November 10, 2012, during an exhibition on the theme «BACHLAEUFE – the Imprint of Johann Sebastian Bach on modern times», held at Arnstadt, Germany, the First Prize was awarded to the BACH.Bow produced by Michael Bach Bachtischa, who enjoys an international reputation as a cellist and artist. Arnstadt itself was the first place where J. S. Bach (1685-1750) worked, from 1703 till 1707.

The BACH.Bow for stringed instruments was awarded first prize as being a work of art in various disciplines, the design of the bow itself getting a special mention.

The jury included Professor Dr. Schierz (director of the museums of art in the city of Erfurt), Dr. Hansen (director of the Bach House in Eisenach), Professor Nerlich (VBK), Christoph Drescher (Artistic Director of the Thüringer  Bachwochen) and the artists Jost Heyder, Dorsten Klauke, and Christoph Hodgson.

The Second Prize went to Gerd Mackensen; and the Third Prize to Florian Merkel and Jasmine Schwarz. The award ceremony is to take place on 2nd December at 11 a.m. in the Kunsthalle at Arnstadt. The exhibition includes work  by the other participants and is open to the public until 16th December.

In this initiative the Kunsthalle Arnstadt enjoys the support of the Sparkasse Arnstadt-Ilmenau Foundation and the Sparkassenkulturstiftung Hessen-Thüringen.