Kulturstiftung der deutschen Wirtschaft

The Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft im BDI e. V. was founded in 1951 and, with around 450 members, is the most traditional network for entrepreneurial cultural promotion in Germany. As a non-profit association, it supports young artists and cultural practitioners in the fields of architecture, visual arts, literature, and music. Its activities include endowed awards (e.g., ars viva Prize, Text & Language Literature Prize, Ton & Explanation Music Competition), exhibitions, competitions, scholarship programs, and events. Furthermore, the Kulturkreis offers advisory services and exchange forums on corporate collections (ACC), cultural promotion (AKF), and cultural education, as well as awarding the German Cultural Promotion Prize in cooperation with Handelsblatt and Süddeutsche Zeitung.

The Cultural Circle of the German Economy is committed to preserving and strengthening art and culture as indispensable resources for a free, dynamic society. It promotes the cultural competence of future leaders, supports young talents, and creates platforms for exchange in entrepreneurial engagement in culture. Through its nationwide network, it aims to provide sustainable impulses and enhance the significance of culture in business and society.

The offerings of the Kulturkreis are aimed at young artists and cultural professionals in architecture, visual arts, literature, and music in the early stages of their careers; companies and corporate foundations of all sizes that are actively engaged in cultural sponsorship or operate their own art collections; students and early career professionals from business and STEM fields who wish to acquire cultural competencies as future leaders; as well as specialists and executives from cultural and economic organizations who network and exchange ideas in working groups on corporate collecting, cultural sponsorship, and cultural education.