The ECF Princess Margriet Award is an annual award for cultural change-makers in Europe.

The ECF Princess Margriet Award is an annual award given to European artists, intellectuals and activists whose work shows the potential of culture for an inclusive Europe. Previous laureates have displayed cultural excellence in highly diverse fields, including the performing and visual arts, literature, music, film, cultural activism and media culture.

Yoel Gamzou © Sebastian Krüger/ Lia and Dan Perjovschi at Espai d'art contemporani di Castello © Angel Sanchez/El Pais

The Fifth Award

ECF is delighted to announce that conductor Yoel Gamzou and visual artists Dan and Lia Perjovschi  have been awarded the fifth ECF Princess Margriet Award.

The prestigious award ceremony took place in Brussels on 19 March 2013, with some 300 guests from local and international cultural communities, as well as culture policy makers and politicians from Europe and neighbouring regions.

Read the inspiring words of ECF's President HRH Princess Larentien of the Netherlands in her opening speech at the fifth Princess Margriet Award ceremony in Brussels. And hear from a host of speakers who joined her in celebrating the crucial role that cultural can play in shaping Europe's future. Read more.

The Selection Process

ECF invites nominations from a distinguished network of experts across Europe to make nominations following the award guidelines. These ‘nominators’ are professionals from different regions, disciplines and areas of cultural practice, beyond ECF’s own sphere of influence. ECF then researches the nominations to create a long and a short list of candidates, both of which are presented in advance to the international Jury meeting.

The Jury

The Jury for the sixth ECF Princess Margriet Award is comprised of:

• Chris Dercon, Director, Tate Modern London, UK
• Christian Esch, Director, NRW Kultursekretariat, Wuppertal
• Els van der Plas, General Director, Muziektheater, Amsterdam
• Rana Zincir Celal, General Secretary, Board of Directors: Home for Cooperation, Nicosia.

History of the Award

The award was initiated by ECF in honour of the organisation’s former President, HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, who has shown enormous dedication to culture as a means of understanding and valuing Europe’s diversity. The Award was established in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It includes prize money to the value of 50,000 Euros.

For more on the award contact: Wietske Maas, PMA - wmaas[@]culturalfoundation.eu