A Contribution to European Integration * Henkel Arts Prize for Central and Eastern Europe =

VIENNA, June 17 (PROTEXT/ots) - Henkel Central Eastern Europehas established two awards for artists in Central and EasternEurope. The Henkel Arts Prize for contemporary drawing, an annualaward of 5000 Euro, is designed to improve understanding of theCentral and Eastern European geographical region and culturalarea, as well as make a contribution to the process of Europeanintegration. Henkel has also created the "Young Artists Prize",an annual award worth 3000 Euro, in order to promote youngaspiring artists participating in the "Artists in Residence"programme of KulturKontakt Austria.

The main purpose of the Henkel Arts Prize for contemporarydrawing, initiated by Henkel Central Eastern Europe, is to raiseawareness of Central and Eastern Europe as a culturallysignificant area.

Henkel CEE has successfully persuaded KulturKontakt Austriato serve as a partner in this project. KulturKontakt Austria hasbeen managing arts projects in Central and Eastern Europe for thelast ten years. Each year, it invites applicants from EasternEuropean countries to take part in its "Artists in Residence"programme.Interface for Central and Eastern Europe

Henkel CEE based in Vienna has established itself within theworldwide Henkel Group as the regional headquarters for Centraland Eastern Europe. Henkel's success story in Central and EasternEurope began in 1984 with the company's first pilot exportproject from Austria to the east. Since the founding of its firstsubsidiary in Hungary in 1987, Henkel has set up 50 othercompanies in the CEE region. The company has invested more than174 million Euro to date in order to expand its businessoperations in these emerging markets.

Today, Henkel CEE serves as the parent company coordinatingthe activities of 12 holding companies and 14 productionlocations,, and is responsible for the markets in 15 countrieswith a total of 185 million inhabitants. In addition to Austria,these are: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic,Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia,Slovenia, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. Henkel CEE employs a total of4543 people, who generated revenues of 746 million Euro in 2001.Mental Affinity, Geographical Proximity

"In addition to an expert knowledge of the region, our mentalaffinity and geographical proximity have been key factorscontributing to our success," says Mr. Friedrich Stara, Presidentof Henkel Central Eastern Europe, which will use thesecompetitive advantages to initiate the Henkel Arts Prize forcontemporary drawing for the Central and Eastern Europeancultural region.

Together with KulturKontakt Austria, Henkel CEE is invitingartists from Central and Eastern Europe to apply for the artsprize and the "Artists-in Residence" programme.Exhibition and Award

The winner of the prize will be selected by an internationaljury. The award will consist of a monetary prize of 5000 Euro andan art exhibition of this person's works, both in Vienna and inhis or her home country. Within the framework of the "Artists inResidence" programme of KulturKontakt Austria, Henkel has alsoestablished a prize for young artists. The winner will be awardeda three-month scholarship from KulturKontakt to stay in Viennaalong with a cash grant of 3000 Euro donated by Henkel.

Interested artists can request more detailed informationabout the Henkel Arts Prize as well as the Young Artists Prizefrom KulturKontakt Austria, (kultur@kulturkontakt.or.at, Tel: +43/1/523 87 65 ext. 11).

Henkel CEE headquartered in Vienna is one of the mostsuccessful companies for brand name products in Central andEastern Europe. Henkel CEE is market leader for hair careproducts, adhesives and surface technologies and has a topposition in the market for detergents and cleansers as well asfor cosmetics. In the year 2001, Henkel CEE posted revenues of746 million Euro, with a work force of 4,453 people.For more information, please contact:Henkel Central Eastern EuropeMs. Sabine SchauerCorporate CommunicationsTelephone: +43.1.71104-2253Fax: +43.1.71104-2650E-Mail: sabine.schauer@henkel.athttp://www.henkel-cee.com

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