Pharrell Williams has a new line in his already full CV. A global star of pop and fashion, he was named Tuesday UNESCO goodwill ambassador for the arts, education and entrepreneurship, during a ceremony at the headquarters of this United Nations organization. in Paris.
Audrey Azoulay, general director of the body, praised a “complete artist” and a “humanist who acts to put culture at the service of peace and the youth of the world”, whose “commitments resonate with the mandate of Unesco”.
A “model” for young creators
As part of his role, he “will be called upon to carry the voice of UNESCO during major international meetings dedicated to culture, as well as to support the educational and cultural programs which are implemented by the Organization throughout the world,” underlines the UNESCO press release. “He will continue his role as mentor and model for young creators, particularly in Africa where UNESCO supports the development of cultural industries.”
Since 2008, Pharrell Williams, 51, has been an activist in several NGOs including YELLOW, which he created, dedicated to the education of marginalized communities, and Black Ambition, an incubator for black and Latino entrepreneurs in the tech sectors. , design, health and consumer products. He said he was “honored to have been chosen” by UNESCO and “to be able to continue this work” within it.
A “Happy” singer in front of Notre-Dame
Multidisciplinary American artist, Pharrell Williams has been very present in France for several years. Since 2023, he has been director of men’s collections at Louis Vuitton, flagship of Bernard Arnault’s luxury group, LVMH. He also performed on the square in front of Notre-Dame de Paris in a concert for the reopening of the cathedral on December 7, reprising his global hit Happy surrounded by 70 gospel singers.
The artist was also among the personalities who carried the Olympic flame before the Paris Olympics this summer, of which LVMH was one of the sponsors. In June, he chose the Parisian headquarters of UNESCO as the setting for his fourth fashion show for Vuitton.
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