Verleihung des Berliner Verlagspreises 2023

Berlin is justifiably proud of the vigorous and colorful cultural life that makes the Capital of Culture attractive - also internationally. This includes Berlin's unique literary landscape, characterized by a close-knit network of independent bookstores and a large number of publishing houses. Berlin is at the forefront of annual new publications; alongside traditional houses, there is a continuously growing number of young, independent publishing houses that are conquering their place on the book market from Berlin. Characterized by a multifaceted literary life, books are becoming visible that, beyond bestseller lists and marketable formats, assert what the Berlin publishing scene is all about: bibliodiversity.

In the wake of the pandemic and in the multiple crises that characterize our times, many publishers are forced to put their programs to the test and reinvent themselves in order to secure their existence. Independent publishers are particularly hard hit. They publish books at great economic risk and are passionate about literature. The Berlin Publishing Prize 2023 is therefore more important than ever!The three Berlin Publishing Prizes, endowed with a total of 68,000 euros, see themselves as supporting the entire Berlin publishing landscape - after all, they help all publishers in Germany's largest publishing city to gain greater public visibility.

In 2022, the Grand Berlin Publishing Prize went to avant-verlag, while the two smaller Berlin Publishing Prizes were awarded to Elfenbein Verlag and Ciconia Ciconia.The 2023 Berlin Publishing Prize will also highlight the fact that Berlin publishers often make a name for themselves as initiators of aesthetic, thematic and production innovations. We are already very excited about the jury's decision and look forward to the presentation of the Berlin Publishing Prize on November 5 at the Deutsches Theater!

Franziska Giffey Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Labor

Joe Chialo Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion

The Prize The Berlin Publishing Prize has been awarded jointly by the Berlin Senate Departments for Culture and Social Cohesion and for Economic Affairs, Energy and Operations since 2018 and is funded by the European Union from the "Operational Program of the ERDF Berlin 2014-2020". The Grand Berlin Publishing Prize, endowed with 35,000 euros, and two Berlin Publishing Prizes of 15,000 euros each will be awarded. The three other publishers on the shortlist, which will be published in mid-October 2023, will receive recognition in the amount of 1,000 euros. The Berlin Publishing Prize is awarded to publishers whose publications stand out from the mainstream (not only) of the Berlin publishing scene in the best sense of the word.

Source: Berlin Publishing Prize 2023