Culture
24 Mar 23

Pussy Riot to receive 2023 Woody Guthrie Prize

Pussy Riot. Credit: Katerina Nikitina.

The award will be presented during the ceremony, which will take place as part of the Woody Guthrie Center's 10th anniversary celebration, going from May 5th to 7th.

Russian feminist protest band Pussy Riot will receive the Woody Guthrie Prize in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 6. Afterwards, the punk-rock group will perform at the city‘s Cain‘s Ballroom.

The award ceremony takes place once a year and honours the artist who "best exemplifies Guthrie’s spirit and work by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance, or other art forms and serving as a positive force for social change."

Pussy Riot is known for their rebellious performances against the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin. In their fight for freedom and justice, the diverse group has been arrested several times. Founding member Nadya Tolokonnikova leads the group and invites: "Anyone can be Pussy Riot. Riot. Riot. Resist."

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The prize will be accepted by Tolokonnikova and collective member Masha Alyokhina. On Instagram the band said: "It feels fitting to be awarded in the spirit of Woody, I think he would love Pussy Riot’s anti-fascist message. Usually, when pussy riot gets added to lists, it’s not always a good thing, but we are honored to be on this one."

"We don’t really do folk, but we don’t really do punk either, we simply scream and protest as loud as we can, and hope we can show others they can do the same. Like Woody said, any fool can make something complicated, our message is clear and simple. Anyone can be Pussy Riot. Riot. Riot. Resist."

In previous years, the award has been given to artists such as Chuck D, Bruce Springsteen, and Mavis Staples. Seeing many similarities to Woody Guthrie, as in the courage of their convictions, Cady Shaw, Director of the Woody Guthrie Centre, says that "there are no contemporary artists more worthy of this recognition than Pussy Riot."

"They have paid a very personal price for speaking their minds on the most serious issues of our time, yet they continue to fight for justice and freedom."

We are pleased to announce the 2023 Woody Guthrie Prize honoree: Pussy Riot, the internationally renowned collective whose politically charged performances have challenged oppression around the world.

Learn more and buy tickets now:https://t.co/2gplpRebbD pic.twitter.com/ujhS1UFCdR

— Woody Guthrie Center (@WoodyGuthrieCtr) March 23, 2023