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Gastronomy enters Academy of Fine Arts on May 20, 2026 as Restaurant Guy Savoy founding chef becomes member

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Gastronomy enters Academy of Fine Arts on May 20, 2026 as Restaurant Guy Savoy founding chef becomes member
Business

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Gastronomy enters Academy of Fine Arts on May 20, 2026 as Restaurant Guy Savoy founding chef becomes member

2026-05-21 20:49 Last Updated At:21:05

PARIS, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

1816: foundation of the Académie des beaux-arts, one of the five academies of the Institut de France 
2026: Guy Savoy is made a member under the dome of the Palais de l'Institut de France.

More than two centuries after it was founded, the Académie des Beaux-Arts welcomed chef Guy Savoy as a member, officially recognising gastronomy as an art form.

The world-renowned chef Guy Savoy runs the eponymous restaurant at Monnaie de Paris and was declared "Best Restaurant in the World" by La Liste. His election was celebrated by Permanent Secretary Laurent Petitgirard : "With the election of Guy Savoy, the Académie has not only recognized one of the most eminent representatives of French gastronomy, but also a humanist and a lover of contemporary art, who contributes to the international reputation of our country, as demonstrated by his commitment to the inclusion of the 'repas gastronomique des Français' in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO".

On Wednesday 20 May, Guy Savoy responded in kind, saying to all the members gathered: "Thank you for having put your discernment at the service of French gastronomy and having considered that it had every right to enter your academy. 
So here I am, a craftsman, and perhaps even an artist by virtue of my election, bringing with me all the craftsmen and women who work to promote gastronomy, the French countryside, the art of the table, sommellerie, courtesy, the art of entertaining - in short, the French art of living."

Gastronomy, by joining the "section des membres libres" of the Académie des beaux-arts, joins the disciplines of painting, sculpture, architecture, engraving and drawing, musical composition, stage direction, photography and choreography.

In this section, Guy Savoy was elected to chair V, previously occupied by Michel David-Weill, a leading figure in the investment banking sector, but also a world-renowned collector, patron of the world's greatest museums and a philanthropist of legendary generosity.

Guy Savoy, wearing the traditional "Habit Vert", was presented with his Academician's sword by Academician Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière.

Watch the video: YouTube video link
Extracts in English from the speeches by Guy Savoy and Laurent Petitgirard
Photos by the Académie

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8OqeaI8l74

Contact:  
carine.polito@guysavoy.com 
claudine.fabre-luce@wanadoo.fr 

 

 

PARIS, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

1816: foundation of the Académie des beaux-arts, one of the five academies of the Institut de France 
2026: Guy Savoy is made a member under the dome of the Palais de l'Institut de France.

More than two centuries after it was founded, the Académie des Beaux-Arts welcomed chef Guy Savoy as a member, officially recognising gastronomy as an art form.

The world-renowned chef Guy Savoy runs the eponymous restaurant at Monnaie de Paris and was declared "Best Restaurant in the World" by La Liste. His election was celebrated by Permanent Secretary Laurent Petitgirard : "With the election of Guy Savoy, the Académie has not only recognized one of the most eminent representatives of French gastronomy, but also a humanist and a lover of contemporary art, who contributes to the international reputation of our country, as demonstrated by his commitment to the inclusion of the 'repas gastronomique des Français' in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO".

On Wednesday 20 May, Guy Savoy responded in kind, saying to all the members gathered: "Thank you for having put your discernment at the service of French gastronomy and having considered that it had every right to enter your academy. 
So here I am, a craftsman, and perhaps even an artist by virtue of my election, bringing with me all the craftsmen and women who work to promote gastronomy, the French countryside, the art of the table, sommellerie, courtesy, the art of entertaining - in short, the French art of living."

Gastronomy, by joining the "section des membres libres" of the Académie des beaux-arts, joins the disciplines of painting, sculpture, architecture, engraving and drawing, musical composition, stage direction, photography and choreography.

In this section, Guy Savoy was elected to chair V, previously occupied by Michel David-Weill, a leading figure in the investment banking sector, but also a world-renowned collector, patron of the world's greatest museums and a philanthropist of legendary generosity.

