The Paul Peterson Scholarship is awarded each year to art students related to Jönköping County. The 2026 recipients are Karin Johansdotter and David Permén.

Johansdotter is currently studying at HDK-Valand and Permén at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. They are awarded a grant from the Paul Peterson Fund of 85 000 kr each to develop and realize artistic ideas and projects. The distribution will take place on the founder's birthday — 25 February 2026 — at the Småland Art Archive in Vandalorum, Värnamo.

Quote Karin Johansdotter:
“I am extremely proud and grateful to receive the Paul Peterson Scholarship! My internship is demanding on materials as I work with large textile installations. The grant will pay for materials for my work and enable me to work on the large scale I desire to create an installation the viewer can enter and be surrounded by.”

Quote David Permén:
“It is a great honour to receive the scholarship, which has its roots in Småland, a place that is close to my heart. In my artistic practice, Småland is present but also Peru (Lima), which is the place where I was born. The scholarship now gives me opportunities to realize a concrete project I will start in Peru after graduating from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm this spring.

About the Paul Peterson Scholarship
Through the Paul Peterson Foundation, which is managed by Region Jönköping County, art students from Jönköping County have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to develop and realize artistic ideas and projects. The scholarship is awarded annually on founder Paul Peterson's birthday, 25 February, at the Småland Art Archive in Vandalorum, Värnamo.

^{Photos: Sebastian Kok and Jean-Baptiste Béranger}