These are the winners of the Piket Art Prizes 2024

“The jury, chaired by Majel Blonden (director of music venue PAARD), praises our winners for their versatility and talent,” says Marie Jeanne de Rooij, director of the Piket Art Prizes, “but the other nominees – there are three in each category – are likewise exceptional in their disciplines. This is why, from this year onwards, they will receive 3,000 Euros so that they can give their artistic career a boost.”

Ellen’s work appeals to emotions

Ellen Yiu carried off the Painting category prize. “Ellen’s fragile and sensitive installations, in which she sometimes uses unconventional elements such as hair, medicines, and vegetable material, address the viewer in manifold ways: not only visually and tactilely, but also emotionally,” say jury members Pietertje van Splunter (artist and co-founder of artists’ initiative Quartair) and Johan Gustavsson (Experimental Art Space 1646, teacher at the Royal Academy of Art, and curator of Prospects).

Demi enchants the viewer

According to jury members Erik Kaiel (dance collective Arch8) and Mitchell-lee van Rooij (Korzo), Demi Bawon, dancer with top-ranking dance company NDT 1, catches the viewer’s attention like no other. “Demi enchants the viewer with her quiet charisma, leaving them no choice but to watch her with fascination.”

Patsy follows her own path

Theatre-maker and actress Patsy Kroonenberg from Scheveningen is really creating a distinct profile for herself. Last summer she took part in De Parade with her performances Het slaapverwekkende bestaan van Evelien (Evelien’s Tedious Existence) and De grootste hondenshow ter wereld in Nederland (The World’s Greatest Dog Show in the Netherlands). Earlier she made the Patsy Podcast for Muzee. The jury was especially captivated and affected by the projects in which she completely followed her own path. “With this prize the jury wants to encourage Patsy to keep following this path and to embrace her makership,” thus jury members John de Weerd (Zaal 3) and Ellen Goemans (actress and director).

Piket Jury Prize: Jane Huldman

According to the jury, “Jane Huldman is the fairy godmother, the glue, the spider in the web of Hague contemporary art and culture.” This is why they wanted to honour Jane Huldman with a prize this year, taking great pains to keep things secret; Huldman is also a member of the Piket Art Prizes board. “From its foundation in 1990, Jane worked for art centre STROOM, where she was the help and stay of many – a supporter of the toiling artist, someone who was genuinely aware of all the hard work that being done, not only by the artistic individual, but also within collectives and initiatives. After her retirement in 2021 Jane remained active in the Hague arts field, in particular for the city of The Hague as external advisor for Breeding Grounds, and as a member of the boards of breeding ground DCR, Billytown, and the Piket Art Prizes.”

Other nominees

Apart from the winners, we this year saw Adam Centko and Shani Leseman as nominees in the Painting category; Vladyslav Detiuchenko & Veronika Rakitina and Kenji van Nieuwenhuizen in the Dance category, and Kim Karssen and Koen ter Braak in the Dramatic Arts category.

About the Piket Art Prizes

From 2014, the Piket Art Prizes are awarded annually to young artists who have a relationship with The Hague, either because they flourished there or because their work provides a stimulating contribution to the Hague cultural environment.

Frederik Hendrik Piket (1927–2011), solicitor and member of the Dutch Senate, was a great art lover. After his demise, a foundation was established with the aim to annually encourage promising professional artists age 30 or younger through the Piket Art Prizes.

The 2024 winners from left to right: Ellen Yiu (Painting), Patsy Kroonenberg (Dramatic Arts), Jane Huldman (Piket Jury Prize) and Demi Bawon (Dance). Photo Dana LaMonda