A year after the comprehensive refurbishment and celebratory reopening of the Villa in September 2007, Villa Director Angelika Stepken can look back at an eventful, successful time. In addition to numerous fascinating exhibitions and events in the artists' house itself, the "Freisteller" (Cut-Outs) exhibition, which presented the 2008 fellows at the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin, was a new highlight, once again documenting their high artistic level.

This year's four fellows – Clemens von Wedemeyer, Julia Schmidt, Asli Sungu and Dani Gal – will continue residing in the Villa until November 2008. Starting in February 2009, Olivier Foulon (born 1976), Kalin Lindena (born 1977), Benjamin Yavuzsoy (born 1970) and Eske Schlüters (born 1980) will begin their ten-month stay in Florence.

More than a century ago, German painter Max Klinger purchased Villa Romana to create a forum for contemporary art run by artists, independent of the state. The history of the Villa Romana Prize is associated with many distinguished names. Former fellows include such greats as Max Beckmann, Käthe Kollwitz and Ernst Barlach, Georg Baselitz and Markus Lüpertz, Karin Sander, Katharina Grosse, Dellbrügge & de Moll, and Amelie von Wulffen. An award of the Villa Romana Prize typically marks the start of a successful international career.

Today, the Deutsche Bank Foundation is the largest sponsor of the Patrons' Association. Additional funds are provided by the Association's other members and the Federal Government Commissioner for Cultural and Media Affairs. Each year, the Villa Romana Patron's Association makes it possible for unusually talented artists – largely young artists from Germany – to live and work in the artists' residence for ten months.

The Villa Romana Prize is not only the oldest German art prize, but also the Deutsche Bank's oldest most long-standing cultural commitment: The Bank has supported this renowned award for contemporary art in Germany for more than 80 years, impressively documenting its tradition of supporting young artists. In keeping with Deutsche Bank’s decades of support, the Deutsche Bank Foundation has supported the Villa Romana Club e.V. for years - not only financially, but also with staff resources, as bank employees serve voluntarily in Club offices.

"The needs of a thriving art scene are twofold: not just suitable living and working conditions for artists, but also an audience that sees the exploration of art as a natural, enriching part of live," explains Dr. Tessen von Heydebreck, member of the Deutsche Bank Foundation's board. "The fact that Villa Romana and its exhibitions present an international, networked forum for contemporary art in Florence is fully in line with Deutsche Bank's cultural self image."

These networking efforts are now getting an extra boost: The "Kandinsky Prize", awarded by the Deutsche Bank Foundation for the first time in 2007, is the most lucrative prize for contemporary Russian art. The prize in the "Best Young Artist" category is backed with a three-month stay at Villa Romana. The first winner was Vladlena Gromova.