In its established tradition, the 74th Annual Conference of the Kulturkreis der Deutschen Wirtschaft offered a concentrated distillation of contemporary artistic positions and shed light on current discourses in the cultural world. Whether in the Philharmonie, the Museum of Communication, or the Julia Stoschek Foundation, the productive energy was palpable—an energy that arises when artists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers engage in dialogue with their diverse perspectives and disciplines.

Central questions of our time were explored together: How do echo chambers shape our perception of freedom, cohesion, and democracy? And what role can business play in supporting artistic freedom?

At the heart of the conference were the outstanding artistic contributions of the Kulturkreis’s supported emerging talents. Particularly memorable were the ars viva interventions by Ryan Cullen, Nazanin Noori, and Prateek Vijan, the striking staged reading of Yevgeniy Breygers’ Frieden ohne Krieg, the multifaceted winners’ concert by Jonas Müller and Zara Ali, the ceremonial award presentation followed by the gala dinner, and last but not least, the artistic deep dives on Saturday.

These special moments once again demonstrated how indispensable art is for societal dialogue. The engagement and support of our members are crucial in creating and shaping spaces for open thinking and artistic freedom.

We warmly thank all participants, contributors, and members for their inspiring involvement and dedication.

A program overview with more detailed information and contact details can be found here.