In the grand setting of the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, a unique event unfolded on Saturday, October 11: “The Ocean Meets Art”, an initiative by Blue & Sport Alliance Monaco (BSA), brought together voices from the worlds of diplomacy, science, the maritime sector, and the arts for an evening dedicated to a shared cause - the protection of our oceans and polar regions.
Organized under the patronage of BSA President and founder Isidoro Miele, the evening sought to go beyond traditional environmental conferences by creating a space where science meets emotion, and where culture and knowledge combine to inspire action. “Art speaks to the heart, science enlightens the mind, and from their meeting, conscience is born,” Miele said in his opening address - a phrase that captured the spirit of the night.
In attendance were notable figures from across Europe’s environmental and diplomatic landscape. Her Excellency Emanuela Ruosi, Ambassador of Italy to the Principality of Monaco, was present, along with Raphaël Ghiandai, Administrative and Financial Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, an institution long committed to marine conservation. Also participating were representatives of international maritime institutions, including Rear Admiral Luigi Sinapi, Director of the International Hydrographic Organization and Vice-President of BSA Monaco, Rear Admiral Fabrizio Orengo, Director of the Italian Hydrographic Institute, Rear Admiral Giosuè Allegrini, naval engineer and art historian, and Commander Maurizio De Marte, head of the Italian Navy’s Arctic mission High North 24.
The evening featured a scientific roundtable addressing current maritime and climate challenges, followed by a compelling artistic presentation that aimed to embody the fragility and beauty of marine ecosystems. This dual structure underscored a central theme: that emotion and intellect, aesthetics and analysis, must come together if we are to build lasting public support for environmental action.
Special guest Tom Woods, founder and president of the NGO Help Save The Med, offered a heartfelt testimony about the urgent need to protect the Mediterranean. Speaking to the importance of citizen mobilization and regional cooperation, Woods’s message echoed the broader goals of the evening - to turn awareness into engagement, and engagement into concrete steps for ocean preservation.
Among the key supporters of the initiative was Marcello Pica, CEO of Mama Shipping, Vice-President of the Monegasque Chamber of Shipping, and member of BSA’s board. His sponsorship, alongside the ongoing support of philanthropist Mikhail Nefedov and the Prince Albert II Foundation, made the event possible - a testament to the vital role that the private sector continues to play in supporting environmental causes.
More than a symbolic gathering, “The Ocean Meets Art” represented a deliberate and strategic attempt to create new alliances - between researchers and creators, military officers and museum curators, diplomats and divers. It is a reminder that in the face of rising sea levels, warming polar ice, and deepening environmental degradation, a siloed approach will no longer suffice.
By blending cultural expression with scientific dialogue, Blue & Sport Alliance Monaco is forging a new model of environmental engagement - one that honors Monaco’s deep-rooted commitment to the oceans, while also pointing toward a future where empathy and evidence walk hand in hand.