News item | 5/17/2023 | 08:00
The nominees for the Jos Brink Oeuvre Prize and the Jos Brink Innovation Prize have been announced. An independent jury led by Jeangu Macrooy has selected Wielie Elhorst, Judith Schuyf and the Roze 50+ foundation for the Oeuvre Prize. What You See Festival, Gio van den Heuvel and Jess, and Paul van Dorst are the nominated candidates to win the Innovation Award. The government awards will be presented on Sunday 4 June 2023 in the DeLaMar theater in Amsterdam by Minister Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science.
The Jos Brink Prize is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The Jos Brink Oeuvre Prize is awarded every two years to a person, group or institution that has made a fundamental contribution to improving the position of lesbian women, gay men, bisexual men and women, transgender people and intersex people in society. The prize consists of a cash prize of € 10,000 and a work of art.
The Jos Bink Innovation Prize is a biennial incentive prize for a person or organization that makes an inspiring effort to improve the acceptance and safety of LGBTIQ+ people in society. The prize serves as an encouragement to continue their exemplary role. The prize consists of a cash prize of € 1,000.
Minister Dijkgraaf: “At a time when we as a country are still dealing with incidents that put pressure on the acceptance and safety of the LGBTQ+ community, there cannot be enough attention for this important prize. People or organizations who want to ensure that everyone can be themselves, make a fundamental contribution to our society. I look forward to presenting the awards on June 4.”
Nominees for Work Prize
The jury has nominated Stichting Roze 50+, Judith Schuyf and Wielie Elhorst for the Oeuvre Prize. Since 2009, the Roze 50+ Foundation has been committed to improving the interests, living situation and well-being of LGBTIQ+ elderly people, together with about 100 voluntary Roze 50+ ambassadors. Because of their background, many pink elderly people do not always dare to express their love and identity.
In addition, Judith Schuyf (1951) has been nominated. She is one of the longest active researchers who has focused her working life on the emancipation of gay, lesbian and transgender people. She worked at Utrecht University for over 20 years and was one of the founders of the Gay Studies working group. In her LGBTIQ+-oriented work, she was involved in emancipation, policy, sports, history, media, the elderly and the support of municipalities, among other things.
The last nominee is Wielie Elhorst. For many years Elhorst was a board member and chairman of the National Coordination Point for Church and Homosexuality Groups (LKP). In this he undertook numerous initiatives to improve the position of Christian LGBTQ+ people in the Netherlands, such as the first church declaration against violence against homosexuals, the Holy Boat at the Canal Parade and the Pride church services.
Nominees Innovation Award
What You See Festival, Gio van den Heuvel and Jess and Paul van Dorst have been nominated for the Innovation Award. What You See Festival is a multidisciplinary and international arts festival about gender and identity. It is known for work by artists that has never or hardly been seen in the Netherlands before, unexpected pop-up performances and research presentations. Other nominees Gio and Jess founded the Transcafé in Utrecht for Trans persons with a mild intellectual disability. A target group that is often overlooked, but made visible by this duo. The last nominee is Paul van Dorst. Van Dorst is chairman of the Roze Kameraden: Feyenoord’s lhbtiq+ supporters club. The Pink Comrades strive for a Feyenoord where everyone can be themselves, by being visible in and outside the stadium, and by having conversations with the club, KNVB, municipality and supporters.
Jury
The jury for the Jos Brink Prize 2023 consists of chairman Jeangu Macrooy (singer-songwriter), Rocky Hehakaija (former football player and director of the Favela Street Foundation), Eveline van de Putte (author and theater maker), Jantine van Lisdonk (emancipation researcher and strategic advisor Bi+ Netherlands) and Jackson Monteiro (Pink in Blue network and drag queen Ruby Rouge).
The prize is named after Jos Brink (1942-2007), a champion of the acceptance and emancipation of LGBTQ+ people, who openly declared his homosexuality. In 2021, the Oeuvre Prize was awarded to Glenn Helberg, the Innovation Prize went to Naomie Pieter.