Josef E. Köpplinger has received the "Pro meritis scientiae et litterarum" award from the Bavarian Ministry of Arts. The artistic director of the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz in Munich has shaped the theater for more than a decade with artistic courage, great passion, and a keen sense for his audience, said Minister of Arts Markus Blume (CSU) in a statement released on Wednesday.

Markus Blume and Josef E. Köpplinger

Under Köpplinger's leadership, the Gärtnerplatztheater has become one of the most successful and popular music theater stages in Germany, Blume explained. The Austrian-born director proves that "Great folk opera inspires when it combines tradition with the courage to embrace the new."

In addition to Köpplinger, art collector and patron Eva Felten and, posthumously, actor Günther Maria Halmer were also honored. "They are all united by their outstanding commitment to art and culture," emphasized Minister Blume.

The "Pro meritis scientiae et litterarum" award has been presented by the Bavarian Ministry of Arts since 2000 for outstanding contributions to science and art. The ministry stated that the aim of the award is to understand science and art as a unified whole and to highlight their significance for society and the future. A maximum of eight awards are presented each year.

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