Guy Savoy, wearing the traditional "Habit Vert", was presented with his Academician's sword by Academician Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière.

Watch the video: YouTube video link
Extracts in English from the speeches by Guy Savoy and Laurent Petitgirard
Photos by the Académie

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8OqeaI8l74

Contact:  
carine.polito@guysavoy.com 
claudine.fabre-luce@wanadoo.fr 

 

 

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Gastronomy enters Academy of Fine Arts on May 20, 2026 as Restaurant Guy Savoy founding chef becomes member

Gastronomy enters Academy of Fine Arts on May 20, 2026 as Restaurant Guy Savoy founding chef becomes member

HONG KONG, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Metis Global (Cook Islands) Limited ("Metis CI"), a subsidiary of the globally renowned financial trust institution Metis Global Group ("Metis"), recently celebrated a major milestone, marking its 10th anniversary of operations. To commemorate this special occasion, Dr Cheung, Founder and Chairman of the Group, led a delegation of seven senior executives to Rarotonga to attend a grand 10th-anniversary celebration gala. This trip not only strengthened team cohesion but also drew positive attention from Cook Islands News, the nation's leading mainstream media outlet, which highlighted Metis' long-term local commitment through an in-depth exclusive feature interview with Dr Cheung and the executive leadership team.

In the exclusive feature by Cook Islands News, the deep bond between Metis CI and the local community was warmly documented. Looking back at its founding in 2015—a pivotal moment triggered by the exit of HSBC Trustee from the jurisdiction—Dr Cheung, driven by his profound appreciation for local talent, stepped in to employ several outstanding local trust professionals who were facing immediate unemployment. Speaking emotionally during the interview, local employee Toa shared that she had just given birth to her son and was carrying a heavy mortgage at the time. The timely arrival of Metis CI not only secured the livelihoods of multiple core families but also enabled them to build stable, rewarding ten-year careers. Over the past decade, this professional local team, comprised of former HSBC specialists, has worked tirelessly behind the scenes managing legal registrations and accounting for international clients, becoming an indispensable backbone of Metis Global Group's growth.

Dr Cheung pointed out during the interview that while Metis' sales teams are located in bustling Asian financial hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, international clients explicitly request the Cook Islands for their trust structures. Currently, Metis CI contributes up to one-third (33%) of the Group's total global business volume. He emphasised that the Cook Islands possesses a unique and robust international asset protection legal framework, offering a secure geographical barrier far removed from regional geopolitical tensions in Asia. This unique positioning has allowed Metis to pioneer an exclusive, competition-free market segment in Asia for over a decade, enabling the middle class to access premier trust protection solutions through affordable savings plans. CMO Liu, added in the interview that The International Trusts Act 1984 is highly advantageous for client asset protection, and that the vibrant, warm, and passionate nature of the local people makes it an absolute honour for Metis to thrive alongside this land.

To continually strengthen its local political and economic connections, Tony Fe'ao, CEO of the Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority (FSDA), extended a special invitation to the Metis team to visit the FSDA office during this trip for an in-depth interview and executive exchange with Dr Cheung. During the meeting, both parties fondly recalled their close partnership in 2017, when Metis joined forces with the FSDA for a roadshow across four first-tier cities in China to promote Cook Islands trusts. Concurrently, the executive team also held high-level meetings with government officials from the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) to conduct constructive discussions on the latest international regulatory trends, underscoring Metis' steadfast commitment to the highest standards of compliant governance as a licensed trustee company.

The feature story by Cook Islands News serves as a comprehensive validation of Metis' decade of dedicated local roots. Reflecting on this at the gala dinner, Dr Cheung emphasised: "This 10th anniversary is not the ultimate achievement, but rather the starting point of an even longer operational journey." Moving forward, Metis will continue to transform the solid foundation built over the past ten years into an enduring legacy of sustainable development on the island for decades to come.

For reference, the link to the Cook Islands News feature interview is as follows:

https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/local/economy/business/metis-global-cook-islands-celebrates-10-years-of-financial-leadership-and-local-resilience/

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Metis Marks 10th Anniversary in the Cook Islands with Exclusive Local Media Feature

Metis Marks 10th Anniversary in the Cook Islands with Exclusive Local Media Feature

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