The jury consists of two artists and two curators: Niek Hendrix (previous Scheffer Prize winner), Paul van der Eerden (visual artist), Yasmijn Jarram (curator of Contemporary Art Kunstmuseum Den Haag) and Wilma Sütö (curator of modern & contemporary art, Dordrechts Museum). Jury chairman is Niels Zegers, of the Dordrechts Museum Association.
The prize was made possible by the Scheffer Fund, established with bequests from the painter Ary Scheffer (Dordrecht 1795 - Argenteuil 1858) and his family. It was Scheffer's wish to stimulate young artists and innovation in painting through this prize. The prize has previously been awarded to Niek Hendrix (2022) Susanna Inglada (2019), Raquel van Haver (2017) and Joost Krijnen (2015), among others.
The jury on the nominees: 'Three extraordinary artists give painting a magical aura,' the jury said. 'Their work is rich in symbols and stories that can flare up like visions. But it may also be small, refined and concentrated. The nominated artists create images full of meaning. They know how to enchant their material-from intense powdered pigment to watery veils of color-with poetry, a touch of humor, and deeply human desires and memories.
