PER ARTEM AD DEUM MEDAL FOR KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI, WINCETY KUĆMA AND HERDER PUBLISHERS

Per Artem ad Deum Medal

For a number of years thePer Artem ad Deum Medal has been presented during the International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO held in Targi Kielce. This year, the Pontifical Council for Culture has resolved to bestow the Medal upon Professor Krzysztof Penderecki, Professor Wincenty Kućma and the German publishing house - the Herder.

This year's laureates will be resented the medals during the Gala Ceremony on June 22, 2015 year.

Krzysztof Penderecki

... for constant and always-anew pursuit of God  along the paths toward delineated with the staves and notes ...

Wincenty Kućma

... for bringing forward the Sacrum's immutable essence from the matter in order to animate human hearts, souls and minds with it ...

Verlag Herder

 ... for the faith in the Sacrum's immutable values which help  understand life in continuous confronting the present-day reality  ... 

Krzysztof Penderecki

Not only does Penderecki belong to the group of Polish most eminent and original contemporary composers, but he is also a respected conductor and teacher. Born on 23 November 1933 in Debica to the family which had maintained music traditions.  Penderecki wrote his first compositions at the age of 8. He studied at the State Higher School of Music (now the Academy of Music) in Krakow, where he later became a lecturer. Penderecki was also the Academy rector from 1972 to 1987. Since 1973 he has advanced his international career as a conductor.

The Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima marked his first international success in 1959; Penderecki was granted the UNESCO prize. Although he began his international career as an avant-garde composer, yet it was sacral music that brought Penderecki international fame and recognition (Psalms of David, Utrenja (Matins), Polish Requiem, the Seven Gates of Jerusalem, the Creed and many others). Penderecki has written several hundred compositions - symphonies, chamber music,  songs, choral works, operas and film soundtracks. The artist has earned numerous artistic accolades, state, national and papal awards, and doctoral  honorary degree of Polish and foreign universities.

Professor Wincenty Kućma

One of the most prominent contemporary sculptors, medailleurs, sacred buildings interior designers. Kućma was born on 25 May 1935 in Zbilutka, in the Kielce region. Kućma studied at the Faculty of Sculpture of the Academy of Fine Arts (ASP) in Krakow. In 1967 he started working at the ASP's in Spatial Studio at the Department of Visual Arts at the Faculty of Industrial Design. Kućma was the Studio head until 2000. He has earned of over 50 awards and distinctions in sculptural and architectural competitions. Kućma's artistic work has been recognised with state and papal accolades. His works have been exhibited at over 40  individual exhibitions, 80 group exhibitions; nearly 60 exhibitions were staged abroad. Kućmas works are also put on display in museums. Kućma has also authored patriotic sculptures: "Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post Office" in Gdansk; "Warsaw Uprising 1944" in Warsaw; "The Home Army Monument" in Kielce. Kućma's works are also present in New Delhi, Geneva et. al. Over 60 churches in Poland, Russia and Belarus are adorned with Kućma's religious sculptures and interior design. 

Herder Publishing House

One of Germany's oldest family-owned publishing houses was founded in 1798 by Bartholomä Herder, since 1808 Herder has had headquarters in Freiburg im Breisgau. Herder is now headed by Manuel Herder a publisher in the sixth generation. Herder's books have been translated into Polish, now on offer of Jedność Publishers.

Every year Herder's offer is expanded to include about 500 new titles in addition to the 3,000 books published in previous year and still available. Herder is ranked among German's leading publishers of theological, guide and advisory books; they actively support a dialogue between different cultures and traditions. Herder also printed the ground-breaking scientific publication - the famous "Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche" ("Lexicon of Theology and the Church"). The publishing house is also famous for children books and non-fiction literature. For centuries great personages of historic, religious, scientific and literary milieus have published at Herder's; the famous educator Maria Montessori, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Eli Wesel, Benedict XVI, Dalai Lama at. al.