“Glanzstück”-Prize of the State of Styria: Wanted: Styrian “Glanzstück”

What do Anita Leisz, Moritz Weiß, Günter Eichberger, Sabine Derflinger, Sonja Gangl, Fiston Mwnaza Mujila, Nava Ebrahimi, Heidrun Primas, but also Elfriede Jelinek, Dirk Kaftan, Gerd Kühr and Clemens Setz have in common? They are all culture prizewinners of the province of Styria. And they are all role models for the next generation of young artists, who make a name for themselves regionally and internationally with their work. Since 2020, the newly established “Glanzstück” prize of the State of Styria has aimed to bring those people to the fore whose work in regional art and culture initiatives has a significant impact on life in Styria and is a source of our state’s vibrant cultural scene.

Cultural local supplier

The artist Günther Friesinger is someone who might write the job title “Cultural local supplier” on his business card. Born in 1973, the independent media maker, curator and philosopher received the first and, to date, only “Glanzstück” award from the state of Styria. Namely as the initiator of the KOMM.ST festival, which has been showing for ten years now how to make regional programs that take their audience seriously and at the same time challenge and entertain them. Friesinger and the KOMM-ST team achieve this by updating their activities in and around Anger bei Weiz with contemporary art and culture, using empty spaces for projects and events and, above all, involving people from the region in their programs. In the area around Anger and beyond, these cultural interventions have received so much resonance that the program is now being extended to cover an even longer period.

Incidentally, Günter Friesinger will be presenting the State Culture Awards 2022 on November 8th in the Dom im Berg.

The “Glanzstück Prize” will be awarded as part of the State Culture Awards 2022 ceremony on November 8th in the Dom im Berg. This time the event will be moderated by KOMM.ST motor Günther Friesinger, who received the highlight prize for the KOMM.ST festival in Anger near Weiz in 2020

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Calling all creative engines!

Cultural initiatives or cultural workers, who continuously put down “highlights” away from the mainstream, shape the cultural face of Styria. In their regions, cities and communities, they offer a diverse, innovative cultural offering that invites, radiates, involves, stimulates discussion and, as a creative motor, inspires its audience. These showpiece achievements want that Country Styria – supported by the Kleine Zeitung – every two years and honored with an award.

Applications for the “Glanzstück” award are open until September 11th https://www.kleinezeitung.at/glanzstueck possible. The prize money is 10,000 euros and a MELA trophy designed by the artist Andreas Heller. The highlight prize will be awarded as part of the State Culture Awards 2022 ceremony on November 8th in the Dom im Berg.

The Graz artist Andreas Heller created MELA, the official trophy for state culture award winners

© Fabry

Created in cooperation with the culture department 9 of the state of Styria