Prešeren Prizes and Prešeren Fund Prizes are the highest recognition in the Republic of Slovenia for achievements in the field of artistic creation. They are awarded for a range of expressions of artistic work.
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Photographer Stojan Kerbler is beyond any doubt the pivot of Slovenian photography. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA
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Dancer Milko Šparemblek devoted his life not only to classical ballet but studied modern dance techniques as well. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA
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Nina Ivanišin is member of the ensemble of the SNT Drama theatre in Ljubljana, is being honoured for her roles of Antigone, Francka, Nežka and Agata Schwarzkobler, and of heroines in her freelance projects over the past three years. In December 2019 she won the Stane Sever Fund Prize for a similar selection of her performances. Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
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Versatile costume designer Alan Hranitelj won over the jury with his exhibition Parallel Worlds. Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
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For a number of years, accordionist Luka Juhart has worked intensively with contemporary composers, asking them to write music for him and other musicians. Photo: Nik Jevšnik
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Rok Biček, a film director, producer and scriptwriter, won the recognition for his documentary The Family (2017), which he filmed over the span of ten years at the home of the Rajk family in the vicinity of Novo mesto. The film also earned him the top honour from the Semaine de la critique section of the Locarno Film Festival. Photo: Bor Slana
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Suzana Koncut was awarded the prize for her translations characterised by her sophisticated aesthetic expression and the relevant textual dimensions of thought. Photo: Miha Fras
Photographer Stojan Kerbler, and ballet dancer and choreographer Milko Šparemblek were declared the winners of this year's Prešeren Prizes.
The 2020 Prešeren Fund Prizes went to actress Nina Ivanišin, accordionist and composer Luka Juhart, film director Rok Biček, costume designer Alan Hranitelj, designer Nejc Prah, and translator Suzana Koncut. National awards recognise accomplishments in the fields of musical arts and ballet, visual arts, performing arts, books and publishing, library activities, film, cultural heritage, intermedia art, media and audiovisual culture.
Winning an award gives recognition, but receiving a Prešeren Prize or a Prešeren Fund Prize is the ultimate accolade in the eyes of artists.
The Prešeren Prize is given to artists who have permanently enriched Slovenian cultural heritage with their outstanding artistic achievements during their lifetime’s work. The Prešeren Fund Prize is given to artists for their outstanding artistic achievements that were presented to the public in the three years prior to the award and enrich Slovenian cultural heritage. Since 1991 a maximum of two Prešeren Prizes and six Prešeren Fund Prizes have been conferred each year.
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It is the name of France Prešeren more than any other that exudes the universal significance of exceptional artistic creativity and proud national awareness, bringing together different types of creative endeavour and different means of expression. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
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The Prešeren Award Ceremony is an important annual event. Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
History
The presentation of the awards dates back to 1946. By way of an act adopted in 1955, the awards were named after France Prešeren.
At the beginning, the awards were not only given for artistic achievements, but were also presented to academicians, scientists, researchers and innovators.
Since 1961 the prizes have been given solely for artistic endeavours. The law provides that Prešeren Prizes and Prešeren Fund Prizes are presented by the Prešeren Fund Management Board at a ceremony marking Prešeren Day, the Slovenian national cultural holiday. As a rule, an individual may win the Prešeren Prize only once. Every year faculties and academies of the University of Ljubljana award Student Prešeren Prizes and University Prešeren Prizes to students excelling in arts and sciences.
Source: Ministry of Culture
Date: 1. November 2019
Time to read: 2 min
