Media Library
Our media library features selected videos that bring the work of the Association of Arts and Culture of the German Economy to life. Discover our award winners in the fields of architecture, visual arts, literature, and music, explore our cultural initiative “Kulturkessel” in Stuttgart, and learn more about our scholarship program.
Music Prize: Musikpreis der deutschen Wirtschaft
Since 1953, the Music Sponsorship Division of the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft has been supporting young, emerging talents in the field of music.
Starting with the 2024/25 season, the Kulturkreis will for the first time send these outstanding musicians on a “Kulturkreis Tour” to some of the most prestigious festivals in the German-speaking region. This provides the musicians with the opportunity to gain diverse stage experience – from experimental performances to major solo concerts with orchestral accompaniment.
Credit: Leander Rambichler-Praxmarer
Literature Prize: Literaturpreis der deutschen Wirtschaft
Since 1953, the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft has been recognizing young, powerful voices in contemporary German-language literature and celebrating the diversity of literary forms and genres.
Among the prizewinners whom the Kulturkreis supported at an early stage are Heinrich Böll, Ingeborg Bachmann, Paul Celan, Günter Grass, Nelly Sachs, Marie Luise Kaschnitz, Elias Canetti, Robert Menasse, Daniel Kehlmann, Clemens J. Setz, and Nino Haratischwili.
Credit: Leander Rambichler-Praxmarer
Fine Arts Prize: ars viva
Since 1953, the Kulturkreis has awarded the ars viva Prize to outstanding young artists under the age of 35 who live in Germany and impress with a distinctive visual language. To date, over 350 artists have received this prestigious award – including Rosemarie Trockel, Candida Höfer, Wolfgang Tillmans, Omer Fast, Cemile Sahin, and Sung Tieu.
Credit: Leander Rambichler-Praxmarer
Architecture Prize: Architekturpreis der deutschen Wirtschaft
Since 1954, the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft has been supporting young emerging talents in the field of architecture. Over its long tradition, the Architecture Prize has been continuously developed and is today one of the most highly endowed awards for young architects.
In 2025, the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft will launch a new competition format, which will recognize master’s theses that address socially relevant issues and propose innovative, creative, and forward-looking solutions.
Featured in the video:
Architecture Prize 2021 – “LÜCKENFÜLLER. Office building as an addition to the existing headquarters of the Emschergenossenschaft in Essen”
Charlotta Baumann, Vinzenz Keiler (1st Prize)
Emilia Kuhlendahl (2nd Prize)
Nils Bieker, Christoph Heufert (3rd Prize)
Support Initiative “Kulturkessel”
The Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft launched the “Kulturkessel” initiative to strengthen collaboration between independent artists and established institutions in Stuttgart over a period of five years, enriching the city’s cultural life through new formats and innovative artistic approaches.
With a total donation volume of €6.5 million provided by Mercedes-Benz, the initiative supports projects that create shared artistic impulses and contribute to a vibrant cultural scene in the state capital. A particular focus is on young people aged 15 to 29, who had limited access to cultural offerings during the pandemic.
Kulturkreis Scholarship
The Kulturkreis Scholarship was established by the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft in 2004 with the aim of fostering the cultural competencies of selected future leaders while they are still students, and of motivating them to take on social responsibility as decision-makers later in their careers. Inspiration, creativity, intuition, and the ability to change perspectives are essential in today’s business and scientific environment for successful and sustainable action. Since 2004, the University of Mannheim has been a partner in this proven excellence program, and since 2017, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has also joined as a partner.
Credit: Leander Rambichler-Praxmarer