FAZ's Feuilleton Prize Question on National Art Differences Sparks Debate

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) has announced its annual Feuilleton Prize, inviting submissions on the question: 'Are there national differences in the arts?' The prize, worth €10,000, is open to all except FAZ employees, with entries in German up to 12,000 characters due by August 15, 2026. The winner will be published in FAZ's feuilleton and awarded on November 2, 2026, at the Deutsches Theater Berlin. The jury includes FAZ editors Jürgen Kaube, Sandra Kegel, Niklas Maak, and Simon Strauß. Originally established in 2012 as the Michael-Althen-Preis für Kritik, honoring the late film critic, the prize was renamed in 2024 after internal disputes, shifting from a critics' award to a public competition. Critics argue the question is vague and politically charged, especially given the current rise of nationalist rhetoric in Germany, exemplified by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent Bayreuth speech invoking 'Kulturnation' and the AfD's opposition to internationalist art like Bauhaus. The article questions the relevance of seeking 'national' art in a globalized world, suggesting the term 'cultural differences' is more appropriate.