Aveny-T
Recipient: Jacob Holdt
In 2025, the award ceremony was held at the Aveny-T theater in Frederiksberg.
The Bent Melchior Prize and the beautiful statuette created by Jens Galschiøt were awarded to Jacob Holdt, who is known for his series of photographs American Pictures from the 1970s, in which he sought to break down prejudices and create understanding between groups that are normally far apart.
As former Bent Melchior Prize winner (2024) Sarah Smed said in her motivational speech:
“This year’s award winner is a person who, throughout a long life and with what appears to be an impressively calm pulse, a compassionate presence, exemplary drive, and tireless storytelling, has reminded us all that encounters between people based on trust and openness can bring about change. That conversations should not be a battle of opinions with winners and losers, but should be seen as a movement rich in words and images – a kind of ‘contact sport’ of attitudes that touches but does not hurt.”
Read the evening's speeches:
