Herder Prize

The Herder Prize, established in 1963 and named for Johann Gottfried von Herder, was a prestigious international prize dedicated to the promotion of scientific, art and literature relations, and presented to scholars and artists from Central and Southeastern Europe whose life and work have improved the cultural understanding of European countries and their peaceful interrelations.

The jury was composed of German and Austrian universities. Financing for the Herder Award (which amounted to 15,000 €) was ensured by the Alfred Töpfer Foundation in Hamburg. The awards were traditionally presented at the University of Vienna each year and handed over by the President of Austria. It was also possible to make a nomination for a one-year Herder scholarship (900-1000 € monthly) at an Austrian university.

In 2007, the Herder Prize merged with another fund creating a new European culture prize worth 75,000 € and designed to encourage young European artists.