Lessing Prize of the Free State of Saxony
The Lessing Prize of the Free State of Saxony is a German literary award. It was founded in 1993 by the Government of the Free State of Saxony and is awarded every two years. It consists of a main prize, which honours outstanding achievements in the spirit of Gottfried Lessing, especially in the field of literature, literary criticism and the theater. This prize is worth 13,000 euros. In addition, two further "promotional prizes" are awarded, which seek to publicly recognize and promote promising beginnings in these fields. These prizes are each worth 5,500 euros.
The award ceremony usually takes place on January 21, the eve of Lessing's birthday (January 22, 1729), as part of the celebrations organized by the Lessing Museum in his native town of Kamenz. The award builds on the tradition of the Lessing Prize of the GDR , which was awarded from 1955 to 1989 by the Ministry of Culture of the GDR.[1]
Winners
- 2019: Marcel Beyer; also Anja Kampmann and Bettina Wilpert
- 2017: Kurt Drawert; also Thomas Freyer and Anna Kaleri
- 2015: Carolin Emcke; also Julius Fischer and Wolfram Höll [1]
- 2013: Volker Lösch; also Franziska Gerstenberg and Judith Schalansky
- 2011: Monika Maron; also Renatus Deckert and Andreas Heidtmann
- 2009: Kito Lorenc; also Ulrike Almut Sandig and Dirk Laucke
- 2007: Ruth Klüger; also Volker Sielaff and Clemens Meyer
- 2005: Armin Petras; also Martina Hefter and Jörg Bernig
- 2003: Hans Joachim Schädlich; also Anke Stelling together with Robby Dannenberg and Christian Lehnert
- 2001: Adolf Dresen; also Barbara Köhler and Oliver Bukowski
- 1999: Eduard Goldstücker; also Marion Titze and Marcel Beyer
- 1997: Wolfgang Hilbig; also Kerstin Hensel and Ulrich Zieger
- 1995: Rolf Hoppe; also Angela Krauss
- 1993: Hans Sahl; also Lutz Graf
Related awards : Lessing Prize of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Lessing Prize of the GDR, Lessing Prize for Criticism, Lessing Ring for the Cultural Award of the German Freemasons