- Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands on nurturing culture for a freer world
Our relationship with arts and culture is heavily nuanced, to say the least. In many ways, our ability to make art, to connect with others, and to tell stories is the cornerstone of what makes us human. But, like with many of the things that make us inherently human, we tend to overlook the impact that the arts can have on us – both as individuals and as a greater whole.
Importantly, arts and culture shape our growth as humankind. They provoke thought, build connections, and drive change. But to do this, artists need to be supported, and the ongoing undervaluation of the arts makes this increasingly challenging. One beacon within the landscape of using arts and culture to drive societal change is the Prince Claus Fund – an independent foundation dedicated to development through culture established in the memory of Prince Claus von Amsberg, the husband of former Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix I.
The Prince Claus Fund recently concluded its first-ever Prince Claus Fund Biennial Symposium here in Sri Lanka last week, with a three-day programme that celebrates the potential of arts and culture to make meaningful social change.
On the final day of the symposium, The Sunday Morning Brunch sat down with Prince Claus Fund Honorary Chair Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands for a bit more insight into the transformative work of the Prince Claus Fund, his personal reflections on art, and the recently concluded Biennial Symposium.
Serving as the Honorary Chair of the Prince Claus Fund, Prince Constantijn plays a crucial role in contributing to the development of art and culture by supporting emerging creatives through awards, mentorship, and financial assistance.
As the Chair of the Prince Claus Fund, he has been actively involved in honouring artists and cultural practitioners whose excellent work has made a positive contribution to their societies. His dedication to gathering analytical knowledge and making it accessible has been an outstanding contribution to freedom of information and development.
The Prince Claus Fund’s far-reaching mission
Established in 1996 as a tribute to Prince Constantijn’s father, the Prince Claus Fund stands as a testament to the enduring power of culture in shaping identities and challenging societal norms. The fund’s mission, as articulated by Prince Constantijn, is to “create a community of cultural practitioners to contribute to a more open society and a freer world through art and culture”.
As an Honorary Chair of the fund, Prince Constantijn’s involvement spans two decades, reflecting a deep-seated passion for art, culture, and fundamental freedoms. In his own words: “I care about art and culture, and I care about human rights and fundamental freedoms. The two are really important.” This synergy between culture and human rights is the driving force behind the fund’s initiatives, emphasising the role of culture in establishing identities and empowering individuals.
Core to the Prince Claus Fund’s mission is its commitment to breaking free from traditional North-South relationships in the art world. Prince Constantijn underscored the significance of connecting cultural activists and artists globally. He envisions a world where artists collaborate, transcending geographical boundaries and fostering interconnectedness.
“The Prince Claus Fund is supporting and connecting cultural activists and artists globally. We decided we want to break out of the North-South relationship and create more interconnectivity between the artists,” Prince Constantijn shared.
This commitment manifests in various programmes, including the recently concluded Biennial Symposium, which culminated in ‘Seeds of the Future’ – a presentation by selected artists who have been supported by the Prince Claus Fund Seed Award.
The Prince Claus Fund Biennial Symposium
The Prince Claus Fund Biennial Symposium, curated under the theme ‘Legacies of Care, Failures, and Emerging Solidarities,’ marked a historic moment in its cultural calendar. The symposium aimed to facilitate South-to-South knowledge exchange, emphasising the potential of culture to foster positive societal change.
This symposium, held for the first time, was held in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, a move that Prince Constantijn revealed was a strategic decision built around increasing accessibility to artists in the Global South, taking into account the country’s accessibility, welcoming atmosphere, and the opportunity to form new connections. Moreover, the collaboration with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, an organisation dedicated to preserving the legacy of renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, added a unique dimension to the event.
“The Prince Claus Fund hasn’t had the opportunity to do a lot in Sri Lanka yet. It was good for us to go, make new connections, and develop relationships,” Prince Constantijn explained.
The symposium featured a diverse array of activities, including keynotes, performances, tours, and more, providing a platform for cultural practitioners to engage in meaningful conversations.
Planting seeds for emerging artists to thrive
Central to the Prince Claus Fund’s vision is the recognition and support of emerging socially engaged artists through the Seed Awards. Prince Constantijn discussed the Seed Awardees, highlighting their role in creating lasting positive change within their local communities. “The Seed Awards are presented annually to 100 artists and cultural practitioners, offering recognition and financial support of 5,000 euros for recipients to use at their own discretion,” he stated.
