The international Caroline Neuber Scholarship has been awarded since 2020 and expands the Caroline Neuber Prize, which has been awarded since 1998. It honours a contemporary understanding of theatre, theatre as a place, as well as a medium of social understanding and dialogue at the centre of a vibrant urban society. The focus is on young European artists whose work sets standards in the spirit of the German actress and theatre principle Caroline Friederike Neuber.

The so-called "Neuberin" founded a permanent theatre company in Leipzig in the 18th century, ran her own theatre, helped the profession of actors and actresses to gain more recognition, and in collaboration with (among others) Johann Christoph Gottsched, initiated a reform of the content and modes of presentation of German-language theatre.

Awards are given for outstanding, innovative and stimulating performances by female artists in all areas and genres of contemporary theatre.

The award comes with prize money of 5,000 euros and a working scholarship in Leipzig worth up to 10,000 euros for work and production materials, as well as living and travel expenses.

Seven internationally-networked Leipzig theatre institutions nominate female artists for the award and later support the respective scholarship holder during her working stay in Leipzig. The partners of the international Caroline Neuber Scholarship are: the festival euro-scene Leipzig and the venues Lindenfels Westflügel, LOFFT - DAS THEATER, Schauspiel Leipzig, Schaubühne Lindenfels, Theater der Jungen Welt and Oper Leipzig.

From the nominees, an independent jury selects the artist who will receive the bursary. Marie Gourdain received the scholarship in 2020. Further information can be found on the Neuber blog. LOFFT - DAS THEATER has been commissioned with the coordination and implementation of the award ceremony and the Caroline Neuber Scholarship by the City of Leipzig’s Cultural Affairs Office.