About The Evens Foundation

The Evens Foundation is a public benefit organisation that initiates, designs and supports tangible projects and supports innovative individuals that contribute to rethinking the European reality.

Working across the fields of Education, Journalism, the Arts, Democracy and Science, it seeks out new ways of thinking and working, fostering innovation and progressive dialogue at every level of society. By bringing together people from different cultures, communities and contexts, it actively explores how we could live together harmoniously in Europe today.

The Foundation was initiated by Irene Evens-Radzyminska and George Evens in 1990. Having witnessed the horrors of World War Two, which forced them to flee their home in Poland, they found new hope in Belgium. The foundation’s creation was an expression of their belief in – and commitment to – the European Project: a vision of a Europe where unity and solidarity would prevail over discord.

Since then, the Evens Foundation has evolved in response to the changing needs and concerns of communities within the EU and beyond while remaining committed to the values of diversity, freedom, responsibility and solidarity.

What We Do

Today, the Evens Foundation strives towards greater understanding and unity between cultures and communities by supporting the work of innovators and leading practitioners across multiple specialisms and disciplines. This is expressed practically through two main strands: projects and prizes.

With its biennial Evens Prizes for Education, Art, Journalism and Science, the Foundation seeks out and recognises practitioners and organisations who are breaking new ground. This is often expressed through an open call for nominees, focusing on a particular subject or challenge: an approach specifically designed to surface ideas and specialisms that often fall outside of the traditional remit of awards programmes. Each of the Prizes is judged by an independent panel of leading figures within each sector, including prominent researchers from prestigious universities, museum and festival directors, high-profile journalists, advocates and activists.

Alongside this, the Foundation collaborates with organisations and individuals to realise projects that engage new and existing audiences and create space for diverse approaches. Since the Foundation’s beginnings, it has taken risks by stimulating experimentation – either by designing its own projects or supporting other independent pioneers in developing pilot programmes that test scientific hypotheses, innovative pedagogies or artistic processes, connecting research to reality. Recent examples include anti-radicalisation resources for teachers, training for journalists in exile, and an exploration into the on-the-ground experiences and needs of journalists in Central-Eastern Europe.

Together, these two strands generate a continually evolving global web of citizens, scientists and researchers, academics, NGOs and institutions, artists, educators, media, philanthropists, philosophers and more: a unique network of people who are helping to forge Europe’s future.