On December 6th, 2023, during the UNESCO 18.COM in Kasane, Botswana, #HeritageAlive and the ICH NGO Forum had the pleasure to award Charlotte Courtois from the UNESCO accredited NGO Konstelacio in France, this year’s Albert van der Zeijden Prize. With this award Charlotte is being recognized for her contributions to #HeritageAlive and her work supporting the spirit of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Albert van der Zeijden Prize was established in honor of our friend and colleague the late Dr. Albert van der Zeijden. Albert was an active member of the #HeritageAlive Editorial Board since the beginning in 2012. He was a highly involved member of the NGO Forum, and a highly appreciated as a great colleague and friend in our ICH family. In the summer of 2021 Albert van der Zeijden passed away. The Albert van der Zeijden prize was introduced to acknowledge the prestigious work that Albert has done for the ICH NGO Forum and for #HeritageAlive. The ICH NGO Forum have decided to award a scholarship of 500 euros to a successful author and appointed the #HeritageAlive Editorial board to act as the prize jury. In 2022, the first Albert van der Zeijden Prize was rewarded Laura Lopez from CIOFF.
The winner of the Albert van der Zeijden prize 2023 has greatly contributed to the #HeritageAlive publication on Storytelling with her article “Le fabuleux voyage d’Arwenn“.
The jury believes that the prize winner has demonstrated a true dedication to the 2003 Convention with the project and provided #HeritageAlive with a wonderful contribution. The winner is actively involved in her NGO, and closely works in communities and with the bearers, in the spirit of the convention.
Our warmest congratulations to Charlotte Courtois and her NGO, Konstelacio.
