These are the award-winning projects for 2024
The Power of the Arts award-winning projects for 2023 have been announced. From over 130 applications, our jury selected five outstanding projects that address relevant topics for an open and inclusive society, make them visible and contribute to peaceful coexistence and dialogue.
This year’s The Power of the Arts award once again honours outstanding initiatives that use socio-cultural art to promote social cohesion in Germany. The award, initiated by Philip Morris, honours five projects that use innovation and creativity to promote tolerance and inclusion, build bridges between generations and living environments and defend democratic values. Now in its eighth year, The Power of the Arts Award is one of the most highly endowed private sector awards in the field of art and culture in Germany, with prize money of 50,000 euros per project.
Dr Charilaos Avrabos, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Philip Morris GmbH: ‘The five initiatives impressively illustrate how art and culture unfold transformative powers. They are beacons for social dialogue and inspire us to make the world a fairer and more inclusive place. At Philip Morris, we have been committed to an open society and cohesion in our country in a variety of ways for years. We are grateful to be able to give something back with The Power of the Arts award.’
The award-winning projects at a glance:
BIPOC MEDIA FEST | KARAKAYA TALKS gUG, Berlin
The networking event for media professionals with a history of migration strengthens marginalised voices in the media world. Workshops and keynotes promote inclusion and fair structures. The jury praised the contribution to diversifying the media landscape: ‘By networking BIPoC media professionals, BIPOC MEDIA FEST unleashes forces to make the media landscape more diverse, fairer and more inclusive. The empowerment of BIPoC media professionals is a decisive step towards more visible representation and a change in invisible structures.’
BREAKING THE WAVE | THE BEAUTIFUL MINDS e.V., Bonn
An analogue and digital theatre performance that counteracts increasing radicalisation The audience become active players in an immersive world. The jury describes its relevance as follows: ‘The internet opens up powerful spaces that influence the way we live together. The Breaking the Wave theatre project addresses a society threatened by radicalisation. The participants practise counterspeech and develop creative power against hate in virtual space in order to break waves.’
Factory for a (fem.) Century |Zentrum für optimistische Bergbauforschung, Leipzig
This project uses artistic installations to visualise the perspectives of female factory workers in particular. The jury emphasises the importance of the female perspective: ‘Germany is characterised by its industrial history. Reunification and globalisation have changed the significance of traditional industries. Factory for a (fem.) century gives space to the workers’ stories from a female perspective and creates a counterweight to academic discourses.’
Thüringer Brückenfeste – Kunst schafft Verbindungen |Lösungslabor e.V., Weimar
In rural regions of Thuringia, creative meeting spaces are being created that bridge social and geographical divides.
The jury praised the impact of the initiative: ‘Rural regions are struggling with isolation and loneliness and are in danger of being left behind by urban developments.The Thuringian Bridge Festivals mobilise artists to initiate new encounters and counteract downward spirals and radicalisation with a joyful dialogue between rural and urban environments.’
Wie ich lerne, meine grauen Haare zu umarmen |PORTRAIT ME/Dambi Lab e.V., Cologne
The virtual reality art project focuses on intergenerational dialogue.
People over the age of 70 work together with artists to bring biographical stories to life in walk-in VR spaces.
The jury particularly recognised the innovative approach of making older people visible and offering them a platform for their stories: ‘In our ageing society, millions of older people remain invisible and do not feel needed. Wie ich lerne, meine grauen Haare zu umarmen gives them a face, brings their stories to life and initiates an appreciative dialogue that empowers the participants.’