Oskar Ansull: Culture prize for an exceptional artist from Celle!

Oskar Ansull: Culture prize for an exceptional artist from Celle!

Oskar Ansull experienced a special moment in the cultural landscape of the Celle district on October 31, 2025. The oft-honoured writer, poet and reciter received the Culture Prize of the Celle district, which is worth 2,000 euros. In his laudatory speech, District Administrator Axel Flader described Ansull as the “inventor of readings” and praised his impressive artistic performance. Ansull was noticeably touched by this award, which has deep roots in his homeland.

Born in Celle in 1950 and raised in Westercelle, Ansull has a career that is characterized by his passion for literature and theater. In addition to his school career, which took him through elementary and secondary school in Westercelle, he learned the trade of booksellers. His close ties to his home region remain to this day, even though he now lives in Berlin.

Appreciation and homage

In an emotional acceptance speech, Ansull remembered his late friend Karl-Heinrich Langspecht, who was known as a local politician and died in 2011. The two boys played together in school and attended a special class in the 1960s. These personal anecdotes gave the ceremony a particularly warm touch.

Ansull's creative power is reflected not only in his poetry, but also in his book “Home, Beautiful Strangers,” which was written with the support of the RWLE Möller Foundation. District Administrator Flader described this work as a key work in which the homeland is critically examined. Furthermore, Ansull is also the author of "Heaven, what a country! - District and literature. A sighting", which was honored as a commemorative publication for the 125th anniversary of the district as part of the "Celler Hefte".

A suggestion with symbolism

A special moment of the ceremony was Ansull's proposal to name the Bergen City Library after the Israeli author Uri Orlev. Orlev, who was deported to Bergen-Belsen in 1943 at the age of twelve, left his literary light in the form of poems in the darkness of history. Dirk-Ulrich Mende, the chairman of the district council, welcomed this proposal with open arms.

Oskar Ansull's understanding of literature and his creative skills make him an important voice in the region. The award is not only a recognition of his work, but also an invitation to everyone to engage with the diversity and depth of regional culture.