First edition of Tilburg Culture Awards on September 25!
On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Hall of Fame will host the very first edition of the Tilburg Culture Awards—an exciting new event celebrating Tilburg's creative scene!
An ode to creators, institutions, and audiences
The Tilburg Culture Awards were established as an annual tribute to the city's cultural sector. With a festive award show, live performances, and an exuberant after-party, it promises to be a new cultural highlight! During this festive evening, we will look back on the past season, but above all, we will look ahead: to new talent, established creators, and the vital role of art and culture in Tilburg today and tomorrow.
The awards arose from a joint desire of the organization and the Municipality of Tilburg to bundle and strengthen existing cultural awards into a single inclusive moment for the entire sector. Diversity in the broadest sense—in terms of disciplines, backgrounds, networks, and perspectives—is central to the program, the selection of nominees, as well as the composition of the jury.
The ambition is to continue to grow the Tilburg Culture Awards annually into a recognizable and inspiring anchor point within the city.
Three prestigious awards
During the award ceremony, three cross-disciplinary prizes will be awarded that reflect the diversity and impact of the scene in Tilburg:
- Talent of the Year – €2,500
- Creator of the Year – €5,000
- Proven Quality – €2,500
The nominees for each category will be announced shortly, with the exception of Proven Quality – this prize will be awarded as a surprise during the evening itself. The presentation will be hosted by comedian Glodi Lugungu (Comedytrain), who will host the award show with his humor and flair. The program will be accompanied by live music, dance, performances, and surprising twists – followed by a danceable party with music by Tilburg DJs and artists. The full program will be announced later.
A diverse and expert jury
The selection of nominees is in the hands of an independent jury, composed of professionals with a broad perspective on art, culture, and creative entrepreneurship. For this first edition, the jury consists of:
- Verily Klaassen (jury chair) – Head of Art Affairs, Rabobank
- Bas Veekens – Head of Music, Kultlab
- Jamal Jama – Founder & Creative Director, Whatsculture
- Harm Rensink – Exhibition & Interior Designer, Studio Harm Rensink
- Dimphna van Kempen – Director & Education Creator, HNTjong
Believe in the power of the city
The organization is run by Ruud Lemmen, Marjolein Fischer, and Tyrone Tjon-a-loi. They believe in the diversity and new energy of culture in Tilburg. “There is so much happening in this city. It is time we made this visible, celebrated it, and recognized it in an innovative and refreshing way.”
The Tilburg Culture Awards are free for anyone who cares about culture in the city: creators, organizers, policymakers, students, enthusiasts, and curious folks. It'll be an evening full of meeting people, connecting, inspiration, and celebration. Reserve your ticket here.
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