Nurturing Talent
Supporting meaningful initiatives has long been a tradition among Hamburg’s families and businesses. Throughout its long history, Berenberg has backed numerous projects and organizations. Cultural diversity and a vibrant intellectual life are essential to a thriving city, but they depend on the development of qualified and talented young people.
To mark the bank’s 400th anniversary, the owners of Berenberg established the "Berenberg Bank Stiftung". As a partner of the arts and culture, the Foundation contributes through its charitable work to enhancing Hamburg’s appeal as a cultural hub. Its primary focus is on supporting emerging artists of exceptional talent.
Each year, the Foundation awards the "Berenberg Kulturpreis" (cultural award), one of the most highly endowed prizes for emerging talent in Northern Germany. The award recognises individual artists, ensembles, projects, and institutions across the full spectrum of cultural activity, including the visual and performing arts, literature, music, and film.
In addition, the Berenberg Bank Stiftung promotes the artistic development of outstanding young talent through scholarships. Over its more than 35-year history, the Foundation has supported more than 170 emerging artists. The award ceremony traditionally takes place in the prestigious setting of Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie.
Berenberg Kulturpreis 2026
The Berenberg Kulturpreis was awarded to violinist Soyoung Park, who was born in South Korea in 1998. After completing her bachelor's degree at Seoul National University, she continued her studies at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre (HfMT), where she earned her master's degree in 2023. Most recently, she completed her Konzertexamen (postgraduate concert diploma) under the guidance of Professor Tanja Becker-Bender.
The Berenberg Kunstpreis (art award) was awarded to artist Eda Aslan, who was born in Istanbul in 1993. She studied sculpture and painting at Marmara University before completing her master's degree in Time-Based Media at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts (HFBK) in 2025. A central focus of her work is on abandoned spaces, narratives, archives, and historical testimonies that have been omitted from or forgotten in recorded history.