Over the past few months, one topic has been impossible to ignore at every exhibition opening, despite the festive mood: the Berlin Senate’s planned cuts to the culture budget. Private funding associations cannot fully close these gaps, but their work is more important than ever. One organization that has been supporting the arts across disciplines since 1951 is the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft (Culture Circle of German Business). Its members — including leading entrepreneurs, business associations, and foundations in Germany — champion emerging artists in architecture, visual arts, literature, and music. Among other initiatives, the Kulturkreis annually awards the prestigious ars viva Prize. More than 350 artists have been honored to date, including celebrated figures such as Candida Höfer and Wolfgang Tillmans. While the Kulturkreis hosts exclusive events for its members throughout the year, it also opens its doors to the public as part of its annual conference.

On 10.10.2025, this year’s literature prize winner, Yevgeniy Breyger, will present a staged reading in the Chamber Music Hall of the Berliner Philharmonie, accompanied by actors from the Berliner Ensemble and music by Ganna Gryniva. The poet will read from his collection Peace Without War, which explores global conflicts, past and present, in poetic form. Afterwards, Breyger will discuss how his biography shapes his work in a conversation with moderator Jörg Thadeusz. In the afternoon, the focus turns to music: this year’s music prize winner Jonas Müller will give a concert that bridges worlds and eras with works by Handel, Bach, Mozart, and Mahler. The program will also feature a composition by Zara Ali, performed by the Kammerakademie — a compelling dialogue between classical repertoire and contemporary music. This concert demonstrates why Müller was awarded the 2025 Music Prize and Ali the Kulturkreis composition commission. All of the award winners are deeply rooted in their artistic disciplines and closely attuned to the political present. Above all, they demonstrate that art and culture are indispensable to the foundation of social life, even if they are often the first to face cuts in times of crisis. Without the arts (and without those who support them) our future would be less bright, less diverse.

Text: Laura Storfner / Photos: Camilo Jimenez, Leander Rambichler-Praxmarer, Beate Wätzel

Philharmonie Berlin, Kammermusiksaal, Herbert-von-Karajan-Str.1, 10785 Berlin–Tiergarten; map

The Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft invites you to attend the following events on 10.10.2025: Yevgeniy Breyger’s staged reading of Peace Without War at 10h. Award winners’ concert with Jonas Müller and Zara Ali at 17h.

The concerts and readings organized by the Kulturkreises der deutschen Wirtschaft are made possible through the generous support of G. Henle Verlag and the Deutsche Bank Stiftung.

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