On Saturday, a true institution was honored with the 2018 Binding Culture Award at Frankfurt's Römer: the Tigerpalast Frankfurt, one of Europe's most prestigious Varieté theaters. Or, as Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann put it at the festive award ceremony: the Tigerpalast is a "flagship for Frankfurt". For their outstanding work, the founders and directors Margareta Dillinger and Johnny Klinke, as well as Robert Mangold as managing director, have received one of Germany's most prestigious art awards. The award, which is endowed with 50,000 euros, honours artists or cultural institutions from the Rhine-Main region whose work and creations attract attention and recognition beyond the region. And that really applies to the Tigerpalast. The prize was presented by Bergit Gräfin Douglas, Chairwoman of the Board of the Binding Kulturstiftung, and the laudatory speech was given by Andreas von Schoeler, former Lord Mayor of Frankfurt
With the Tigerpalast, the Board of Trustees of the Binding Kulturstiftung has honoured an outstanding cultural institution in Frankfurt. Margareta Dillinger, Johnny Klinke and Robert Mangold have succeeded in almost three decades to revive a rare art form - the Varieté Theater. The program with outstanding artists is characterized by a continuous, extraordinary quality.
The "Tigerpalast" has been firmly anchored in the cultural metropolis of Frankfurt for many years. "Varieté is not red light, this is the best entertainment!", said the Lord Mayor in his speech. In doing so, he referred to the names of prominent artists who have made guest appearances at the theatre: Liza Minelli, Bette Midler, Udo Lindenberg and Max Raabe in its early days. The Tigerpalast has attracted three million spectators in the 30 years of its existence. A development that was not a foregone conclusion. "Behind it are the highest concentration, hard work and an unconditional will for quality and success," the former mayor Andreas von Schoeler stated in his laudation. And added: "For us Frankfurters, the Tigerpalast provides moments of happiness that we gratefully enjoy!"
Feldmann thanked Klinke co-founder Margarete Dillinger, the late Matthias Beltz and Tigerpalast restaurateur Robert Mangold for their commitment. Because only with a good culinary offer Varieté arrives at the audience, in which Mangold with his reputation reaching over the borders of the city has a decisive share. With the words "Thank you for existing! Thank you for 30 great years of entertainment!", the Lord Mayor congratulated the Tigerpalast for the Binding Culture Award.
30 years of Tigerpalast
On September 30, 1988, the Tigerplast celebrated its opening as a modern Varieté and the only non-subsidized theater in the Main metropolis. A loan from the Hessian state government and cooperation with the city of Frankfurt had made the conversion of the old building in Heiligkreuzgasse, previously used by the Salvation Army for more than 60 years, possible. The declared aim of its founders was to encourage an independent professional entertainment culture and the cultural revitalisation of Frankfurt's city centre. This was preceded by a three-year collection of ideas and historical studies of 1920s entertainment culture, including trips to Budapest and Prague, London, Paris and Barcelona.
High-profile cultural institution
The Tiger Palace joins another high-profile cultural institution as the award's consistently outstanding recipients. This year marks the 23rd time that the Binding Culture Prize has been awarded. With this important promotion of the cultural scene in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region, the tradition-rich Binding brewery underlines its close ties to its home region.
