First Golden Cultural Card of the City of Jena awarded

Since 2021, the administration and politicians have been engaged in a lengthy discussion process to reprofile the city of Jena's Walter Dexel Award, which has been in existence since 1997 and has particularly benefited regional artists and cultural workers. Two funding streams were created, alternating annually.

After Friedrich Herrmann received the first Walter Dexel Prize of the City of Jena in 2024, the first Golden Culture Card for 2025 will now be awarded to Rena Fritsch.

Honoring many years of outstanding commitment to art and culture

This decision was made by the honorary jury on December 19, 2025. Its members were: Dr. Beate Jonscher, Chairwoman of the JenaKultur Works Committee, Dr. Jörg Vogel, Chairman of the Cultural Committee of the City of Jena, Dr. Margret Franz as a profound connoisseur of the Jena cultural scene, Johannes Schleußner, Head of the City of Jena's Department of Education, Youth, Culture and Sport, and Friedrun Vollmer, Works Manager of JenaKultur.

The jury's decision was based on the five nominations received from the public. Important criteria for the awarding of the Golden Culture Card to individuals with a longstanding (at least 5 years) outstanding commitment to the arts and culture of the city of Jena are:

Orientation towards the common good and a commitment that is proactive and constructive. This expressly excludes people who have worked or are working full-time for the city's culture (as employees of the city of Jena).

"With Tanzhaus Jena e.V., Rena Fritsch has enriched the cultural life of our city for many years at a high and constant level,"

said Johannes Schleußner, head of the cultural department.

"The criteria defined by the Culture Committee for the award of the Golden Culture Card are more than fulfilled. That is why the jury was very unanimous and happy to make this decision."

In addition to her professional work as an educator in a daycare center, her name is closely associated with the important educational, participatory and educational work of Tanzhaus Jena e.V., of which she is the chairwoman of the board, a task that she has carried out on a voluntary basis for many years with a sense of responsibility and creativity. She was also instrumental in initiating the founding of the association 35 years ago, having previously dedicated herself to setting up the university folk dance group.

Tanzhaus established as an integral part of the city's cultural landscape

Without her commitment, the wide range of activities offered by Tanzhaus Jena e.V. would hardly be possible in its current form: from children's dance to salsa, bachata, flamenco and oriental dance to kizomba and tango: the program is aimed at young and old and combines both spirited and calm, sensual dance forms. Behind this broad spectrum is a lot of organizational work: room planning, course organization, coordination with dance teachers, public relations - Rena Fritsch masters all of this reliably, with the necessary foresight and always in the interests of the community. It should also be emphasized that under her management, the Tanzhaus has become a space in which many people with a migration background have been firmly integrated into the life of Jena. Tanzhaus Jena e.V. has thus become an established and valued part of the city's cultural landscape for more than two decades, not least thanks to her efforts.

The first Golden Culture Card is a token of recognition and thanks to Rena Fritsch, allowing her free admission to the city's cultural events such as concerts, readings and exhibitions for a limited period of five years. We congratulate her warmly.

On 27.01.2026, the Golden Culture Card was presented to Rena Fritsch by Head of Department Johannes Schleußner and JenaKultur Works Manager Friedrun Vollmer.