The cultural manager and managing director of Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (VBW), a Wien Holding company, Franz Patay, was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria.

The ceremony took place on 27 June 2023 in the presence of numerous guests from the arts, culture, business and politics at the former Länderbank in Hohenstaufengasse 3. On behalf of the Federal President, Section Head Jürgen Meindl presented one of the country's most important awards. The laudatory speech was given by Christoph Wagner-Trenkwitz.