The recipients of the prize, which recognises work to support ethnic Hungarians outside of Hungary's borders went to:
Dániel Bendász, head diaconate of the Hungarian District Ministry in Berehove, Ukraine
Bendász graduated from the Lviv College of Forestry in 1966 and worked as a researcher for several years. He then completed his seminary studies - which were illegal at the time - under Elemér Orutay. In 1993, he was ordained as a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. Continuing the work of his father, Bendász published several studies of church history, in Hungarian, Russian and Ukrainian.
The Gaudeamus Foundation, Sighisoara, Romania
The Gaudeamus Foundation works to support the education of ethnic Hungarians in their mother tongue in the region around Sighisoara. The foundation has a school and arts centre in the city, and it has helped to education more than 300 students, most of whom have gone on to college or university.
György Gálfalvy, writer, editor, founding member and retired editor-in-chief of the literary journal Látó
While working as a journalist for Ifjúmunkás (Young Worker) Gálfalvy started writing a column for Igaz Szó, the best known journal of Transylvanian literature at the time. Days after the fall of communism in the country, he helped establish the journal Látó and became its editor-in-chief.
Lajos Kántor, retired editor-in-chief of the journal Korunk
Kántor has been an active public figure in the ethnic Hungarian community in Transylvania and has worked to encourage a dialogue between Hungarians and Romanians.
Deacon Centre of the Reformed Church of the Transcarpathian Oblast, Ukraine
Since 1995, the Deacon Centre has operated as a charity meeting the needs of the local community. Under the leadership of Béla Nagy, the centre provides meals five times a week for 300-400 needy people. The centre has its own bakery, and it organises summer camps elsewhere in the region and abroad. It has provided much assistance during periods of flooding in the region, and in 2005 it set up a catastrophe coordination centre.
Ilona Németh, artist and illustrator
Németh has become a defining figure on the Slovakian art scene. For more than a decade, she has created installations using natural materials as well as the full range of multimedia instruments. In the 90s, her sound installations and objects contributed to the post-feminist discourse. Her newest works deal with the relationship between the public and private spheres of life.
Róbert J. Pátkai, retired Lutheran bishop
Pátkai was forced to leave Hungary for England because of his activities during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. In 1957, he set up the Hungarian Lutheran Church of England. In addition to his role in the church, he has played a major role in the social, literary and cultural life of ethnic Hungarians in the UK. From 1977 until his retirement, he headed the Lutheran Council of Great Britain.
Farm Theatre Citizens Association
The Farm Theatre has worked to bring the art of the stage to rural areas for 30 years since it was set up by a group of students at the Vojvodina Arts Academy in 1978. Now the theatre boasts more than 200 members and some 600 productions - from Shakespeare to musicals - seen by millions.
Téka Foundation, Gherla, Romania
One of the best known foundations for ethnic Hungarians in the region around Gherla, Téka specifically targets young people for its many programmes.
Béla Várady, retired member of the Thália Theatre of Koice, Slovakia
Várady was one of the founding members of the ethnic Hungarian Thália Theatre of Koice. Between 1971 and 1981, he was the artistic director for the Hungarian District Theatre's Thália Stage in Koice. From 1993 until his retirement, Várady was an actor with the theatre.
Photo: Lajos Soós (MTI)
