Literarisches Colloquium Berlin

The Literarisches Colloquium Berlin e. V. (LCB) is a German literary association and international meeting place for writers, founded on 16 May 1963 by Walter Höllerer, a member of the Gruppe 47 writers' circle. Its founding aim was to foster literary life and to counter the isolation of West Berlin after the construction of the Berlin Wall. The first events and readings took place in Berlin-Charlottenburg before the association moved into the Villa Am Sandwerder on the Großer Wannsee, which remains its home. For more than fifty years the LCB has been deeply rooted in Berlin's literary life while radiating far beyond the city. The LCB's central focus is international literary exchange. It helps authors from around the world — especially from Central and Eastern Europe — to make contacts, and it was a co-initiator of HALMA, the European network of literary centres. It presents younger German authors abroad in cooperation with the Goethe-Instituts, and it runs public readings, conversations and thematic discussions for Berlin audiences. It also edits the journal Sprache im technischen Zeitalter, founded by Höllerer, which serves as a forum for literary texts and theoretical reflection. Translation promotion is another core concern. The LCB has for over twenty years supported translators through seminars, conferences and grants; the Deutscher Übersetzerfonds, founded in 1997, has become the most important institution of its kind in Germany. Together with the Robert Bosch Stiftung the LCB runs the Grenzgänger programme, which supports research for publications intended to stimulate discussion and mutual understanding. The association also awards residential fellowships and operates a guest house, inviting authors from around the world to work intensively on their projects, with fellowships of up to three months. In 2006, with the Brandenburgischer Literaturverein, the LCB opened the literary platform Literaturport, which includes an authors' encyclopaedia and a database of prizes and grants. The Heimito von Doderer-Gesellschaft is also based at the LCB. The association has been recognised for its work, receiving the Preis der Literaturtage at the 25th Weidener Literaturtage in April 2009. Its programme continues to feature a dense calendar of readings, symposia, festivals and translation workshops, including international formats such as Barrio | Bairro Berlin and Literatur@Taiwan.

The Literarisches Colloquium Berlin e. V. (LCB) was founded on 16 May 1963 by Walter Höllerer, a member of the Gruppe 47 writers' circle. One aim of the founding was to foster literary life and thereby counter the isolation of West Berlin after the construction of the Berlin Wall. The first events and readings took place in Berlin-Charlottenburg before the association moved into the Villa Am Sandwerder on the Großer Wannsee. Shortly after its founding, Renate von Mangoldt began working as the LCB's photographer, documenting its work, readings and conferences as a full-time employee until 2000. From 1964 until 1982, Wolfgang Ramsbott was responsible for the LCB's film projects. As early as the 1960s, workshops were held in which young authors such as Peter Bichsel and Hubert Fichte could discuss their texts and develop literary projects. This tradition lives on in the Autorenwerkstatt Prosa, held regularly since 1997, from which authors such as Judith Hermann, Georg Klein, Inka Parei and David Wagner emerged. For over twenty years, the promotion of translation and the work of translators through seminars, conferences and grants has been another central concern of the association. In 1997 the Deutscher Übersetzerfonds was founded, which has developed into the most important institution of its kind in Germany. With the aim of promoting German literature abroad, the association presents younger German authors in the most important publishing cities worldwide in cooperation with the Goethe-Instituts. The journal Sprache im technischen Zeitalter, founded by Höllerer, is edited by the association; it is a forum for literary texts and theoretical reflections, and the LCB's closeness to contemporary authors allows insights into future tendencies and current developments in literature. The LCB also presents authors and their books to the Berlin public through public events, combining readings with conversations and thematic discussions. In 2006 the LCB, together with the Brandenburgischer Literaturverein, opened the literary platform Literaturport, which includes an authors' encyclopaedia and a database of prizes and grants for literary professionals. The Heimito von Doderer-Gesellschaft also has its seat at the LCB. The LCB awards residential fellowships and operates a guest house; in cooperation with various state bodies and foundations, authors from around the world are invited to work intensively on their projects, with fellowships of up to three months. From July 2025, free workspaces in the LCB's studio building at Wannsee are awarded for half a year each to authors, translators and comic artists based in Berlin and Brandenburg. In April 2009 the association was honoured with the Preis der Literaturtage at the 25th Weidener Literaturtage. Also in 2009, Jürgen Jakob Becker, deputy managing director of the LCB, received the Übersetzerbarke award from the Verband deutschsprachiger Übersetzer literarischer und wissenschaftlicher Werke (VdÜ). The LCB was a co-initiator of HALMA, the European network of literary centres, and with the Robert Bosch Stiftung it runs the Grenzgänger programme, which supports research for publications intended to stimulate discussion and promote dialogue and mutual understanding.

• 2025

  From July, free workspaces are awarded for half-year periods to authors, translators and comic artists based in Berlin and Brandenburg.

• 2009

  The association receives the Preis der Literaturtage at the 25th Weidener Literaturtage in April.

• 2006

  The LCB and the Brandenburgischer Literaturverein open the Literaturport platform.

• 1997

  The Deutscher Übersetzerfonds is founded; the Autorenwerkstatt Prosa is held regularly from this year.

• 1964

  Wolfgang Ramsbott becomes responsible for the LCB's film projects, a role he holds until 1982.

• 1963

  Founded on 16 May by Walter Höllerer as an international meeting place for writers.

• 1963

  Renate von Mangoldt begins working as the LCB's photographer, documenting its work until 2000.

A non-profit literary association and international meeting place for writers, translators and literary professionals, rooted in Berlin and active worldwide.

• Sprache im technischen Zeitalter

  Literary journal founded by Walter Höllerer, edited by the LCB.

• Literaturport

  Literary platform opened in 2006 with the Brandenburgischer Literaturverein, including an authors' encyclopaedia and a prizes and grants database.

• Deutscher Übersetzerfonds

  Founded in 1997, the most important institution of its kind in Germany.

• Grenzgänger programme

  Run with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, supporting research for publications.

• Autorenwerkstatt Prosa

  Regular workshop since 1997 for emerging prose authors.

1. 1Literarisches Colloquium Berlin – official websitelcb.de
2. 2Geschichte des Hauses – Literarisches Colloquium Berlinlcb.de
3. 3Bewegte Gemeinschaften | Comunidades (con)movidas – Literarisches Colloquium Berlinlcb.de
4. 4Literarisches Colloquium Berlin – Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Literarisches Colloquium Berlin – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org