2 December 2016, Amsterdam: Heddy Honigmann, a prestigious Dutch-Peruvian documentary director was bestowed the “Silver Carnation” in 2016 by the Prince Bernhard Cultural Funds. Behind the decision, the jury praised Honigmann for “the exceptional way in which she conducts interviews, and for the loving way in which she depicts the strengths, joys and the vulnerabilities of people from all walks of life“. Heddy Honingmann received the carnation from HM Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.
The prestigious Zilveren Anjer (Silver Carnation) Awards annually recognize individuals who have made extraordinary, voluntary contributions to Dutch cultural life and the environment.
The award itself is accompanied by a pecuniary sum of 75,000 EUR. In addition to it, the laureate receives a “cultural fund” with an initial capital of 75,000 EUR; he/she decides the aims and name for the fund.
The Cultuurfonds were set up in London in 1940 by the late Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, maternal grandfather to incumbent King Willem Alexander and spouse to Queen Juliana. There were meant to purchase war material for the British and Dutch governments. They continued after the war as “Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds”, aimed at rebuilding cultural life in war-torn The Netherlands. Headquartered on the Herengracht canal in Amsterdam, the foundation has 12 local branches, one in each of the Dutch provinces. Furthermore there is a separate Distribution Committee for projects in Aruba, Curaςao, St. Maarten and Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba.
Each year over 3,500 cultural, nature an scientific projects are supported. These include town bands, the restoration of historic buildings and ships, dance performances, the preservation of unique cityscapes and landscapes, and scholarships for young artists and scholars to study abroad.
For further information:
http://www.cultuurfonds.nl/projecten/onderscheidingen-en-prijzen/prins-bernhard-cultuurfonds-prijs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heddy_Honigmann
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Photography by Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds.
