The nominees for the Piket Art Prizes 2022 have been announced

Painting nominee Janne Schipper feels honored. “It means a lot to me that this opportunity arises so I can continue to build the foundation of my artistic practice.” The professional jury members in Painting are impressed by Schipper's work. “She uses an intuitive, magical visual language. The viewer finds their own meaning in it,” says jury member Lea van der Vinde.

Breakdancer India Sardjoe is ‘very happy with the nomination’ in the Dance category. She has big plans for the future. “I would like to join the Dutch team and qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics,” says The Hague's B-girl India, who this year became the Dutch Breakdance champion in the women’s category. “India is a phenomenon in the breakdance scene,” says Isabelle Chaffaud, jury member for Dance. “She wins battles not only in the Netherlands but also abroad.” Amos Ben-Tal (Dance) praises her focus. “Breakdance is truly a form of expression for her.”

Actor and theater maker Nick Renzo Garcia was momentarily speechless when he heard he was nominated in the Theater category. “What an honor! It’s a nice confirmation that I’m on the right path. A boost to keep creating work.” “The strength and uniqueness with which he approaches things are promising and intriguing,” says Ellen Goemans, jury member for Theater, about his nomination.

The jury

A professional jury selects the nominees and winners in each discipline and identifies which young talents stand out. This year, the jury consists of chair Jan Zoet, director of the cultural palace Amare in The Hague, Lea van der Vinde (Huygens' Hofwijck and Huygens' Swaensteyn), visual artist Joncquil de Vries, Amos Ben-Tal (dancer and choreographer of OFFprojects), Isabelle Chaffaud (MEYER-CHAFFAUD), John de Weerd (programmer at Zaal 3 and the Parade), and Ellen Goemans (actress, teacher, and mentor at HKU Actor Training).

The new jury chair for this year, Jan Zoet, emphasizes the importance of the Piket Art Prizes:
“Artists are the bearers of imagination necessary to tell the stories of this time, to open eyes and hearts, to connect, question, and confront. That is why it is incredibly important that the Piket Art Prizes exist, so young artists are seen and supported in further developing their work in The Hague. Artists belong to the creative, inclusive, and attractive city that The Hague aims to be. The Piket Art Prizes help bind artists to The Hague.”

Award ceremony

On Monday, October 10, the three winners per discipline (Painting, Dance, and Theater) will be announced at the Lourdes Church in Scheveningen. They will each receive a cash prize of 8,000 euros and an award designed by artist Kim David Bots. Previous artists who created the award include Yke Prins, Peter Zwaan, and Joep van Lieshout.

About the Piket Art Prizes

The Piket Art Prizes have been awarded since 2014 to young artists with a connection to The Hague, either because they have developed their talents there or because their work contributes to the city's cultural climate. The award’s namesake, Frederik Hendrik Piket (1927–2011), a lawyer and member of the Dutch Senate for the CHU (later CDA), was a great lover of art and culture. After his death, a foundation was established to annually encourage three promising, professional artists under the age of 30 with a prize.

Top row jury members: Amos Ben-Tal, John de Weerd, Isabelle Chaffaud, and Joncquil de Vries. Bottom row: Ellen Goemans, Jan Zoet, and Lea van der Vinde. Photo by Hessel Waalewijn.