The 2023 Seed Awards recognised three Sri Lankan artists, each of whom are striving to drive forward social change through their work:
- Chathuri Nissansala, a Sri Lankan artist with a Commonwealth Scholarship, masterfully blends performance art, painting, sculpture, and graphics. Her solo exhibition, ‘Ritualising the disfigured: Memorials of healing from Sri Lanka,’ explores gender, queerness, and nationalism, captivating audiences across Asia.
- Parilojithan Ramanathan, a multidisciplinary artist based in Sri Lanka, specialises in painting and lens-based mediums. Co-Founder of ‘We Are From Here,’ his work captures fleeting moments, delving into themes of displacement, impermanence, and community, offering a unique perspective on societal narratives.
- Suranga Katugampala, whose artistic journey, from studying multimedia in Italy to filmmaking in Sri Lanka, culminates in explorations of migration’s impact. His first feature-length film, ‘For a Son,’ intricately examines generational effects, and his collaborations with Italy highlight the complexities of identity and artistic expression.
To close the Biennial Symposium, Lunuganga, the iconic Bentota country estate of Geoffrey Bawa, played host to a public evening programME titled ‘Seeds for the Future,’ showcasing the work of 11 Seed Awardees.
Speaking with Brunch ahead of the ‘Seeds for the Future’ event, Prince Constantijn shared his excitement about the artists showcasing their practices, spanning various disciplines and addressing urgent societal challenges. He also highlighted that the Seed Awardees, with their diverse projects, contributed immensely to the Prince Claus Fund’s goal of nurturing a sustainable and inclusive future through their brave and thought-provoking approaches to some of the most pressing issues of our time, like climate change, gender identity and LGBTQI+ issues, the experiences of marginalised communities, and decolonisation in the Global South.
Beyond the Seed Awards, the Prince Claus Fund’s impact extends to mentorship programmes and Impact Awards for experienced practitioners. Prince Constantijn highlighted the fund’s commitment to creating a global community of cultural practitioners who served as role models for future generations.
“The programme now works with individual artists, from the early stage emerging in our seed programme to our more mature mentor programme, and then the Impact Awards, for the experienced practitioners who are role models to communities,” he shared. These initiatives not only provide financial support but also offer the possibility to organise events around specific topics, further enriching the cultural landscape.
Prince Constantijn also hinted at the future trajectory of the Prince Claus Fund, sharing that the open call for the next Seed Awards is set to commence in December, with the next Biennial Symposium scheduled for approximately two years from now. The fund’s commitment to creating a more open society and a freer world through art and culture remains unwavering.
The soul of an artist
Stepping away from the work of the Prince Claus Fund, Brunch also chatted with Prince Constantijn on his personal interactions with art, particularly what inspired and engaged him most as someone who championed cultural initiatives globally.
Prince Constantijn expressed a particular interest in contemporary art like photography, painting, and sculpture, and performing arts like dance, while also sharing which forms of art he found more challenging than others to engage with.
“I find that with most art forms you are allowed to reflect and engage with them in your own time and space, whereas with video art it is something that you have to be there in the moment for. Even in a museum setting in the middle of the show, you have to choose to go and see the first part or the latter part. I find it harder to consume,” Prince Constantijn confessed, adding that another challenge of video-based art is that it is often difficult to experience to its fullest potential in a private, non-exhibitory setting.
Prince Constantijn has also dabbled in photography on his own (he also happens to be the Patron of the World Press Photo Foundation), with his personal photography leaning toward capturing graphic images in everyday life that are in themselves abstract – scenes which are not art by themselves, but which become art by being photographed.
An inspiring start to empowering global arts and culture
With the Biennial Symposium having concluded on a high note with ‘Seeds of the Future,’ Prince Constantijn expressed gratitude for the fruitful partnership with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust and the enriching experience of visiting Sri Lanka (his second visit to our shores).
Reflecting on the choice of Sri Lanka as a location, he noted: “We are grateful as a fund to do this and create a space where cultural activists from South Asia can come discuss these topics,” highlighting that Sri Lanka has played an invaluable role in bringing the Prince Claus Fund’s Biennial Symposium to life, not just as a logistical and hospitable backdrop for the symposium, but also as a symbolic location from which to bring together individuals from diverse parts of the world to engage in meaningful dialogue.
For more information on the Prince Claus Fund, its work and initiatives, visit:
Website: https://princeclausfund.org/