Recommendations of the Editorial team
A few people stood out from the approximately 400 guests dressed in evening dresses and black suits. On the one hand there was Michi Beck, MC and DJ of the Fantastischen Vier, and on the other hand there were two young men and women who, representing the “Chancenwerkstatt” project, endowed one of the three with 50,000 euros each “Powered by Philip Morris Awards” received.
Michi Beck, wearing casual XL low-cut jeans, explained that he was most impressed by the inclusion project of the “kaethe:k Kunsthaus” in Pulheim near Cologne out of the 170 suggestions submitted. The musician was part of the jury that selected the three winners of this year’s awards – an illustrious group that also included Gregor Gysi, CDU non-conformist Diana Kinnert, actress Minh-Khai Phan-Thi and Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barre. Michi Beck revealed that the latter vehemently supported his commitment to the ultimately awarded art project in the jury discussions.
The “Chancenwerkstatt” not only helps people with disabilities with their artistic work, but also with entering the art market and participating in it. Because you can still earn money. This shows real participation.
The three projects honored at the gala in Berlin’s Bolle Festival Halls come from Berlin, Leipzig and Pulheim. “In a time characterized by tensions and sometimes divisions, Philip Morris Germany actively promotes projects and initiatives that use courage and creative ideas to create spaces for respectful encounters and enable a change of perspective,” explained Veronika F. Rost, the company’s CEO. “In this way we are setting an example for dialogue instead of dogma, for participation instead of withdrawal.”
From care for the elderly to empowerment – it’s all about making things possible
In addition to the art workshop from the Bergisches Land, the “QuartierPflege” project from Leipzig, which is committed to district projects in the care of the elderly nationwide and helps to integrate neighbors and relatives into care work, also received an award this year. The third prize winners are the “Radical Daughters” from Berlin, who want to enable young people to make their own political and social concerns visible through workshops and art events. Empowerment is the buzzword here.
“They prove that participation is not just a democratic ideal, but a motor for real change,” said former SPD Prime Minister Torsten Albig, now Director External Affairs at Philip Morris Germany.
The fact that it was not the Fantastischen Vier but Mimi Müller-Westernhagen who provided the musical framework under her artist moniker Reema underlined the message of the evening with a very gentle flow: Democratic participation is more important for the satisfaction of society than economic indicators. At least that was the surprising result of an empirical study among German voters, also presented that evening, which the tobacco company has been collecting regularly for five years.
Social participation – for the three projects that were able to present themselves on stage that evening, it is the core of their work.