleasure and privilege to congratulate you on being selected by the international jury as the winner of the 2004 Montblanc Arts Patronage Awards.

The role of patron is one of increasing importance in a world where governments and business are cutting or, at best, failing to increase their support for the arts. The Montblanc Cultural Foundation was set up to encourage the growth in patronage by honoring the most distinguished patrons of the arts throughout the world. Each year, the international jury is asked to look beyond simple financial commitment to identify those patrons who show a more than ordinary degree of personal commitment and involvement. It is on this basis that the 2004 China Montblanc Arts Patronage Award has been made to you.

I intend to be in Asia between the 5th and 12th July. I hope, therefore, that it will be possible to arrange the award ceremony at that time, so that I can present the award to you in person. Could you please let me know which, if any, of these dates would be convenient for you.

I send you my warmest congratulations.

Lord Douro

MONTBLANC ARTS PATRONAGE AWARD INTRODUCTION

Around the world there are patrons offering moral and financial support selflessly to the arts and cultural development in the society. In most instances, their contributions are put forth without a great deal of public recognition. Montblanc, the world s renowned luxury brand, believes that if the patronage has to continue and expand, a greater degree of public recognition is imminent.

In view of this, the Montblanc Cultural Foundation was established since 1992. Each year, outstanding patrons who support arts and cultural development will be awarded with the Montblanc Arts Patronage Award, a unique international award that honours and encourages those patrons who have dedicated immeasurable time, energy or fund to nurture talents who are essential for the continued survival of arts and ultimately help arts to flourish.

Every year, the eldest son and heir to the Duke of Wellington, Lord Douro, in his role as Chairman of the Foundation, presents the Montblanc Arts Patronage Award to outstanding arts patrons who render enormous personal commitment and contributions to encourage arts and cultural development in the society at large.

The Awards are presented to 10 countries all over the world, namely China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. For the first time in 2003, the Award is presented in China to recognize and honour the support of a local arts patron, and the Foundation has begun a rotation programme to present the Award to one of the South East Asia countries.

An international jury panel is formed with 30 different distinguished artists every year, three from each participating country, to select the Award recipients. In the past, the Foundation had invited many renowned and reputable artists as jurors such as the Three Tenors, Placido Domingo; famous actress, Catherine Deneuve; painter, Jasper Johns, soul singer, Aretha Franklin, master fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld; international star, Chow Yun-Fat; and renowned conductor, Ip Wing-Sie, just to name a few.

Many distinguished Hong Kong art patrons had received the Award from the Foundation in the past 11 years, such as Sir Run Run Shaw, Sir Joseph Hotung, Mrs Anna Sohmen, Dr Jung Sen Lee, Ms Jean Wong, Dr Jackie Chan, Madame Pak Suet Sin and Ms Michelle Yeoh.

Each winner will receive Euros 15,000 for donation to an arts cause of his or her choice as well as a solid gold Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art fountain pen, specially designed and crafted for the winners of the Montblanc Arts Patronage Award.