Eliason Merit Award

In spirit of furthering Swedish- American relations, SACC-LA presents the Eliason Merit Award – an exclusive annual red carpet event – to individuals who have contributed to strengthening the relations between the United States and Sweden in the areas of commerce, culture, science and arts.

The award has been named in honor of the late Sven A Eliason, who through his great contributions to many Swedish- American causes exemplified the requirements for this award. Bengt S Olin the founder of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles initiated the The Eliason Merit Award in 1988. Previous recipients include Tove Lo (Artist), Steve Angello (DJ and record producer), Dolph Lundgren (Actor), Joel Kinnaman (Actor), Per Hallberg (Sound editor & three-time Academy Award winner), Pia Sundhage (Head Coach of USA’s National Soccer Team and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist) and Maud Adams (Actress).

The 2018 Eliason Merit Award statue was, once again, crafted by the fantastic Orrefors. Since 1898, Orrefors has produced art and crystal glass of finest quality. The defining characteristics of Orrefors products are timeless Scandinavian elegance, innovative design and genuine craftsmanship. SACC-LA is honored to have had Orrefors design the EMA 2018 statue for Zlatan Ibrahimović!

SACC-LA President Gudrun Giddings and EMA 2018 winner Zlatan Ibrahimović – Photo: SACC-LA

52+ Million news & social media reaches. Photo: SACC-LA

Click on the buttons below to read and see pictures more of previous years EMA recipients.

EMA 2019

EMA 2018

EMA 2017

EMA 2016

EMA 2015

EMA 2014

Eliason Merit Award winners throughout the years:

  • 2022 To be annonced
  • 2021 No recipient due to the Covid-19 pandemic
  • 2020 Fredrik Eklund
  • 2019 Magnus Lygdback
  • 2018 Zlatan Ibrahimović
  • 2017 Linus Sandgren
  • 2016 Anine Bing
  • 2015 Tove “Tove Lo” Nilsson
  • 2014 Joel Kinnaman
  • 2013 Steve Angello
  • 2012 Dolph Lundgren
  • 2011 Per Hallberg, Kerstin Florian and STOPP-LA
  • 2010 Traktor
  • 2009 Pia Sundhage
  • 2008 Kerstin Alm
  • 2007 Tomas Jegeus
  • 2006 Ann-Charlotte Hanes Harvey
  • 2005 Kent Berg
  • 2004 Margareta Saperston
  • 2003 Maud Adams
  • 2002 Luther Luedtke
  • 2001 Wilhelm Wachtmeister
  • 2000 Ann-Margaret
  • 1999 Barbro S. Osher
  • 1998 Åke Sandler
  • 1997 Bengt S. Olin
  • 1996 Signe Hasso
  • 1995 Peter Hammarström
  • 1994 Margareta Sjödin- Hellsten
  • 1993 Roy A. Anderson
  • 1992 Siri M. Eliason
  • 1991 Björn Ahlström
  • 1990 Franklin S. Forsberg
  • 1989 Agneta Nilsson
  • 1988 Walter G. Danielson

 In the spirit of furthering Swedish-American relations, SACC-LA presents the Eliason Merit Awards to individuals who have contributed significantly toward strengthening relations between the United States and Sweden in the areas of commerce, culture, science and the arts. The awards has been named in honor of the late Sven A. Eliason, who through his great contributions to many Swedish- American causes exemplified the requirements for this awards. Bengt S. Olin, the founder of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles (SACC-LA), initiated the Eliason Merit Award in 1988.