In 2025, the Burg Giebichenstein Art Academy Halle will announce the 23rd annual Gustav Weidanz Prize for Sculpture . The award is one of the few young talent awards in Germany exclusively dedicated to sculpture. Sculptors residing in Germany who are under 35 years of age (including those born in 1990) are eligible to apply. The prize has been awarded on a rotating basis since 1975, in accordance with the testamentary disposition of Gustav Weidanz (1889–1970), a Halle sculptor and long-time professor at the Burg Giebichenstein.
Founded in 1915, the Burg Giebichenstein Art Academy Halle offers a distinctive profile with excellent educational and study conditions in its art and design departments. With over 1,000 students, it is one of the largest art schools in Germany. Visionary thinking and design are encouraged in its programs, as is the development of practical professional skills. The school has excellently equipped studios, laboratories, and workshops and is networked with numerous research facilities, institutions, and companies.