PRESS RELEASE from 24th February 2025

The Cultural Senate of the town of Neustadt bei Coburg has unanimously decided to suspend the Max-Oscar-Arnold-Award for Contemporary Doll Art (“MOA”).

The fundamental requirement of an international art prize must be a free, open participation for artists. This is currently not the case due to the ongoing problems in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia.

In recent years, many participants have come from Russia and Ukraine.

In addition to shipping and customs problems that can no longer be solved, travel restrictions usually prevent personal participation. In addition, the growing conflicts between artists from hostile nations have a massive impact on the art prize.

The Max-Oscar-Arnold-Award is therefore unfortunately suspended until further notice. However, it will continue to exist as such – with its basic international orientation and while safeguarding the rights associated with it. This ensures that the City of Neustadt will be able to reorganize and award the prize again in due course.

As part of the overall program of the “International Doll Festival Neustadt and Sonneberg”, the large collection of MOA artist dolls, which the town of Neustadt has built up over the last 30 years, will be presented this year in the multi-purpose hall on Heubischer Straße.

All other event parts of the “International Doll Festival 2025” will take place without restriction.

For further information please contact
André Röttger
Office for culture in the town of Neustadt
Telephone: +49 (0) 9568 81-139
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.