Abu Dhbai, Amsterdam, Oct., 27th, 2006 (WAM)---Along with celebrating the10th anniversary of its prestigious awards, the Prince Claus Fund is presentingin next December three of the prestigious 2006 Prince Claus Awards to Arab and Middle Eastern cultural figures and associations who have achievedcultural and artistic excellence, announced the Hague-based Prince ClausFund on its official website.

Alongside the Principal Prince Claus Award which goes to Iranian graphicdesigner Reza Abedini, who will receive the 100,000 euro award at a festiveceremony at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam in December, an Afghan visualartist, a Lebanese cultural organizer, a Pakistani theatre director anda Palestinian non-profit organization will be presented with three ofthe other ten Prince Claus Additional Awards of 25,000 euro each at theDutch embassies in the countries where the recipients live in Decemberand January.

"This award celebrates Reza Abedini's superb graphic design and his individualskill in adapting collective knowledge, making it new and compelling today...

(and) draws attention to the rich diversity of Iranian culture, bothhistoric and contemporary, recognizes the impact of graphic design asa powerful global medium of communication and highlights the traditionand role of radical graphic design both in the laureate's own countryand across the world", said the Prince Claud Fund The Prince Claus Fundwhich "aims at increasing cultural awareness and promoting exchange betweenculture and development and views culture as a basic need."Announced as one of the 2006 Prince Claus Awards laureates working inthe area of cultural education and debate, Palestine's Al KamandjatiAssociation has been established in 2002 to give music lessons to Palestinianchildren, particularly those living in refugee camps and in marginalizedvillages in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon.

This award honors Al Kamandjati for creating spaces of hope for Palestinianchildren. It sees music as a universal language that provides Palestinianchildren with an understanding of their own culture, facilitates culturalexchanges and the development of tolerance and understanding of others."Al Kamandjati (meaning the violinist in Arabic) "brings musicians fromaround the world to run these workshops and to perform for children? andwith partners in Europe, it organizes solidarity concerts and fundraisingcampaigns, and collects musical instruments and teaching materials totake back to the camps ...(and) operates within the extremely difficultcircumstances of refugee communities, (guiding) youthful energy away fromdestructive impulses transforming it into positive creativity and usesmusic to bring peace and opportunity", said the Prince Claus Fund.

Lebanese Laureate Christine Tohme, cultural organizer and curator (b.

1964, Beirut)in 1994 when the turbulent political, economic and culturalcontext dominated the Middle East, founded the Lebanese Association forthe Plastic Arts under the name "Ashkal Alwan" as a non-profit organizationthat initiates and supports the production of contemporary artistic practiceand provides a grounding for critical reflection and theory with the aimof promoting free thought and critical discourse in Lebanon.

"An important aspect of her achievement is the creation of links withinthe region and internationally. With twelve years of consistent and energeticnetworking she has brought contemporary Lebanese art making to the globalplatform.. (and has become) one of the most influential curators in theregion, working with both established artists and new voices, and is anactive partner in south-south projects, said The Prince Claus Fund.

Tohme facilitates, through Ashkal Alwan, the making and presentation ofexcellent contemporary art, including site-specific installations andperformance, stimulates interdisciplinary work in all media and promotesa contemporary notion of artistic production.

Recognized this year by the Prince Claus Fund as one of the Laureatesworking in the area of the visual arts, Lida Abdul (1973, Afghanistan), a visual artist who uses diverse media including video, film, photography,installation and live performance to explore and visualize issues of 'home'and identity, "fights against the senseless destruction of cultural heritagein her country and highlights women's role in society."In recognition of the "outstanding artistic quality of her work (which)is combined with powerful political and social statements, this awardcelebrates the artistic excellence and courageous creativity of Lida Abdul,it also highlights the important role of culture and foregrounds the voiceof women in the context of post-war reconstruction", said Prince ClausFund.

From Pakistan, Madeeha Gauhar (1956, Pakistan), winner of the Award forworking in the area of theatre, is an recognized this year as "an outstandingactor, theatre director and women's rights activist who set in 1983 theAjoka Theatre, which produces challenging, socially relevant works andperforms in the streets and community spaces."