Georg Dehio Cultural Prize

The Georg Dehio Cultural Prize (Georg Dehio-Kulturpreis) is a biennial award, funded by the German government's Office of the Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung for Kultur und Medien),[1] and administered by the German Cultural Forum for Eastern Europe.[2]

Recipients are recognized for work that promotes German cultural expression in Eastern Europe; critically engages the cultural interactions between Germany and its eastern neighbours; or contributes to reconciliation and mutual understanding between peoples in the areas of former German settlement.[3] Described as "prestigious" by German press and television sources,[4][5] the award is named after Georg Dehio, an Estonian-born German art historian of the nineteenth century whose emphasis on the national and ethnic heterogeneity and interdependence of the region has been taken as a guiding principle for the German Cultural Forum's work.

The prize, first granted in 2003, is awarded in alternate years with the Georg Dehio Book Prize, being offered in odd-numbered years. Two categories of award are made: a Grand Prize, which carries a cash value of €7,000, and a Prize of Honor of €3,000. Corporate bodies as well as individuals are eligible. A seven-person international jury, drawn from the fields of art history, historical preservation, museum administration, and culture, selects the winners.[6] Jurors serve for a maximum of two terms, with the exception of a representative of the German Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media, the sole permanent member. The jury may not nominate prospective honorees, nor are self-nominations permitted.