The 2026 laureates were Ellen Loots and Marjelle Vermeulen, from the Erasmus University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, for their jointly developed teaching method “Impact Education in Cultural Management: Experiential Learning through Real-World Impact Assessment”.
Ellen Loots
Dr. Ellen Loots is an Associate Professor of Cultural Economics and Entrepreneurship at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Her work focuses on the intersection of entrepreneurship and creativity, with a strong commitment to sustainability and community.
Through research, education, and international collaborations, Dr. Loots explores innovative approaches to entrepreneurship, finance, business model innovation, and cross-sector partnerships in the cultural and creative sectors. Current projects span topics including new funding models, self-curating in artistic careers, Art-Science-Technology collaborations, circular entrepreneurship in fashion and textiles and participatory business models in museums and cultural heritage. The overarching aim is to empower individuals and organisations to create meaningful social, cultural, and environmental impact.
Marjelle Vermeulen
Dr. Marjelle Vermeulen is impact researcher at Impact Centre Erasmus. She conducts (action) research into the societal value of arts and culture, including cultural participation. In 2022, she obtained her PhD from Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) with a dissertation entitled Assessing the Social Impact of Organizations in the Cultural and Creative Industries.
Within the cultural and creative industries, she supports organisations seeking to strategically advance their societal ambitions and to assess their societal outcomes and impact. In this capacity, she has collaborated with organisations including the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Van Gogh Museum, the Netherlands Film Fund, the Rijksmuseum, several Dutch municipalities, and different smaller artistic organisations, such as Women Connected and Time Window.
Her current research explores how cultural organisations, such as museums, can strategically pursue their societal ambitions through a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ESG criteria. In addition, she is actively engaged in the cultural field to strengthen the role of impact thinking and impact-driven management. To foster knowledge sharing and inspire practice, she teaches university students and delivers education, workshops, and presentations for executives and professionals.
