The jury recognised Nataliya Ivanova for her “outstanding work as a curator, educator, and as the founder and director of the Yermilov Centre. Under her leadership, the Yermilov Centre has consolidated its role as a cultural institution and a space of care, and has become a shining example of how arts organisations can fulfil their social mission,” reads a post on the award’s Instagram page.
The organisers also announced the recipients of the accompanying scholarships, including another Ukrainian curator, Alyona Karavay. Her work was recognised “for building sustainable structures to support contemporary art outside major cities, as well as for transforming wartime initiatives into long-term regional strategies”.
The prize is named after the Slovenian curator and art historian Igor Zabel (1958–2005) and is one of the most prestigious awards recognising cultural activities related to Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. It has been awarded every two years since 2008 by the Erste Foundation and the Igor Zabel Association.
The award ceremony will take place in Ljubljana on 26–27 November 2026.