The art historian Bénédicte Savoy was awarded the Kulturpolitik Prize this year. The honor was given to her on Wednesday evening in Berlin. The award recognizes “the extraordinary scientific and cultural-political commitment with a view to the theft of art and the restitution of cultural assets,” the cultural council had announced in advance.
Art theft and dealing with stolen art pervades Savoy’s academic life. She has earned special merit with her emphatic commitment to the return of collections from colonial contexts at home and abroad.
In 2018, the professor of modern art history at the Technical University of Berlin, together with Felwine Sarr, prepared a report on the restitution of African cultural assets for French President Emmanuel Macron.
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens) had announced in advance of the award for Savoy: “Especially with regard to the repatriation of African cultural assets, she has initiated a lot in Germany and internationally and, through her numerous contributions, has had a lasting impact on the debate about the correct way to deal with these cultural assets.”
The German Cultural Policy Prize is being awarded for the second time this year. The award followed the “Kulturgroschen”, which has been awarded annually since 1992 for important cultural and political achievements. The Cultural Council is the umbrella organization of German cultural associations.
Notification from early September
