We proudly present the nominees for the fifth edition of the Piket Art Prizes! These are the nine, young and upcoming artists nominated for the Piket Art Prizes this year:
Painting
Brigitte Louter
Dramatic Arts
Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe
From the left to the right: Teun Wolters, Kinda Gozo, Eden Latham, Elias Boersma, Boston Gallacher, Brigitte Louter. Credits: Janneke van Beek
Presentation of the 2018 nominees in the Theater aan het Spui
On Saturday 1 September presenter Paula Udondek and the new chairman of the jury Erik Pals (director of the Scapino Ballet, Rotterdam) presented this year’s nominees in the foyer of the Theater aan het Spui during the The Hague UIT Festival, the annual kick-off of the cultural season. Pals stressed the importance of the prizes, because they are a means to thrust young artists who strengthen the cultural climate into the limelight.
Eden Latham (visual arts), one of the nominees who was present at the occasion, said she was very happy: “At first I thought someone was kidding me. This nomination is extremely motivating.” Teun Wolters, nominated in the dramatic arts category, was equally delighted: “I know I’m allright, but it’s great to see others think so, too.” Elias Boersma (dance) had not at all expected this: “I am very surprised and feel tremendously honoured.” After the nominees had been announced, former nominee Alice Godfrey (NDT1) presented an enthralling preview of the performance Ohgirl!, which she created with dancer and choreographer Antonin Rioche. Ohgirl! is Godfrey’s first choreographic work.
2018 is a special year for the Piket Art Prizes, not only because it marks our fifth edition, but also because so many of our nominees are from abroad. Eden Latham (visual arts) is from London, dance nominees Boston Gallacher and Kinda Gozo are from Scotland and France respectively, and dramatic arts nominee Benjamin Meirhaeghe is from Belgium. Brigitte Louter (visual arts), seizing the chance to show her work, lived in Reykjavik for some time. It is clear that The Hague is a city with international appeal.
On Monday 26 November this year’s winners will be announced during a festive award event in the Theater aan het Spui. Winners will receive a sculpture made by Joep van Lieshout and 8,000 euros.
Since 2014, the Piket Art Prizes have been annually presented to artists under the age of 30 in the fields of dance, drama and visual arts. Every year, a jury consisting of professionals from these fields draws up a shortlist of nominees on the basis of a careful inventory of artistic talent from the The Hague area. The members of this year’s jury are: Erik Pals (Scapino Ballet Rotterdam), Maarten Demmink (Demiak), Suzanne Swarts (Museum Voorlinden), Stacz Wilhelm (Korzo theater), Isabelle Chaffaud (MEYER-CHAFFAUD), David Geysen (Bureau Dégradé) and Antoinette Jelgersma (Het Nationale Theater).
