Paula Wallace, founder president of the American school Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), also located in the heart of the Luberon in Lacoste, has been awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
“Thanks to her visionary leadership and constant commitment to creative education, the preservation of historical heritage and cultural exchanges, Paula Wallace has made a lasting contribution to the French cultural landscape. We are proud to recognize her as a passionate advocate of the arts and an essential partner in strengthening cultural dialogue between France and the United States,” said Mohamed Bouabdallah, cultural advisor of France in the United States and director of Villa Albertine in New York, where he presented the Knight’s insignia in the Order of Arts and Letters to the president of SCAD.
“This recognition confirms the richness of cultural exchanges and the importance of promoting international higher education,” said Paula Wallace.
This distinction, awarded by the Ministry of Culture, demonstrates SCAD’s and Paula Wallace’s commitment to promoting arts and cultural life in France. “I am deeply honored to receive this distinction from the French Republic, which pays tribute to the success of all SCAD students and graduates who have studied at SCAD Lacoste, as well as the many SCAD alumni who contribute to the cultural and economic life of France as creative professionals working for Hermès, Dior, Chanel, Ubisoft, Airbus, L’Oréal, UNICEF, and many other international brands,” said the school’s president.
Founded in 1978, the school, now considered Franco-American (Note: SCAD Lacoste opened in 2002), is recognized worldwide as one of the leading institutions in the fields of art and design. It was recently named the “best university in Europe and the American continent” by Red Dot Design, a competition that distinguishes excellence in design.
