Faroese Cultural Prize

Mentanarvirðisløn Landsins has been awarded by the Faroese government to Faroese writers, musicians, artists etc. since 1998. In 2004 no award was given. From 1998 to 2000 only one award was given, but in 2001 they established an additional award, half as big as the original.
The prize is awarded by a board appointed by the Ministry of Culture. The board also gives additional special awards of 50.000 Danish Koroner and/or so-called sømdargávur or Sømdargáva landsins, given as a lifelong annual grant of DKK 20 000. The main award, Mentanarvirðisløn landsins, is DKK 150.000, and the heiðursgáva landsins is DKK 75.000 koroner.
In 2011 the awards were announced in December, with the next awards announced on 15 January 2013, which was William Heinesen's birthday. This was also the first time that the event was held in Klaksvík, being announced in Spaniastova and broadcast live on [Kringvarp Føroya|national Faroe Islands|Faroese radio]. The following year the prizes were handed out on 15 January in Stóra Pakkhús in Vágur.

Awarded cultural persons

Mentanarvirðisløn landsins – Faroese Cultural Prize

The main award, the Mentanarvirðisløn landsins, is DDK 150.000. These persons have won the award since it started in 1998:

2020 – Sigrun Gunnarsdóttir
2019 – Hanus G. Johansen
2018 – Bárður Jákupsson
2017 – Barbara í Gongini
2016 – Rúni Brattaberg
2015 – Annika Hoydal
2014 – Tórbjørn Olsen
2013 – Tróndur Patursson, artist
2012 – Tóroddur Poulsen, poet, writer, artist and musician
2011 – Jóanes Nielsen, writer and poet
2010 – Sunleif Rasmussen, composer
2009 – Kári Leivsson, poet and singer/songwriter
2008 – Ebba Hentze, writer
2006 – Zacharias Heinesen, artist
2005 – Tita Vinther, artist
2004 – No award given
2003 – Hanus Kamban, short story writer and translator
2002 – Gunnar Hoydal, writer
2001 – Eyðun Johannessen, actor and theatre director
2000 – Ingálvur av Reyni, artist
1999 – Jens Pauli Heinesen, novelist, short story writer and poet
1998 – Regin Dahl, poet and composer

Heiðursgáva landsins – Faroese Award of Honour

Heiðursgáva landsins is DKK 75.000. These persons and cultural institutions have received the award since 2001:

2019 – Simme Arge Jacobsen
2018 – Astrid Andreasen
2017 – Frits Johannesen
2016 – Steinprent
2015 – Jákup Pauli Gregoriussen, architect
2014 – Tey av Kamarinum
2013 – Árni Dahl, writer, editor
2012 – Marianne Clausen
2011 – Kristian Blak, Danish/Faroese composer, musician and owner of TUTL record company
2010 – Jonhard Mikkelsen, who started Sprotin, which publishes Faroese books. He has written and published several Faroese dictionaries
2009 – Laura Joensen, theatre actor
2008 – Martin Tórgarð, who got the award for his work with the Faroese chain dance and his gifts as skipari of the Faroese dance.
2007 – No award given
2006 – Jógvan Isaksen, crime fiction writer. He is also the head of Mentunargrunnur Studentafelagsins, which is a Faroese publishing house in Copenhagen.
2005 – Emil Juul Thomsen
2004 – No award given
2003 – Ólavur Hátún
2002 – Axel Tórgarð
2001 – Fuglafjarðar Sjónleikarafelag

Other Special Awards

The board can give a special award of DKK 50.000 if they think it appropriate. These persons have received the award:

Award to Young artist – (Virðisløn til ungt listafólk)

2019 – No award given
2018 – Búi Rouch, dancer og choreographer
2017 – Konni Kass, singer and songwriter.
2016 – Anna Malan Jógvansdóttir, poet
2015 – Andrias Høgenni, film director
2014 – Mathias Kapnas, musician
2013 – Trygvi Danielsen, writer and musician
2012 – Silja Strøm – young artist
2011 – Sakaris Stórá – young film director

Málrøktarvirðisløn Landsins – Award for exceptional work on the Faroese Language

2010 – Jóhan Hendrik Winther Poulsen, linguist

Serstøk virðisløn – Special Award

This special award is DKK 50.000. These persons have received the award:

2019 – The publication house Leirkerið with the brothers Zacharias Zachariasen and Flóvin Tyril
2006 – Jón Hilmar Magnússon
2001 – Ebba Hentze, children's writer

Sømdargáva landsins

Sømdargáva lansins is DKK 20.000, an annual subsidy for the rest of their lives.

2015 - Alexandur Kristiansen
2014 - Oddvør Johansen
2014 - Katrin Ottarsdóttir
2012 – Ebba Hentze
2012 – Hanus G. Johansen
2012 – Guðrið Poulsen