25 years Max Grünebaum Foundation

The history of the Max Grünebaum Foundation is an impressive testimony to reconciliation, the associated annual ceremonial awarding of the Max Grünebaum Prizes an emotional highlight in the cultural and scientific life of the city of Cottbus.

On Sunday, November 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., the Foundation will honor artists* from the Cottbus State Theater and scientists* from the Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU). Once again, the foundation is setting an example for understanding and appreciation.

The award ceremony, which has become a tradition, will once again take place in the Great House of the State Theater.

Ahead of this year's event, members of the Foundation family commented: "We family members are very much looking forward to the anniversary. There is much to celebrate - especially the award winners and the artistic and intellectual life in Cottbus that they represent."

The artistic supporting program will feature award winners* from past years. In addition, the BTU will present the 20-minute anniversary film "25 Years of the Max Grünebaum Foundation," which was created for the festive occasion, to the public for the first time.

Admission to the awards ceremony is free. All interested parties are welcome to attend.

Book and Film on the Foundation's Anniversary The Cottbus State Theater and the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg congratulate the Max Grünebaum Foundation on its 25th anniversary with a book and a film.

Both media focus on the impressive 150-year history of the Cottbus Grünebaum family, which was long forgotten and only revived in 1997 with the establishment of the foundation of the same name. For the past 25 years, this foundation has annually honored outstanding young artists, scientists and particularly committed employees of both institutions and has since become an important part of the city's cultural and scientific life. With its many award winners, it now radiates far beyond the borders of Cottbus.

The university's film was directed by Sebastian Rau and will be presented to the public for the first time at this year's award ceremony in November. It reports on the life of the Jewish Grünebaum family and lets descendants of the family, members of the foundation and selected award winners have their say. The book of the State Theater, edited by Birgit Mache, also reports about the family and contains a lot of information about the history of the Foundation. In addition, there is an overview of all previous award winners of the theater and the university.

Book presentation and talk with Peter Gumbel, great-grandson of Max GrünebaumSunday, November 6, 2022, 3 p.m. | Free admission Location: Dieselkraftwerk (Uferstr., Am Amtsteich 15, 03046 Cottbus).

Also on Sunday, November 6, 2022, a book presentation and talk with Peter Gumbel, great-grandson of Max Grünebaum, will take place at the Brandenburg State Museum of Modern Art (BLMK) as part of the anniversary weekend celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Max Grünebaum Foundation.

Max Grünebaum Foundation Cottbus

The cloth manufacturer and honorary citizen of Cottbus, Max Grünebaum (1851-1925), combined social commitment and patronage in an exemplary manner as a successful entrepreneur and supported the Cottbus theater throughout his life. For racist reasons, Max Grünebaum's descendants were expelled from Germany during the Third Reich, and the family's assets were expropriated. The family ventured a new beginning in England.

In memory of Max Grünebaum's work in Cottbus, the grandchildren living in England established the Max Grünebaum Foundation in May 1997, whose aim is to further the good relations between Cottbus and England. In order to support the Cottbus State Theater and the Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg, the Foundation awards the Max Grünebaum Prizes annually to young artistic and scientific talents.