Goethe-Plakette (Goethe Plaque) is the highest award by the Hessian Ministry for Science and the Arts of the federal state of Hesse, Germany, named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It has been awarded since 1949 at irregular intervals.[1] The award is given to individuals who have contributed to arts and culture in a special way and have been influential in the cultural development of the state of Hesse.