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Honorable awards for Oliver Zille: A master of literary education
Oliver Zille will be honored with awards in Vienna and Dresden in 2025 for his influence on the Leipzig Book Fair.
Honorable awards for Oliver Zille: A master of literary education
The cultural prize has it all: Oliver Zille, the long-time director of the Leipzig Book Fair, was awarded the Cross of Honor for Science and Art, First Class, at a ceremonial ceremony in Vienna. This honor took place on Monday in the library of the Palais Fürstenberg, where Theresia Niedermüller, section head in the Austrian Federal Ministry, praised Zille's outstanding contribution to the visibility and promotion of Austrian literature in Germany. Zille's recognition is particularly noteworthy since he has no longer been director of the book fair since the end of 2023, where he worked from 1993 and took over management from 2004.
His commitment to the literary sector and German-Austrian cultural relations was underlined by the fact that Austria was the guest country of the book fair in 2023. This event represented a highlight of the collaboration between the two literary landscapes that Zille has promoted over the years. Benedikt Föger, publisher and president of the Main Association of the Austrian Book Trade, spoke positively about the long-standing partnership with Zille since 2001, which has contributed significantly to the strong presence of Austrian publishers and authors at the trade fair.
Strengthen cultural connections
The Leipzig Book Fair is considered one of the most important industry events in Germany and Europe. It attracts a wide audience every year and is an important forum for exchange between publishers, authors and readers. In his words of thanks after the award, Zille emphasized the tireless work and the great importance of Austrian publishers for the book fair in Leipzig. A Viennese café became a popular meeting place for exhibitors and visitors during the trade fair, further emphasizing the close connection.
In another honor, Zille received the Saxon Constitutional Medal on June 21st in Dresden. He is one of the personalities who are honored for special achievements in various areas. In addition to Zille, Christoph Dittrich, Annegret Haas, Gottfried Hanzl and Uwe Saegeling were also awarded the medal, which underlines the high significance of his honor.
Awards like this make it clear: the cultural bridges between Austria and Germany are strong - and Oliver Zille has made a decisive contribution to further strengthening this bond. Loud lvz.de During his time as director, Zille not only organized the book fair, but also shaped it into a lively space for exchange and development. We can be curious to see how the cultural landscape will develop in the future.