Dr Rüdiger Koch’s commitment to the Emperor Otto Prize goes back many years. Whether as a former alderman for the Department of Culture, School and Sports or in his roles on the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees – the Emperor Otto Prize is very close to his heart.
He categorises the significance of the highest and most important award in the city of Magdeburg as follows:
“The Emperor Otto Prize honours personalities who have rendered great services in the perception of lived European values such as peace, understanding and mutual respect. Without the cultural dimension, which is fundamental to this, the European unification process will ultimately not succeed. Culture is therefore not a subordinate political field, but rather a socially highly significant one.
This is reflected in an outstanding way in the artistic and social work of Lisa Batiashvili and Igor Levit. Honouring these personalities, especially in the anniversary year of the Emperor Otto Prize, and thus emphasising the importance of the cultural dimension for the European unification process in times of conflict, is an important signal that Magdeburg is sending out.”
Picture credits: © privat