Erfurt (dpa/th) – This year, ten volunteers from Thuringia will again be honored in Erfurt for their voluntary commitment in the cultural scene. The small cultural needles in the form of a laurel leaf from the Free State go to Jena, Vacha, Altenburg, Kranichborn, Gera, Erfurt, Mühlhausen, Königsee Schmölln and Weimar, as the State Chancellery announced on Monday.

The prize is endowed with 750 euros and has been awarded annually to individuals since 2014. Cultural clubs, associations, institutions and municipalities in Thuringia can submit proposals.

The cultural wealth of Thuringia is based not only on the historically grown cultural heritage, but also on the voluntary cultural scene, said Secretary of State for Culture Tina Beer in the run-up to the award ceremony next Wednesday. “The winners of the culture needle make a decisive contribution to our cultural coexistence. In addition to impulses and food for thought, we owe them an important contribution to cohesion in our society.”

Proposals for the 2023 Culture Needle can be submitted from November 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023.