Award-categories and criterias

The MIND AWARD was initiated in 2009 and started out with one jury award and additional special awards. The special award is awarded at the discretion and recommendation of the jury for special achievement or for a life’s work.

The nomination criteria are as follows:
• Who: Persons or organisations demonstrating a holistic and sustainable approach to what they do.
• What: Ethical conduct and innovative (future) concepts for mankind and the environment.
• How: Development work, creating awareness, educational measures and publications.

=> MIND AWARD für Bewusstsein, Bildung, Forschung, Kunst (Kultur) und Frieden

=> MIND AWARD for Awareness, Education, Science, Art (culture) and Peace

It is not always easy to keep categories clear separated and this is partly the multifaceted idea. After all, the work of the nominees is often very diverse and the effects affect several areas of life.

In the past it was just symbolic of the new holistic consciousness to open that MIND completely to the general public as a reflection of the zeitgeist. ONE MIND should include everyone.

However, both the voting with a public decision in 2011 and the mixed form of jury and the public in 2012 showed, that the election results could be manipulated too much, which is why the decision was put back into the hands of a competent jury.

Up until 2013 there was an overall price in all the growing categories, with individual awards in all core areas of education, awareness, research / science, art / culture and peace becoming possible over the course of time and work.

The jury award requires that an awardee be selected by an independent, interdisciplinary jury — one that represents both the sciences and all political directions—and that public online voting also be taken into consideration in the final decision.

Since 2017 the public award only exists for the art-category for the awardees are already receivers of the Jurys Mind Award and well-known to the people/audience.

The Prize and the Sculpture

The sculpture of the MIND AWARD shows a base, out of which a man and a woman are stretching up from the hips. Behind these two human-beings, from the same ground, develops a very dynamic spiral, which winds up and has in the end two wings indicated.

The groundwork symbolizes the foundation for evolution, the people stand for the aspiration of man for development and knowledge. The rising spiral of self-awareness is finally inspired by education. Similarly, comparisons to the old archetypal symbols are attached, like a snake, Kundalini energy, or wind and spirit forces.

MIND AWARD Skulptur

"Art comes from ability." A true work of art is self-explaining.

Therefore, at last, some facts about material and format.
The roundabout 2.5 kilogram tin bronze figure was produced in the complex lost wax process. Thus, each sculpture is unique. Therefore the Prize has a different total height from 35 to 42 cm, the diameter of the base is 12 cm.

Achim Kunst said when first handing over the sculpture: "Up to the hip we are hold by the earth, and from the hip on we are taken by consciousness. If we are unconscious, we fall down. If we are further developed, the consciousness moves like a spiral and is boosted. So we need to just be aware, collectively and individually. Physically the spine begins at the tailbone. Thus consciousness is existential. "

 


What is at stake, probably the best describes the legendary poem by the German writer Hermann Hesse.

Steps (Stufen)

As every blossom fades
and all youth sinks into old age,
so every life’s design, each flower of wisdom,
attains its prime and cannot last forever.
The heart must submit itself courageously
to life’s call without a hint of grief,
A magic dwells in each beginning,
protecting us, telling us how to live.

High purposed we shall traverse realm on realm,
cleaving to none as to a home,
the world of spirit wishes not to fetter us
but raise us higher, step by step.
Scarce in some safe accustomed sphere of life
have we establish a house, then we grow lax;
only he who is ready to journey forth
can throw old habits off.

Maybe death’s hour too will send us out new-born
towards undreamed-lands,
maybe life’s call to us will never find an end
Courage my heart, take leave and fare thee well.