Auction to welcome students and researchers affected by the war in Ukraine

From June 1 to 10, 2022, the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris is selling at Sotheby's 3 signed prints of Jean-Michel Wilmotte's drawings and a model designed by the architect to finance his Maison de l'Ukraine project, which aims to house and supporting up to 500 students, researchers and scholars affected by the war in Ukraine. The exhibition will take place from May 31 to June 7.

An auction for the future of Ukrainian youth

In solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris wishes to welcome and support, from the start of the 2022 academic year, up to 500 students, researchers and academics affected by the war in Ukraine. The Cité internationale does not have a House of Ukraine but, to offer these people the best reception conditions, it asked the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte to imagine a Virtual House of Ukraine. This project, highly symbolic but rooted in reality, has three objectives: to offer students, researchers and academics accommodation in the 43 houses on campus, to support them throughout their stay and to prepare for the future of young people. and the Ukrainian academic community.

To make its project a reality, the Cité internationale is auctioning off two lots at Sotheby's: 3 signed prints of Jean-Michel Wilmotte's drawings and a model designed by the architect.

The funds raised will make it possible to accommodate students, researchers and academics affected by the war in Ukraine in the 43 houses on campus, to support them throughout their stay (administrative assistance, medical and psychological follow-up, learning French, cultural offer …) and to set up an emergency aid fund. This scheme is also intended for Ukrainian residents present on campus at the outbreak of the war and their close families who will have joined them.

A campaign calling for donations and an NFT sale of the 3 drawings by Jean-Michel Wilmotte have already been underway since April 19, 2022: maisondelukraine.fr.

The talent of Jean-Michel Wilmotte at the service of a collective work

The architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte has agreed to participate in this innovative project and to support the Cité internationale, an architectural landmark steeped in history, with which he shares the ambition to support and prepare the future of the university community. and Ukrainian academics by betting on youth, knowledge and reason.

The Wilmotte & Associés agency imagined a pavilion, reminiscent of constructivist architecture, whose volumes and use of materials recall the Ukrainian flag. This digital work is also a way of highlighting art and culture as a response to the din and destruction of war. Three works were designed: the facade of the house, a bedroom and a collective space with a piano.

“Faithful to its founding values, the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris has always been committed to promoting peace alongside young people, students and researchers around the world. It has a long tradition of welcoming refugee students. Today, we are mobilizing to build the Virtual House of Ukraine and welcome up to 500 students, researchers and scholars whose future is seriously compromised by war. »

Jean-Marc Sauvé, President of the national foundation Cité internationale universitaire de Paris

“I could only accept this project which seemed obvious to me. The House of Ukraine is a virtual project, highly symbolic, which evokes the drama of a country that I particularly like. I wanted to suggest a place where students could live, live and work. The House of Ukraine is a positive prospect for the future. »

Jean-Michel Wilmotte, architect, president of Wilmotte & Associés

A Virtual House of Ukraine to welcome the talents of tomorrow, support their success and prepare for their future

Welcoming the talents of tomorrow

The first reception site for international students and researchers in Paris for nearly 100 years, the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. There is no House of Ukraine on campus, but the Virtual House of Ukraine project makes it possible to make up for this absence in a very concrete way. Thanks to this project, since the start of the war, students, researchers and academics affected by the war have been welcomed in the rooms that become available on campus and then, from the start of the 2022 academic year, they will be in reserved accommodation within the 43 houses on campus.

Support their success

Students, researchers and academics affected by the war will be supported in their efforts. They will be able to benefit free of charge from all our support services: financial, social, psychological, medical and linguistic support. They will also be able to find support in the cultural and artistic offer offered on campus. They will share the daily life of nearly 7 residents of 000 nationalities. In connection with the universities and the grandes écoles in the Ile-de-France region, we will also support Ukrainian students housed in other residences in Ile-de-France to form a very real Ukrainian community but symbolically united under this banner of the house of Ukraine. The Cité internationale is thus placed at the center of reception in conjunction with the Campus France operator, the Crous and the higher education establishments in the Ile-de-France region.

Protect and prepare for their future

The Virtual House of Ukraine symbolizes the hope for renewal based on knowledge and the values of tolerance. It will make it possible to preserve the future of students, researchers and academics in exile in a medium-term perspective: to preserve the youth and the Ukrainian university and academic community. The Ukrainian university must not be sacrificed and a whole generation of students from this bruised country must find their place among the young people of the world and this unique international campus steeped in history that is the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris.