Toespraak Prins Claus bij uitreiking Hoofdprijs 1999 Prins Claus Fonds, Amsterdam, 8 december 1999
Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Prins Claus der Nederlanden heeft woensdag 8 december in het Koninklijk Paleis te Amsterdam de Hoofdprijs 1999 van het Prins Claus Fonds uitgereikt. De hoofdprijs en de ceremonie stonden in het teken van Creating Spaces of Freedom. Dit thema verwijst naar de inventieve manier waarop kunstenaars en intellectuelen in beperkende omstandigheden ruimte creëren voor vrije meningsuiting. Hieronder volgt de volledige tekst van de toespraak waaruit de Prins bij die gelegenheid gedeelten heeft voorgedragen.
Your Majesty,
Your Highness,
Your Excellencies,
Esteemed Laureates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last year, we came under the spell of the "Art of African Fashion", when this venerable building, which embodies the self-assurance of the proud burghers and regents of centuries past, hosted a show of beautiful ladies wearing colourful and striking garments. And we may indeed recall that Amsterdam was once the banking and trading centre of the world. The people who entered this temple of mammon in that bygone age were keen representatives of early capitalism.
Today, however, we are dealing with a very different kind of subject - achievements that excel not in the material sphere but in the realm of human and intellectual endeavour. This year, our Fund, the generous birthday gift presented to me by the Dutch Government in 1996, seeks to highlight special examples of free expression. The Fund wishes to honour individuals and organisations that dare to adopt a critical approach to culture, society and ideology, and that dare to create spaces in which debate has free rein. This means not flinching from the possible consequences of criticism. It means having the strength to put oneself in a vulnerable position.
Freedom is not always of a physical nature. A free mind can create a kind of inner peace that no-one can take away. Throughout the world, people we generally refer to as "intellectuals" create the kind of freedom that they themselves desire and need, and offer hope to others. They may express their ideas in works of art, in books, or in the media; on a modest or a large scale; in a small circle or to the public at large. We may not immediately recognise the underlying message. Ideas may be conveyed in rap music or poetry, cabaret or comedy. Any number of forms are conceivable in which ideas can be presented that make people think, and that generate debate.
Let us consider the paths travelled by this year's three Laureates. One left his country in order to find a space for creative work. Another forged a space in which to express himself in the margins of his own society. The third transcended the confines of his country, working in what we might call "global space". We might describe these three paths, respectively, as exploring space, going underground or taking up the global challenge. These are the themes for this year's Principal Award, and I should like to take a brief look at each one.
Artists and intellectuals can go abroad in order to engage in debate. They can move to what we might call "external cultural capitals", such as Cairo for the Sudanese or Paris for Algerians. In 1995, the Algerian comedian Mohamed Fellag moved to Paris, where he enjoyed the protection of distance. There, he uses humour as a vehicle for discussing things that are taboo in Algerian society. His performances are in French, Arabic and Kabyle; he reaches audiences in France and in Algeria, to whom his tapes are a breath of fresh air.
Alternatively, an area of cultural freedom can be carved out locally, in the margins of society. The Cuban magazine Vitral enjoys the protection that often goes with a small-scale venture. In cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church in its home base of Pinar del Río, it has provided a platform for intellectuals, artists and philosophers to speak out. Encouraged by its growing readership, Vitral allows a wide variety of voices to be heard in Cuba, revealing possibilities that seemed unimaginable only a little while ago.
Finally, critics can step out into the full glare of the global limelight. This means seeking international exposure, openly challenging constraints while finding protection in the large number of people who hear their message. The Qatari satellite channel Al-Jazeera broadcasts throughout the Arab world, providing a platform for those who need it. "In order to present one view, we must also present the opposing view," explains the Managing Director, and this is exactly what Al-Jazeera does. Witness the many satellite dishes with which Arab-speaking audiences all over the world follow the debates of our time.
The work and achievements of the three recipients of the award serve as an encouragement and an example to all those struggling to create spaces of freedom. Today, the Prince Claus Fund wishes to honour not only them, but all creators of spaces of freedom throughout the world. Ernesto Ortiz Hernández of Vitral magazine said to us, "It is as if I were on a desert island, holding only a bottle with a message in it." Well, the message is no longer in the bottle. It has reached the world. And so have the messages from Mohamed Fellag and the views broadcast by Al-Jazeera. Let the 1999 Prince Claus Award be a tribute to all those struggling to create spaces of freedom. May their efforts be given the opportunity to flourish. There can be no development without culture, and there can be no cultural development without freedom of debate.
I should like to ask the three recipients of the Principal 1999 Prince Claus Award for "Creating Spaces of Freedom" to come forward: Mr. Mohammed Fellag, Mr. Dagoberto Valdés Hernández, Director of Vitral, Mr. Mahmoud Sahlawi, Vice-President of Al-Jazeera.
Het Prins Claus Fonds voor Cultuur en Ontwikkeling werd ter gelegenheid van de zeventigste verjaardag van Prins Claus op 6 september 1996 opgericht, met als doel het vergroten van het inzicht in culturen en het bevorderen van de wisselwerking tussen cultuur en ontwikkeling. Het Prins Claus Fonds stimuleert en ondersteunt activiteiten op het gebied van cultuur en ontwikkeling door het uitreiken van prijzen, het ondersteunen en uitgeven van publicaties en het stimuleren van innovatieve projecten. De nadruk ligt daarbij op landen in Afrika, Azië en Latijns-Amerika. Jaarlijks kent het Fonds de Prins Claus Prijzen toe vanwege uitzonderlijke prestaties die passen in de doelstellingen van het Fonds. De Hoofdprijs bedraagt 100.000 US dollar, de andere prijzen bedragen elk 20.000 US dollar.