An inside look at the Seychelles Arts Awards 2025 judging process with Jury Chairman Gabriel Essack |23 July 2025
‘The judging was tough – Every artist deserved recognition’
As the Seychelles Arts Awards 2025 draws near, anticipation is high – not just for the winners, but for what the event symbolises: the celebration of Seychelles’ rich and evolving creative landscape.
Behind the glamour of the awards night, however, lies a rigorous judging process led by a dedicated panel of experts. We sat down with Gabriel Essack, chairman of the Jury Panel for the Arts Awards 2025, to understand what went on behind the scenes and why, this year more than ever, the decisions were some of the toughest to make.
Q: Mr Essack, how would you describe the judging process for this year’s Arts Awards?
Gabriel Essack: Intense and incredibly demanding. We had a panel of seven jurists – professionals in arts, culture, and media – who were fully committed to ensuring that the evaluation was as fair and objective as possible. Each artist submitted a detailed application, which included a CV and supporting materials like photographs, newspaper features, certificates, letters of recommendation, and records of previous awards. These weren’t just portfolios – they were stories of lives dedicated to creativity and community.
Q: What criteria were used to assess the nominees?
Gabriel Essack: The jury looked at multiple elements, such as the artist’s impact over the past ten years, their contribution to their art form, community engagement, and overall body of work. Some nominees participated in multiple categories, which made the process even more complex. We also had to distinguish between self-nominated candidates and those nominated by others, though ultimately, all were judged based on the merit of their work and achievements.
Q: With so many talented individuals in the running, how did the jury ensure fairness in the final decisions?
Gabriel Essack: We developed a point system using Excel to help guide our assessments and reduce bias. It allowed us to apply the same standards across all submissions in a systematic and transparent way. Still, even with that structure, it was incredibly hard. Most of the artists had impressive resumes, and the difference between winners and finalists was often marginal. There were many late evenings filled with difficult discussions – but in the end, decisions had to be made.
Q: That sounds like quite a challenge. Were there any lessons or insights you took from this process?
Gabriel Essack: Absolutely. Every edition of the Seychelles Arts Awards is a learning curve. We’re constantly refining our methodology to make the process more equitable and inclusive. The goal is to better valorise the contributions of artists across all disciplines, ensuring that their efforts are recognised with the respect they deserve. The 2025 edition reflects this ongoing evolution.
Q: Any final thoughts as we approach the Awards night?
Gabriel Essack: At the risk of sounding clichéd, I truly believe every nominee is a winner. The level of talent, dedication, and creative spirit in Seychelles is remarkable. These artists are not only shaping our cultural identity but also proving that Seychelles can stand proudly on both regional and international stages. I’m deeply honoured to have been part of this process.
The Seychelles Arts Awards 2025 will be held on Saturday July 26 at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS). The event will be broadcast live by the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) on SBC 3 at 6pm.
Contributed