Max Grünebaum Prizes 2025 awarded in Cottbus

Max Grünebaum (1851-1925), cloth manufacturer and honorary citizen of the city, patron of the arts and sciences, was expropriated during the Third Reich and expelled from Germany. After reunification, Max Grünebaum's descendants received compensation for their looted assets and established the foundation named after their grandfather. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Max Grünebaum's death.

On Sunday, 9 November 2025 at 11.00 a.m., the foundation honoured outstanding artists from the Cottbus State Theatre and scientists from the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) for the 29th time in the Great House on Schillerplatz in the spirit of its namesake. The foundation is once again sending out a signal of understanding and appreciation.

The event was opened by the President of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg Prof. Dr Gesine Grande, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Max Grünebaum Foundation, and the members of the Board of Trustees Hasko Weber, Director of the Cottbus State Theatre, and Tobias Schick, Lord Mayor of the City of Cottbus/Chóśebuz. Last year's prizewinner, singer Rahel Brede, will also be performing an artistic contribution.

AI meets the classroom

A new project supported by the foundation will be presented at this year's award ceremony: the "Research Theatre", in which young people can explore topics scientifically and artistically. The pilot year focussed on artificial intelligence.

Peter Gumbel, great-grandson of Max Grünebaum, explains how the project came about: "Max Grünbaum was ahead of his time. He understood how important new technologies could be and was passionate about education. On the 100th anniversary of his death, this project fits perfectly into his legacy."

The question "Artificial intelligence: how is it changing our lives, how is it shaping our spaces?" was addressed by 20 pupils from class 10A at Sandow's Theodor-Fontane-Schule during a project week at the start of the new school year. The programme for the participants included a keynote lecture on robotics, getting to know humanoid robots and robot dogs, lectures on AI-related Urban Planning, excursions to urban spaces and a technology tour of the Staatstheater Cottbus.

At the award ceremony, Julia Burkow and Ennio Mucha, class representatives from class 10a at Theodor-Fontane-Schule, reported on their impressions and experiences. The project week was accompanied by a camera team from the BTU multimedia centre, which presented the finished film to the audience at the ceremony.

This marked the start of a long-term project, which is funded annually with 10,000 euros by the Max Grünebaum Foundation. The project is being realised in cooperation between the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg and the Cottbus State Theatre. Under the title "Theatre - Knowledge - Future: Research Theatre", a project week will take place every year in which young Cottbus residents will explore socially relevant topics in theatre education and scientific formats.

The 2025 award winners

During the ceremony, the Max Grünebaum Foundation will award a Max Grünebaum Prize and a sponsorship prize to the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) and the Cottbus State Theatre.

This year's Max Grünebaum Prize of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg goes to Dr Malte Welling. This year's Ernst Frank Prize will be awarded to Laura Pfeffer.

The 2025 Max Grünebaum Prize winner of the Cottbus State Theatre is baritone Nils Stäfe. The Karl Newman Prize 2025 will be awarded to Anna-Martha Thomas.

The Max Grünebaum Prize is endowed with 5,000 euros each, the sponsorship prize with 3,500 euros. The prize for the BTU finances a semester abroad, the prize for the State Theatre finances a theatre trip to London.

Background information

Max Grünebaum Foundation Cottbus

As a successful entrepreneur, the cloth manufacturer and honorary citizen of Cottbus Max Grünebaum (1851-1925) combined social commitment and patronage in an exemplary manner and funded the Cottbus theatre throughout his life. For racist reasons, Max Grünebaum's descendants were expelled from Germany during the Third Reich and the family fortune was 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, with the aim of continuing to fund the good relations between Cottbus and England. In order to support the Cottbus State Theatre and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, the foundation awards the Max Grünebaum Prizes and sponsorship prizes to young artists and scientists every year.