Literature Prize of the Jürgen Ponto Foundation

The Jürgen Ponto Foundation for the Promotion of Young Artists annually awards outstanding literary debuts with a literature prize of €25,000. The award honors unpublished raw manuscripts of novel concepts, short story collections, or poetry volumes submitted by publishers, whose authors are no older than 40 years. The aim is to effectively support emerging creative talent before the first work is published and to provide future voices in German-language literature with a solid financial foundation. The award highlights manuscripts distinguished by high quality, originality, and distinctive potential as debut novels.

The selection takes place in a two-stage process: renowned commercial publishers from across the country are invited to submit entries each spring, after which a rotating expert jury makes a final decision by summer. Eligibility criteria include an age limit of 40 years, an unpublished debut manuscript without prior publications (e.g., self-publishing), and formal confirmation by the publisher. Submissions must include the complete raw manuscript, proof of age, and the publisher’s commitment. This transparent process ensures fair evaluation and strengthens the diversity of literary perspectives. The endowed award not only provides financial recognition but also offers authors the opportunity to bring their debuts back into the spotlight and establish a lasting presence in the literary field.