Brodber
The 2006 Prince Claus Awards will be dedicated to a revisiting and celebration of all the themes and sub-themes of previous years.
Marking its 10th year, the Fund maintains a broadly based view of culture that accommodates all kinds of artistic and intellectual disciplines, the transmission of culture, and education and media. In addition, the Fund is interested in the cultural and intercultural dimensions of fields that are not obviously a part of 'culture' in the conventional sense. Examples include technology, science and sport. These fields may also entail vocabularies and vernaculars Lida Abdul (1973, Afghanistan) is a visual artist who uses diverse media including video, film, photography, installation and live performance to explore and visualise issues of 'home' and identity. She fights against the senseless destruction of cultural heritage in her country and highlights women's role in society. The outstanding artistic quality of her work is combined with powerful political and social statements, and is recognised both within Afghanistan and internationally. Lida Abdul regularly exhibits and teaches in Kabul.
Christine Tohme (1964, Lebanon) is a cultural organiser, art activist and curator. In 1994 she founded Ashkal Alwan, the Lebanese Association for the Plastic Arts, a non-profit organisation that initiates and supports contemporary artistic practice. Through her work, she provides a platform for free thought and critical discourse in Lebanon, promotes and develops critical reflection and cultural theory, and fosters regional and international cultural exchange. This award honours Christine Tohme's struggle and achievements in stimulating local multi-disciplinary art production and art criticism.
Laureates working in the area of writing and publishing
Cultural historian
Erna Brodber (1940, Jamaica) is a writer, cultural historian and social activist who has carried out pioneering research on oral history in Jamaica and is an important role model in her society. Using fiction as a medium, she has written groundbreaking books in terms of individual and community identity formation, foregrounding the role of language in development. Erna Brodber is honoured for her innovative use of the Creole language and for her outstanding contribution to the promotion and establishment of local languages and cultures. This is the first Prince Claus Award in Jamaica.
New voices
Henry Chakava (1946, Kenya) is an innovative, courageous and enterprising publisher. He has published work by important writers and new voices in African literature, encouraged publication in local languages, and produced locally oriented textbooks. The Prince Claus Award honours Henry Chakava for his lifetime's work in developing African publishing, for nurturing and promoting writers in a difficult context, and for defying dictatorship in his own country.
Franktienne, (1936, Haiti) is a poet, writer, dramaturge and teacher. An important figure in the cultural history of Haiti, he is the author of the first novel in Haitian Creole and has written more than 30 titles. This award honours Franktienne for his lifetimeŐs achievements in the arts in a complex political context, for his poetic use of language, his radical stance on local languages, and his important contribution to regional literature and culture. This is the first Prince Claus Award in Haiti.
Laureate working in the area of theatre.
Women's rights activist
Madeeha Gauhar, (1956, Pakistan) is an outstanding actor, theatre director and women's rights activist. In 1983 she set up the Ajoka Theatre, which produces challenging, socially relevant works and performs in the streets and community spaces. Her aim is to promote a secular, humane, just and egalitarian society. She nurtures a new generation of actors and organises collaborative cross-border performances in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Madeeha Gauhar is honoured for her artistic and social contributions to public theatre in South Asia.
Laureates working in the area of cultural education and debate .
Michael Mel (1959, Papua New Guinea) is a performance artist, thinker, communicator, curator and teacher. He lectures in Expressive Arts at Goroka University and his performance/installation work is innovative and culturally significant. Mel plays a key role in the cultural development of Papua New Guinea's highland community and is one of the few bridges between Papua New Guinea and the world, enabling better understanding of the complex cultural concepts and practices of the island. This is the first Prince Claus Award in Papua New Guinea.
On WednesdaY, December 13, 2006, the Iranian graphic designer Reza Abedini (1967, Iran) will be presented with this year's Principal Prince Claus Award of €100,000 at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam.
Reza Abedini is a graphic designer and a professor of graphic design and visual culture at Tehran University. He emphasises the relationship between visual tradition and modern form, encourages research in the long and rich history of Persian art and calligraphy, and nurtures talent in the younger generation.
