The city administration recently announced the 2026 Culture Award; nominations were accepted from all individuals until the end of September. The individuals, associations, or groups now nominated represent a broad spectrum of cultural diversity in Idar-Oberstein. The decision on who will receive the Culture Award is made by a jury. The jury consists of the mayor, the members of the Culture Committee, one representative from each of the Culture Award winners of the past three years, and a representative of the sponsor. The nominees for the Culture Award are presented to the public, but the jury meets behind closed doors.
The nominees for the 2026 Arts and Culture Award are:
Lukas Baeskow: The musical theater actor from Idar-Oberstein trained at the Rhineland-Palatinate State Music High School and earned a degree in musical theater from the renowned American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. His career then took him to stages across the United States and throughout Germany. He also works as a singer and soloist and frequently returns to his hometown with his own concert projects.
Friends of the German Gemstone Route Association: Since 1974, the association has been committed to the preservation and promotion of gemstones as a cultural heritage, as well as their extraction and processing, which are unique to the Hunsrück-Nahe region on a global scale. To this end, the association has been selecting the German Gemstone Queen every two years since 1976; she represents the association’s mission worldwide and draws attention to the region’s unique characteristics related to gemstones and jewelry.
Heimspiel Theater Group: With the play “Oberstein 1926 – Save the Rock Church,” the ensemble has brought a special cultural project to life this year. Performed in the Rock Church, the play combines history, theater, and music, bringing the history and identity of Idar-Oberstein to life.
Idar-Oberstein Gospel and Pop Choir: The choir was founded in 2008 based on the idea of breaking away from traditional choral music and exploring new directions. Since then, it has brought a modern touch to the regional music scene; its repertoire includes traditional and contemporary gospel songs, spirituals, sacred pop, and international pop hits.
Dieter Jerusalem: Over the past 50 years, the master engraver has built up an extensive archive on the economic and cultural history of the city of Idar-Oberstein—one that is unique in its scope and comprehensiveness. This archive also serves as the written “memory” of the local gemstone and jewelry industry.
Kamäleon e. V.: The youth theater group of the Kamäleon e. V. cultural association presented its first feature film this year at Movietown Neubrücke. It is based on the original play “The Pablo Case,” a thrilling story about a kidnapping and a murder—and featuring some colorful and enigmatic characters from 1920s London.
Florian Meigen and Maximilian Storr: Since October 2025, they have been producing the weekly podcast “Flutlicht Birkenfeld.” It explores and reflects on regional soccer, its people, stories, and social significance as part of club culture, everyday life, and collective memory.
Dr. Roland Müller-Hirth: A former dentist, he is an amateur pianist who, through his extensive concert schedule, raises funds for causes such as supporting young pianists and restoration work at Oberstein Castle. In doing so, he always has the cultural revitalization of the castle in mind.
Dirk Rohde: This year, the entrepreneur organized the Nahe Summer Festival for the first time in the parking lot of the Idar-Oberstein Trade Fair, thereby making a valuable contribution to recreational life in Idar-Oberstein.
Maria and Maxim Schukov: The married couple Schukov have been giving piano lessons together since 2003 and opened their first music school in the same year. They now run several music schools in the region, and both have directed and continue to direct a large number of choirs and ensembles in the city and district.
Mikk Schunke: The musician and singer teaches guitar and vocals and leads workshops for young people. In addition, she is a member of the Heimspiel ensemble, appeared in the production “Oberstein 1926 – Save the Rock Church,” and composed the song “Oberstein Is Not Berlin” specifically for this production.
Village Blues: Since its founding in 2001, this band from Idar-Oberstein has been enriching the regional cultural scene with authentic blues and acoustic rock. Over the past 25 years, the band has firmly established itself in the region’s music scene through numerous concerts and performances, consistently combining its musical work with social engagement in the form of benefit concerts for social projects.
- Information about the nominees is also available on the city's website at www.idar-oberstein.de/kulturpreis.