Theater collective Female Economy wins Cultuurfonds Prize: ‘Tight, creative and unique’

NOS News•today, 12:07

The Cultuurfonds Prize was won this year by theater collective Female Economy. This was announced this afternoon on NPO Radio 1. Every year the prize goes to an institution or person that has made a long-term commitment to culture or nature. This has been happening since 2010.

“This close-knit, creative and unique collective really gives meaning to the word connection, by bringing people from everywhere together in unexpected places and involving them as participants or audiences in fantastic performances,” says Cathelijne Broers, director of the Cultural Fund.

Actress and theater maker Adelheid Roosen founded the foundation 25 years ago. Roosen and stage director Ola Mafaalani are together the artistic leaders of their self-proclaimed “theatre pack”. On their website they say they are “deeply grateful and deeply moved” by the prize and call it a crowning achievement for their work.

The fund’s advisory committee calls the theater collective a great example. The committee is very pleased with how Female Economy “literally takes people in cultural tow”. “The stories are real, the artistic value is very high. And the working method is unique: really walking around in each other’s lives, delving into the other person and then allowing artists and local and city residents to work together.”

According to the committee, this not only ensures beautiful performances, but also “equality and intense connection with new groups in society, involvement. A cultural and positive counterpoint to the current polarization.”

The festive ceremony will take place in Theater Zuidplein in Rotterdam on November 20. Queen Máxima will then award the prize of 100,000 euros to the theater collective. Last year the prize, then still the Prince Bernhard Cultural Fund Prize, went to the Anne Frank Foundation.