In September 2010, the International Balzan Foundation awarded Prof. em. Dr. Manfred Brauneck in September 2010 for his encyclopaedia "Die Geschichte des Theaters in all seinen Ausdrucksformen". He was professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Hamburg, where he also was Director of the Centre for Theatre Research.

The jury explained that Manfred Brauneck received the prize "for his comprehensive presentation of two and a half millennia of European theatre history, as well as his research on currents and events of theatrical activity worldwide." The Adviser for the General Balzan Committee was Prof. em. Dr. Gottfried Scholz. According to the prize rules, Brauneck used half of the prize money to fund the research project “The Role of the Independent Theatre in Contemporary European Theatre: Structural and Aesthetic Changes”.

The German Centre of the International Theatre Institute administers the research fund.

Four trans-European studies investigate the changes in the independent theatre since 1990. The book “The Role of the Independent Theatre in Contemporary European Theatre: Structural and Aesthetic Changes” is released in English and German by transcript Verlag.

• Balzan Foundation

The authors and their studies:

•  Andrea Hensel: “Independent Theatre in the Post-Socialist Countries of Eastern Europe: New Forms of Production and Creativity in Theatre Aesthetics”

• Dr. Christine Koch: “Independent Children’s Theatre in Europe since 1990: Developments – Potentials – Perspectives”

• Dr.  Petra Sabisch: “For a Topology of Practices: A Study on the Situation of Contemporary and Experimental Dance, Choreography and Performance Art in Europe from 1990 to 2013“

• Dr. Azadeh Sharifi: “Theatre and Migration: Documentation, Influences and Perspectives in European Theatre”

 These studies are extended by four essays:

• Prof. em. Dr. Manfred Brauneck: “Independent Theatre“

• Henning Fülle: “A Theatre for Postmodernity in Western European Theaterscapes“

• Prof. Dr. Matthias Rebstock: “Varieties of independent Music Theatre in Europe – A side note”

• Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schneider: “Towards a Theatrical Landscape“

The english version has been chosen by the Library Selection Committee to be accessed free of costs at „Knowledge Unlatched“ as one of 150 publications worldwide in 2017.