Literature Forum Southwest

Literatur Forum Südwest e. V. is a non-commercial, non-profit literary association based in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1988 by authors from Freiburg and the surrounding region who wanted to create a place for conversations about emerging texts. Soon after, literary translators—a strong community in Freiburg—joined the association, giving it a distinctive profile that combines writers and translators. The association is the supporting organization behind the Literaturhaus Freiburg, a literary house that serves as a venue and hub for literary life in the region. The association's mission is to promote and mediate literature. It organizes and hosts readings, podium discussions, writing and translation workshops, and other literary events—around 90 to 100 events per year. It also acts as an advisory body for literary event organizers and for people active in literature and translation. Funding comes from membership fees, donations, municipal support, and project funds from the state of Baden-Württemberg. Youth promotion is an important aspect, including an annual Literaturhaus writing competition for young people aged 12 to 18 and a volunteer program for master's students in European literatures and cultures or modern German literature. Over the decades, the association has moved locations: from a city-provided room in the former Marienbad (where the Literaturbüro Freiburg was established in 1992), to the Alten Wiehrebahnhof from 2003 to 2017 (shared with the Kommunales Kino Freiburg as the "House for Film and Literature"), and finally to the Alte Universität in autumn 2017, where renovated spaces include a 260 m² theater hall with 130 seats and an inductive hearing system for accessibility. The association has over 100 members, including writers and translators. Its board currently includes Werner Baur, Yvonne Eglinger, Antigone Kiefner, Dr. Renate Klöppel, Jürgen Reuß, and Christoph Trunk. The first managing director was Wolfgang Sandfuchs (from 1992), followed by Martin Gülich (2000), Stefanie Stegmann (2005), and Martin Bruch (2014). Today, Literatur Forum Südwest continues to be a vital literary institution in Freiburg, organizing a diverse program featuring well-known authors and translators, and maintaining a strong network of literary professionals. It remains a registered non-profit association, independent of commercial publishing houses, and is dedicated to fostering literary culture in southwestern Germany.

Literatur Forum Südwest e. V. was founded in 1988 by authors from Freiburg and the region. The first public event took place on 17 January 1988, when 12 authors gave a group reading with musical accompaniment at the Städtische Galerie Schwarzes Kloster. The association was created to provide a space for authors to discuss emerging texts. Soon, literary translators—a strong group in Freiburg—joined, giving the association a distinctive profile. In 1992, the Literaturbüro Freiburg was established in a room provided by the city in the former Marienbad. The first managing director was Wolfgang Sandfuchs, who took office in 1992. Under him, the association participated in the Colmar Book Fair, was part of the working group "Der blaue Puma," and strengthened cooperation with city libraries in Freiburg and Lörrach as well as other cultural and social institutions. In 1997, the association faced a crisis when the expiration of ABM funding put its financing at risk, and there was discussion about whether its task in southern Baden was already complete. This was resolved through a budget provided by the city and funding from the state. In 2000, Martin Gülich became managing director, focusing on anchoring the association more strongly in the city with the program "Eine Stadt liest" (One City Reads) and intensifying youth work through cooperation with the Oberschulamt and the "Haus der Jugend." From 2003 to 2017, Literatur Forum Südwest and Literaturbüro Freiburg were located together with the Kommunales Kino Freiburg in the Alten Wiehrebahnhof, the "House for Film and Literature." In 2005, Martin Gülich and Kai Weynand left the Literaturhaus. Stefanie Stegmann became the new director and initiated two major projects with partners in Ukraine: "ZUG' 76" and, the following year, "Wechselstrom." She moved to the Literaturhaus Stuttgart in 2014, and her successor was Martin Bruch, a co-editor of the literary magazine "Bella triste." In autumn 2017, the location moved to the Alte Universität, where rooms were renovated, including a theater hall with 260 m² and 130 seats, and an inductive hearing system for accessibility. The association has over 100 members, including writers and translators. It organizes around 90 to 100 events per year, including classic readings, lectures, podium discussions, and cross-genre performances. It also serves as an advisory body for literary event organizers and for those active in literature and translation. Funding comes from membership fees, donations, municipal support, and project funds from the state of Baden-Württemberg. Youth promotion is important, with an annual writing competition for 12- to 18-year-olds (e.g., the 15th competition in 2019 under the theme "Weiße Riesen") and a volunteer program for master's students. The association has published a regional authors' directory (1997) and several anthologies of student texts. The current board includes Werner Baur, Yvonne Eglinger, Antigone Kiefner, Dr. Renate Klöppel, Jürgen Reuß, and Christoph Trunk.

• 2019

  15th Literaturhaus writing competition for youth under theme 'Weiße Riesen'.

• 2017

  Moves to Alte Universität; renovated spaces include a 260 m² theater hall with 130 seats and inductive hearing system.

• 2014

  Martin Bruch becomes managing director after Stefanie Stegmann leaves for Literaturhaus Stuttgart.

• 2005

  Stefanie Stegmann becomes director; initiates Ukraine projects 'ZUG' 76' and 'Wechselstrom'.

• 2003

  Moves to Alten Wiehrebahnhof, shared with Kommunales Kino Freiburg as 'House for Film and Literature'.

• 2000

  Martin Gülich becomes managing director, focusing on 'Eine Stadt liest' and youth work.

• 1997

  Financial crisis due to expiration of ABM funding; resolved with city budget and state funds. Published regional authors' directory.

• 1992

  Literaturbüro Freiburg established in a city-provided room in the former Marienbad; Wolfgang Sandfuchs becomes first managing director.

• 1988

  Founded by authors from Freiburg and the region; first public event on 17 January 1988 with 12 authors at Städtische Galerie Schwarzes Kloster.

Non-profit literary association and operator of Literaturhaus Freiburg, dedicated to promoting literature and translation in the Freiburg region.

• Literary readings

  Classic readings and lectures by authors.

• Podium discussions

  Panel discussions on literary topics.

• Writing workshops

  Workshops for writers to develop their craft.

• Translation workshops

  Workshops focused on literary translation.

• Youth writing competition

  Annual competition for youth aged 12-18.

• Literary advisory services

  Advisory for literary event organizers and literary professionals.

1. 1Literaturhaus Freiburg – Trägervereinliteraturhaus-freiburg.de
2. 2Wikidata: Literature Forum Southwestwikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia (German): Literatur Forum Südwestde.wikipedia.org