The Georg Büchner Prize was first established during the Weimar Republic by the State of Hesse. Its purpose was to recognise writers, artists, actors and singers. It was first awarded in 1923 in the state capital, Darmstadt.
Since 1951 the new Büchner Prize has been awarded annually by the German Academy for Language and Literature. According to the charter of the Academy, it is given to authors »writing in the German language whose work is considered especially meritorious and who have made a significant contribution to contemporary German culture.«
The prize is awarded at a ceremony held during the autumn conference of the German Academy in Darmstadt.
The prize currently comes with an award of €50,000.
Writer and Painter
Born 9/12/1916
Deceased 21/8/1991
Member since 1957
... für die kritische Besorgnis, die sich in seinem mit überlegener schriftstellerischer Kunst geschaffenen dramatischen und epischen Werk darstellt.
Jury members
Juryvorsitz: Gerhard Storz
Peter Benz (Stadt Darmstadt), Friedrich Bischoff, Richard Gerlach, Rudolf Hagelstange, Karl Krolow, Wilhelm Lehmann, Fritz Martini, Otto Rombach, Horst Rüdiger, Dolf Sternberger, W. E. Süskind, Herr Wöckener (Hessisches Kultusministerium)