Praemium Imperiale



The Praemium Imperiale (高松宮殿下記念世界文化賞) is an international art prize inaugurated in 1988 and awarded since 1989 by the Imperial family of Japan on behalf of the Japan Art Association in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theatre/film.

The prize consists of a gold medal and 15 million Japanese yen, and was created by the Fujisankei Communications Group, which pays the expenses of around $3 million per year. The prizes are awarded for outstanding contributions to the development, promotion and progress of the arts.

Information
The Praemium Imperiale is awarded in the memory of Prince Takamatsu (1905–1987), younger brother of Emperor Shōwa who reigned from 1926 through 1989. Prince Takamatsu was famous for his longtime support of the development, promotion and progress of arts in the world.

The laureates are announced each September; the prize presentation ceremony and related events are held in Tokyo, Japan, each November. The prize presentation ceremony is held in the presence of His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, President of the Japan Art Association, at the Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo. Prince Hitachi presents the prizes to the selected laureates. The prize consists of a gold medal and 15 million Japanese yen, and was created by the Fujisankei Communications Group, which pays the expenses of around $3 million per year.

The laureates are annually recommended by international advisers, and decided by an anonymous committee of the Japan Art Association. The advisers include Yasuhiro Nakasone, William H. Luers, Lamberto Dini, François Pinault, Chris Patten, and Klaus-Dieter Lehmann. Honorary advisers included Jacques Chirac, David Rockefeller, David Rockefeller Jr., Helmut Schmidt and Richard von Weizsäcker.

Grants for Young Artists
Since 1997, a series of grants have been made to organizations which nourish young artists.
 * 1997 Hanoi Conservatory of Music, Vietnam
 * 1998 Polish National Film, Television and Theater School, Poland
 * 1999 Instituto Superior de Arte, Cuba
 * 2000 Ulster Youth Orchestra, Northern Ireland
 * 2001 Résidence du Festival, France
 * 2002 European Union Youth Orchestra
 * 2003 De Sono Associazione per la Musica, Italy
 * 2004 Young Sound Forum of Central Europe
 * 2005 Kusatsu International Summer Music Academy, Japan
 * 2006 State Foundation of the National Network of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela (El Sistema)
 * 2007 West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
 * 2008 Italian Youth Orchestra, Italy
 * 2009 Kremerata Baltica, Latvia/Lithuania/Estonia
 * 2010 Asian Youth Orchestra
 * 2011 Southbank Sinfonia and The Royal Court Young Writers Programme
 * 2012 The Sphinx Organization, US
 * 2013 The JuniOrchestra of Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome
 * 2014 The Zinsou Foundation, Benin
 * 2015 Yangon Film School, Myanmar/Germany
 * 2016 Five Arts Centre, Malaysia
 * 2017 Zoukak Theatre Company and Cultural Association, Lebanon
 * 2018 Shakespeare Schools Foundation
 * 2019 Démos (Philharmonie de Paris)
 * 2021 The Advanced Training School of the Central Institute for Restoration, Italy
 * 2022 Kronberg Academy Foundation (Germany)
 * 2023 Rural Studio, US and Harlem School of the Arts, US