A glittering cultural award ceremony in Munich

This year’s German Culture Prize ceremony, held by the Foundation for Cultural Promotion in the ballroom of the Bayerischer Hof in Munich, was more than just an honor for two deserving recipients: it was a statement about the importance of freedom, culture, and biodiversity, attended by around 200 guests.

Bavarian State Minister Ulrike Scharf emphasized the event’s significance in her opening address: “Culture is not an add-on – it creates identity. Culture is what remains when everything else crumbles. It is what connects us as human beings – across origins, language, and generations.”

Nobel laureate in Literature Herta Müller delivered a moving tribute to freedom and democracy, poignantly underscored by her own horrific experiences of oppression and repression.

Honorary Prize recipient Dr. Maria Furtwängler, in her acceptance speech, recalled, among other things, her childhood, when many animal species were still commonplace, species that we now rarely or never see in Germany.

The German Culture Prize 2025 received unprecedented media attention in its history since 1985. Two dpa news reports brought the topic prominently to the forefront of many leading media outlets across Germany in recent weeks. München.tv, TV Bayern Live/RTL, and the Süddeutsche Zeitung all featured extensive articles yesterday and today. Finally, Dr. Furtwängler appeared on the BR Abendschau program with Roman Roell on Friday evening, where she reiterated her concerns about nature and the environment. Naturally, the magnificent prize sculpture by MEISSEN, personally presented by CEO Tillmann Blaschke, was also prominently featured throughout the coverage.

It was a pleasure and an honor for all of us at WORDUP PR to work for the Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. Klaus P. Arnold, and Board of Trustees member Kolja von Bismarck.

Photos: Studio Heuser, WORDUP PR