Smithsonian Associates, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco and Smithsonian Gardens, presents “Princess Grace: Celebrating an Enduring Legacy,” Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building at 900 Jefferson Dr. S.W. The free program explores the remarkable life and cultural influence of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco. Tickets for this program are sold out. To join the wait list, the public can visit the Smithsonian Associates website or call (202) 633-3030.
Kelly, an American film star, became Princess Grace of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III in 1956. She is celebrated for her elegance, philanthropy and lasting influence on fashion and cinema. An avid gardener, she loved flowers—especially roses—and spent time tending gardens at her homes. An elegant blush-pink rose is named after her.
The program opens with a special ceremony for invited guests in the Smithsonian’s Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden to dedicate four reproductions of a historic swan bench in the collection of Smithsonian Gardens, including one honoring Princess Grace. Permanently installed on the National Mall, the bench serves as a lasting public tribute to Princess Grace and the friendship between Monaco and the United States. Planted alongside the swan bench, the Princess Grace rose will serve as a living tribute and provide a place of beauty and reflection for generations of visitors.
The evening public program will feature a historian’s presentation focused on Princess Grace, her support for the performing arts and her life as a Hollywood icon, followed by a conversation between subject-matter experts. It will also highlight the ongoing work of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA in supporting emerging artists in theater, dance and film, extending her legacy to new generations of creative talent. Afterward, guests will enjoy a light reception in an Arts and Industries Building room adorned with a rose display curated by Smithsonian Gardens. The reception will also feature a commemorative display inspired by To Catch a Thief, one of Princess Grace’s most celebrated films, offering guests an opportunity to reflect on her remarkable cinematic legacy.
The event coincides with the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Embassy of Monaco in Washington, D.C., offering an opportunity to celebrate the enduring ties between Monaco and the United States. Part of the Enduring Power of International Exchange series, the program acknowledges the warm relationship between the United States and the Principality of Monaco while highlighting the story of Princess Grace, an American who became an international figure and continuing symbol of cultural exchange and international friendship. The Enduring Power of International Exchange is organized by Smithsonian Associates as part of the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250” initiative.
About the Enduring Power of International Exchange Series
The Enduring Power of International Exchange series is hosted in partnership with Smithsonian’s Office of Global Affairs and with embassies that have built strong, lasting relationships with the United States. The series honors the vital role diplomacy, cultural exchange and mutual respect have played in shaping the nation and its place in the world. In this milestone year, these programs underscore how international friendships—nurtured through history, culture and creativity—continue to strengthen the American story. Each program is free, requires registration and includes a reception.
About Smithsonian Associates
For more than 60 years, Smithsonian Associates—the world’s largest museum-based education program—has produced vibrant educational and cultural programming that brings the Smithsonian to life. Inspired by the Smithsonian’s research, collections and exhibitions nearly 1,000 public programs spark creativity and excite learning in people of all ages each year.
About the Embassy of Monaco in Washington, D.C.
The embassy, established in 2006, represents Monaco in the U.S., to foster diplomatic, cultural and scientific relations between both nations. The embassy also oversees an accredited consulate general in New York City and a network of honorary consuls across the U.S. in Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, New Orleans, Chicago and Las Vegas.
About the Princess Grace Foundation-USA
The Princess Grace Foundation–USA was established in 1982 by H.S.H. Prince Rainier III of Monaco in memory of Princess Grace of Monaco. Her commitment to advance the arts in the United States is sustained by the Princess Grace Awards, which identify and support extraordinary early-career artists in theater, dance and film through transformative grants, and by nurturing and supporting Princess Grace Award winners throughout their careers. Artists who receive the Princess Grace Awards represent some of the most celebrated creative voices of our time: Pulitzer Prize winners Tony Kushner and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins; luminary film directors Chinonye Chukwu (Clemency, Till), Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked) and Cary Fukunaga (No Time to Die); actors Oscar Isaac, Moses Ingram, Leslie Odom Jr. and Danielle Deadwyler; MacArthur Fellows choreographers Kyle Abraham, Michelle Dorrance and filmmaker Sky Hopinka; theater directors Sam Gold and Lila Neugebauer; and New York City Ballet Principal Dancers Tiler Peck, Mira Nadon and Roman Mejia, among others.