Every year the University of Antwerp awards honorary degrees for services rendered to society. This year the honour goes to theatre and opera directors Ivo van Hove and Guy Cassiers.
“Ivo Van Hove is a pioneering, multi-talented and internationally-oriented theatre-maker”, explained rector Alain Verschoren. “He is also a stage director, programmer and teacher. In the theatre he typically demolishes walls between word and technique, between reason and emotion, between innovation and tradition.” Van Hove does not allow borders to stand in his way. “He thinks geographically outside the box. His productions have been staged internationally and he has worked with German, American, Dutch and Belgian actors.”
Toneelhuis director Guy Cassiers is also a leading European theatre-maker. He is well-known for his sophisticated intermedia theatre, which takes the form of a subtle choreography of theatre, video, visual art and literature. “The various media interact in his productions, bringing all the spectator’s senses into play. His idiosyncratic theatrical language is appraised at home and abroad”, Verschoren continued.
The honorary degrees for scientific services go to four foreign researchers, all at the top of their game.
Rebecca Blank (University of Wisconsin, USA) researched poverty and welfare policy and participated in White House decision-making under presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Economist Paul Collier (Oxford University, Great Britain) specializes in the African economy and researches pressing global issues such as the effects of development aid and governance in low-income countries. Haruo Sugiyama (Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan) has made major contributions to cancer treatments making him one of the world’s great pioneers in the field. Finally, Sandra Hale (University of New South Wales, Australia) was recognized for her work in community interpreting, and forensic linguistic/court interpreting in particular.
The honorary degrees will be awarded in a ceremony on Wednesday April 2nd.