Goethe Medal

The Goethe Medal, also known as the Goethe-Medaille, is a yearly prize given by the Goethe Institute honoring non-Germans for meritorious contributions in the spirit of the Institute. It is an official decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The prize used to be given on March 22, the anniversary of Goethe's death. Since 2009, it has been given on August 28, the anniversary of Goethe's birth. The first awards were made in 1955. In the intervening years, through 2006, a total of 312 women and men from 57 countries have been so honored.