Fonó Music Hall has been awarded the Hungarian Heritage Prize for „promoting and preserving folk art”. The prize ceremony was held on 21 December, 2013 at the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Fonó was represented by founder József Lukács businessman and musician, and artistic director Mihály Rosonczy-Kovács. Eulogist: József Birinyi, musician, ethnographer and ethnomusicologist, President of the Hungaricum Association.

Recipients of the Hungarian Heritage Prize include Hungarian institutions and groups facilitating the moral and intellectual enhancement of Hungarian society by making significant contributions to Hungarian culture, economy, sports and science. These four areas constitute the “Invisible Intellectual Museum” of a society. Nomination is based on the theory and practice of bottom-up democracy: each Hungarian citizen has the right to nominate a person, group, institution or achievement which they regard worthy of the Prize. The Selection Committee chooses recipients from a list assembled solely from citizens’ recommendations. Seven prizes are awarded each three months.

In 2013, the Hungarian Heritage Prize was given to only seven recipients including Hungarian graphic artist and cartoon director Marcell Jankovics and photographer Károly Szelényi. For the full list of present recipients, click here (Hungarian website) www.magyarorokseg.hu

Congratulations to all recipients!