Reza Abedini is granted the Principal Prince Claus Award in recognition of his personal creativity in producing superb graphic design and his individual skill in adapting the knowledge and achievements of Iran's artistic heritage, making it new and compelling today. The award values and draws attention to the diversity of Iranian culture both historic and contmporary. It recognises the impact of graphic design as a powerful global medium of communication, and highlights the tradition and role of graphic design both in the laureate's own country and across the world.
Marking its 10th year, the Fund maintains a broadly based view of culture that accommodates all kinds of artistic and intellectual disciplines, the transmission of culture, and education and media. In addition, the Fund is interested in the cultural and intercultural dimensions of fields that are not obviously a part of 'culture' in the conventional sense. In its policy, the Prince Claus Fund is guided by four main themes: Zones of Silence (the locating and opening of areas of cultural silence); Creating places of Freedom (the creation of cultural sanctuaries); Beauty in Content (the analysis of beauty in different cultural environments); and Living Together (the art of consistence).
The following is a list of Laureates who have been recognised for their work in the visual arts:
Lida Abdul (1973, Afghanistan) is a visual artist who uses diverse media including video, film, photography, installation and live performance to explore and visualise issues of 'home' and identity. She fights against the senseless destruction of cultural heritage in her country and highlights women's role in society. The outstanding artistic quality of her work is combined with powerful political and social statements, and is recognised both within Afghanistan and internationally. Lida Abdul regularly exhibits and teaches in Kabul.
Christine Tohme (1964, Lebanon) is a cultural organiser, art activist and curator. In 1994 she founded Ashkal Alwan, the Lebanese Association for the Plastic Arts, a non-profit organisation that initiates and supports contemporary artistic practice. Through her work, she provides a platform for free thought and critical discourse in Lebanon, promotes and develops critical reflection and cultural theory, and fosters regional and international cultural exchange. This award honours Christine Tohme's struggle and achievements in stimulating local multi-disciplinary art production and art criticism.
Laureates working in the area of writing and publishing:
Erna Brodber (1940, Jamaica) is a writer, cultural historian and social activist who has carried out pioneering research on oral history in Jamaica and is an important role model in her society. Using fiction as a medium, she has written groundbreaking books in terms of individual and community identity formation, foregrounding the role of language in development. Erna Brodber is honoured for her innovative use of the creole language and for her outstanding contribution to the promotion and establishment of local languages and cultures. This is the first Prince Claus Award in Jamaica.
Henry Chakava (1946, Kenya) is an innovative, courageous and enterprising publisher. He has published work by important writers and new voices in African literature, encouraged publication in local languages, and produced locally oriented textbooks. The Prince Claus Award honours Henry Chakava for his lifetime work in developing African publishing, for nurturing and promoting writers in a difficult context, and for defying dictatorship in his own country.
Frankétienne, (1936, Haiti) is a poet, writer, dramaturge and teacher. An important figure in the cultural history of Haiti, he is the author of the first novel in Haitian creole and has written more than 30 titles. This award honours Frankétienne for his lifetime achievements in the arts in a complex political context, for his poetic use of language, his radical stance on local languages, and his important contribution to regional literature and culture. This is the first Prince Claus Award in Haiti.
Laureate working in the area of theatre.
Madeeha Gauhar, (1956, Pakistan) is an outstanding actor, theatre director and women's rights activist. In 1983 she set up the Ajoka Theatre, which produces challenging, socially relevant works and performs in the streets and community spaces. Her aim is to promote a secular, humane, just and egalitarian society. She nurtures a new generation of actors and organises collaborative cross-border performances in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Madeeha Gauhar is honoured for her artistic and social contributions to public theatre in South Asia.
Laureates working in the area of cultural education and debate.
Michael Mel (1959, Papua New Guinea) is a performance artist, thinker, communicator, curator and teacher. He lectures in Expressive Arts at Goroka University and his performance/installation work is innovative and culturally significant. Mel plays a key role in the cultural development of Papua New Guinea's highland community and is one of the few bridges between Papua New Guinea and the world, enabling better understanding of the complex cultural concepts and practices of the island. This is the first Prince Claus Award in Papua New Guinea.
