Ark Prize of the Free Word
Belgian award that honors people who are actively committed to freedom of thought
The Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord (Ark Prize of the Free Word) is a symbolic award created in 1951 by Herman Teirlinck and the editorial team of the Nieuw Vlaams Tijdschrift (New Flemish magazine) to counteract ideologically driven restrictions on the freedom of expression.
Teirlinck wanted to spotlight those persons who actively promote the freedom of opinion. No financial reward is associated with the prize. The names of the laureates are engraved in an art object (the Ark) kept in the AMVC in Antwerp.
Laureates of the Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord
1951 Christine D'Haen for 'Gedichten'
1952 Hugo Claus for De Metsiers
1953 Maurice D'Haese for De Heilige Gramschap
1954 Frans Goddemaere for 'Nola'
1955 Jos De Haes for 'Gedaanten'
1956 Frans De Bruyn for 'Tekens in Steen'
1957 Albert Bontridder for Dood Hout
1958 Ivo Michiels for 'Het Afscheid'
1959 Libera Carlier for 'Action Station - Go !
1960 Ward Ruyslinck for De madonna met de buil
1961 Hugues C. Pernath for 'Het Masker Man'
1962 Georges Hebbelinck for 'De Journalist'
1963 Paul Snoek for 'Richelieu'
1964 Daniel Robberechts for 'Zesmaal'
1965 Willy Roggeman for 'Blues for Glazen Blazers'
1966 Astère M. Dhondt for 'God in Vlaanderen'
1967 Jef Geeraerts for De Troglodieten
1968 C.C. Krijgelmans for 'Homunculi'
1969 Patrick Conrad for 'Mercantile Marine Engineering'
1970 Roger van de Velde for Recht op Antwoord
1971 Eddy Van Vliet for Columbus Tevergeefs
1972 Marcel van Maele for Ik ruik mensenvlees, zei de reus
1973 Rob Goswin for 'Vanitas Vanitas'
1974 Fernand Auwera for 'Zelfportret met Gesloten Ogen'
1975 Internationale Nieuwe Scene for 'Mistero Buffo'
1976 Leonard Nolens for Twee Vormen van Zwijgen
1977 Freddy de Vree for 'Steden en Sentimenten'
1978 Roger M.J. De Neef for 'Gestorven Getal'
1979 Frans Boenders for 'Denken in Tweespraak'
1980 Lucienne Stassaert for Parfait Amour
1981 Robbe De Hert for his movies.
1982 Maurice De Wilde for 'De Nieuwe Orde'
1983 Bert Van Hoorick for In Tegenstroom
1984 Leo Pleysier for Kop in Kas
1985 Daniel Buyle for his BRT-Journalism
1986 Tone Brulin for his theatre work.
1987 De Morgen and Paul Goossens for their journalism
1988 Leo Apostel for his philosophical work
1989 Stefan Hertmans for Bezoekingen
1990 André De Beul for his political courage
1991 Frie Leysen for ten year DeSingel
1992 Paula D'Hondt for her work for immigrants
1993 Jan Blommaert and Jef Verschueren for 'Het Belgisch Migrantendebat'
1994 Gerard Alsteens (GAL) for his graphical work
1995 Tom Lanoye for 'Maten en Gewichten'
1996 Gie van den Berghe for 'Getuigen'
1997 Wannes Van de Velde for his music
1998 Pjeroo Roobjee for his art
1999 Sophie de Schaepdrijver for De Groote Oorlog
2000 ZAK for his cartoons
2001 Ludo Abicht for Intelligente Emotie
2002 Pol Hoste for 'De Lucht naar Mirabel'
2003 Wim Distelmans for his contribution to the legalisation of euthanasia
2004 Rik Pinxten for 'De Artistieke Samenleving'
2005 Christine Van Broeckhoven, molecular geneticist
2006 Marleen Temmerman for 'Onrust in de Onderbuik'
2007 Roma vzw
2008 David Van Reybrouck for 'Missie'
2009 Luc Huyse for Seismograaf van de samenleving
2010 Geert Buelens: Europa Europa
2011 Philippe Van Parijs for his sociopolitical and ethical theories
2012 Peter Holvoet-Hanssen for 'De Reis naar Inframundo'
2013 Paul De Grauwe for reconsidering traditional economic models and arguing against the perversities of raw capitalism
2014 Jeroen Olyslaegers for Winst/Occupy Antwerpen
2015 Fikry El Azzouzi for Drarrie in de nacht (roman) en Reizen Jihad (theater)
2016 Reinhilde Decleir for Tutti Fratelli
2017 Apache.be, research journalism
2018 PEN Vlaanderen, commitment to free speech
2019 Anuna De Wever and Kyra Gantois, initiators of the Flemish Youth for Climate movement.
2020 Jozef Deleu, founding editor of the reviews Ons Erfdeel and Het liegend konijn.
2021 Caroline Pauwels
See also
Flemish literature
References
Lukas De Vos (red.): Een Onberaamd Verbond.
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