Arts and Culture Award for theater dinners in neighborhood restaurants
The interactive theater dinners at neighborhood restaurants Meerzicht and De Leyens have won the Arts & Culture Award 2024. With this award, the city honors individuals and organizations that contribute to art and culture in special ways. Stichting Korensound received the Incentive Award for their theater performance about Alzheimer's. Luigi Zuliani was awarded the Oeuvre Prize. Alderman Blansjaar (Art and Culture) presented the awards.
Arts and Culture Prize 2024
From 5 nominees, the jury chose the theater dinners in the neighborhood, a joint initiative of Scylla Theaterproducties, Wijck, Music and Mind, Palet Welzijn, InZet and De Goede Buur. During these dinners, visitors not only enjoyed a 3-course dinner, but were also surprised by a variety of art forms, such as improvisational theater, storytellers and live music. The judges expressed their appreciation: "With the interactive performances, you lower the barriers for residents, both to experience culture and to meet each other." The jury also praised the cooperation between the parties involved: "An inspiring example for the city."
Incentive Award
The Incentive Award is given to up-and-coming talent or someone who has made a special commitment to the city. Stichting Korensound received the award for their performance "Met een lach en een traan," which focuses on alzheimer's disease. Proceeds from the performance were donated to the Innkeeper and the Unforgettable Cooking Club. The jury was very impressed: "It is impressive to see so many people passionately working together on a project about such a difficult but important subject. This project teaches us: keep finding each other, because together you achieve so much more."
Oeuvre Prize
Luigi Zuliani received the Oeuvre Prize in recognition of his decades-long contribution to the art world. The name Zuliani is well known in the Netherlands: for more than 50 years, the family business has realized a variety of designs by visual artists. When manufacturing art objects, Zuliani often plays an active role in the (technical) design, construction and execution, through which the company turns artists' ideas into reality. The works of art can be admired not only in Zoetermeer, but throughout the Netherlands and beyond. The jury emphasized, "Zuliani has been invaluable to the city's culture. After a long and beautiful career, a well-deserved retirement and a deserved Oeuvre Prize now follow."
About the Arts and Culture Awards
The Municipality of Zoetermeer presented the Arts & Culture Awards this year for the 20th time. Various nominees performed during the festive evening at CKC & Partners. The jury consisted of alderman Wim Blansjaar (Art and Culture), Charles Droste (director Stadstheater), Yuri Nikerk (PvdA city councilor), Janneke van der Ende (editor Streekblad) and Adty Rees (culture enthusiast).