Rostock Art Prize 2025: Who will win the 10,000 euros?

Rostock Art Prize 2025: Who will win the 10,000 euros?

The Rostocker Kunsthalle will award the prestigious Rostock Art Prize 2025 today, January 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. The prize is considered the most valuable of its kind in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and comes with a whopping 10,000 euros. The award ceremony is organized by the Kulturstiftung Rostock e.V. and the prize is supported by Provinzial-Versicherung, which has been supporting local art for years. The event promises to be a highlight for the cultural scene in the region, all the more so since this year four talented candidates were nominated from a total of 43 applications: Christoph Knitter from Rostock, Giacomo Orth from Bad Doberan, Hannes Schützler from Qualitz and Pauline Stopp from Greifswald. This selection shows the diversity and creativity of artists from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where numerous talents have a stage.

The Rostock Art Prize is awarded in the artistic graphics category and aims to support and honor locally based artists. Uwe Neumann, the director of the Rostock Art Gallery, commented in advance on the importance of the prize's endowment and the positive impact on the art scene. “It is important to us to put these artists in the spotlight and give them the opportunity to present themselves,” says Neumann.

Art and region in harmony

The award has already earned a permanent place in the cultural calendar of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania over the years. This isn't the first awards show where the competition has produced exciting talent. In 2020, for example, the artist Ramona Seyfarth from Neubrandenburg won, excelling in the “Free Graphics” category, among other things. At that time, however, the award ceremony was held under Corona-related restrictions, which increased the drama of the moment. The prize was awarded for the 15th time, and despite the challenges, the initiators always found a way to make art and culture flourish, as [Kunsthalle Rostock](https://www.kunsthallerostock.de/de/ exhibitions/exhibition/2020/rostocker-kunstpreis-2020) reported.

For this year's event, the four nominees were judged for their outstanding works in artistic graphics. The Rostock Art Prize has developed into a springboard for many artists and impressively shows how talent is promoted. The opportunity to present and purchase their works at the Kunsthalle Rostock opens up new opportunities for the nominees.

A look into the future of art

Today's award ceremony is a clear sign that the art scene in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is vibrant and continues to need support. The combination of talent and support could be the key to taking regional artists to the next level. The award not only underlines the quality of art in the region, but also makes a valuable contribution to the cultural landscape, which is constantly enriched through initiatives like this.

A celebratory atmosphere is expected in the Rostock Kunsthalle today, while those involved and visitors will celebrate the art and the recognition of the nominees in an inspiring environment. It remains exciting to see who will take home the coveted prize.