ECF Princess Margriet Award
CELEBRATING EUROPEAN CULTURAL DIVERSITY - THE ECF PRINCESS MARGRIET AWARD
A joint initiative of the ECF and the Dutch government
The ECF is delighted to introduce a new award that celebrates the role of arts and culture in facing the challenges of Europe's growing cultural diversity.
The enlargement of the European Union, migration flows within and towards Europe and rapid demographic and cultural changes are some of the most pressing issues facing citizens and communities in the broader Europe today. More than ever before, cultural diversity is on the agenda.
Purpose of the award is to draw attention to those artists and cultural organisations from across Europe whose exceptional art works, projects and ground-breaking initiatives will lead to a more positive understanding of European cultural diversity.
It is a fitting tribute to the work of the ECF's former President, HRH Princess Margriet of The Netherlands, who was at the ECF's helm for 24 years. In May 2007 she handed over the Presidency to her niece, HRH Princess Laurentien.
The award will recognise and inspire groundbreaking initiatives that lead to a more positive understanding of Europe's cultural diversity.
Nominations and award
Through its vast network across Europe and neighbouring countries, individual artists, intellectuals and cultural organisations have been invited to make submissions for the award.
An independent jury, consisting of four well-known cultural personalities from across Europe has chosen the laureate in June 2008.
The Jury
- Iara Boubnova
Curator, Contemporary Art Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria - Robert Palmer
Director of Culture, Cultural and natural heritage, Council of Europe - Mike Phillips
Historian, novelist and cross-cultural consultant, United Kingdom - Rachida Azough
Creative Director, Kosmopolis, the Netherlands
The award ceremony
The first of the annual 50,000 Euro awards will be presented by HRH Princess Margriet herself to the laureate - whose name will be revealed in autumn - during the award ceremony on December 9, in Brussels, Halles de Schaerbeek .
HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands on cultural diversity in Europe:
We now see clashes of cultures and civilisations - not only between different regions of the world but within our own societies. Diversity is viewed with suspicion, as a threat to identity. But the reality is that cultural diversity is one of Europe's key assets, perhaps its most valuable attribute.
Gottfried Wagner, ECF Director, adds:
The award is a most apt culmination to the work of our previous President, HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. Through her encouragement the ECF has made cultural diversity the focus of all its activities. Indeed, we believe that cultural diversity is a resource. At the ECF, we want to see artistic creation and cooperation turn challenging experiences into creative encounter. And we seek to contribute to a political culture in Europe that is built on mutual respect for diversity. The award will not just be a mark of achievement, but we hope that it will encourage and stimulate further the bigger debate around the importance of culture and the benefit to Europe as a whole.
The award was announced by the Dutch Minister for Culture, Ronald Plasterk, at the Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam, on Saturday 12 May 2007, during a festive reception for the outgoing and incoming ECF Presidents.
The award was made possible by the generosity of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and will be organised by the ECF.
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Photo by: Jeroen de Bakker, Zwerflicht