The European Center for the Arts in Dresden's Festspielhaus Hellerau was awarded the German Federal Theatre Prize in Berlin this evening. Director Carena Schlewitt accepted the 200,000 euro award at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. As an important venue for international perspectives, the Dresden theater provides strong impetus, according to the award citation.
Youth theater "Stellwerk" in Weimar also among the award winners
Further awards, each worth 100,000 euros, went to Theater Lindenhof in Melchingen (Zollernalbkreis) in Baden-Württemberg, the children's and youth theater "Stellwerk" in Weimar in Thuringia and Theater Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia. This year's Tabori Prize for the Independent Performing Arts, endowed with 100,000 euros, went to the group "raumlaborberlin".
Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer said that the Federal Theatre Prize recognizes institutions and ensembles that create identity, strengthen communities and initiate debates with their programmes. The prize makes visible what theater is all about: "Diversity, courage and the ability to artistically interpret contemporary society," said Weimer.
