Steirisches Volksbildungswerk

The Steirisches Volksbildungswerk is a non-profit adult-education association (Verein) under Austrian law, headquartered in Graz and active throughout the federal state of Styria. Founded in 1956, it describes itself as a politically independent and non-confessional provider of adult education that creates the conditions for sustainable learning processes in local and regional settings. Its stated mission is to enable broad sections of the population to educate themselves, to strengthen and shape their local and regional lifeworlds through learning, and to contribute to cultural enrichment and social cohesion. The organisation operates a decentralised, state-wide network of local Bildungswerke (community education centres) in Styrian municipalities and works with partner organisations across the region. It runs courses, lectures, exhibitions, senior-citizen activities, folk-dance programmes and other cultural events, and it carries out cultural and social projects on behalf of public bodies. A recurring thematic focus is building culture and heritage: for example, its course "Baukultur, Ortsbild & Raumplanung" (Building Culture, Townscape & Spatial Planning) combines knowledge and practice around the built environment, and it also runs an annual Impulstag Ehrenamt (Volunteering Impulse Day) addressing the future of volunteering in cultural and educational work. Since 1956 the association has published the magazine steirische berichte, which appears four to six times a year and reports on adult education, art and culture as well as Styrian personalities and regional particularities. The magazine deliberately gives a platform to smaller topics, initiatives and people that mass media tend to overlook. The Volksbildungswerk is a member of the umbrella organisation Ring Österreichischer Bildungswerke and is recognised as an Austrian adult-education institution. It pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the Austrian Federal Fiscal Code (Bundesabgabenordnung) and is not profit-oriented. In 2026 the association marks its 70th anniversary, presenting itself as close to the people, open to new ideas and firmly rooted in the region. Its programme continues to emphasise lifelong learning, community engagement and cultural education for all generations in Styria.

The Steirisches Volksbildungswerk was founded in 1956 and has since operated as a non-profit adult-education association based in Graz, Styria. From its beginnings it aimed to make education accessible to broad sections of the population, and it built a decentralised structure of local Bildungswerke in Styrian municipalities, networked with partner organisations across the state. It defines itself as politically independent and non-confessional, and it is recognised as an Austrian adult-education institution and a member of the umbrella organisation Ring Österreichischer Bildungswerke. A defining feature of the association's history is its publishing activity. Since 1956 it has issued the magazine steirische berichte, which appears four to six times a year and covers adult education, art and culture, and Styrian personalities and particularities, deliberately giving space to smaller topics and initiatives. Alongside the magazine, the Volksbildungswerk has published numerous books, workbooks and teaching materials, especially in the late 1950s and 1960s. Early titles include Fest und Feier (1959), Mooskirchner Tänze (1959), a Liederheft für gemischten Chor (1959), Die Streich (1959), Die gute steirische Gaststätte (1959), Ortspflege (1959), Steirische Trachten (1959), Steirische Heimatmuseen (1960), Steirische Ehrengalerie (1960), Steirisches Liederbuch (1961) and Steirischer Ehrenspiegel (1961). These publications reflect the association's early focus on regional culture, folk traditions, local heritage and community celebration. In later decades the publishing programme continued and diversified, addressing themes such as heritage conservation, energy-conscious planning and housing, and regional exhibitions. Examples include Bauernhäuser richtig sanieren (1978), energiebewusstes planen & wohnen (1980), Peter Rosegger Superstar (1983), Spielideen zum Erzherzog Johann Jahr (1983), and a series of Arbeitsmappen (work folders with pictures and texts) produced for Styrian provincial exhibitions: Erz und Eisen in der Grünen Mark (1984), Die Steiermark – Brücke und Bollwerk (1986), Hexen und Zauberer in der Steiermark (1987), Glas und Kohle (1988), Menschen & Münzen & Märkte (1989) and Weinkultur (1990). In the 1990s it published Dorferneuerung (1991, two volumes) and, in 1999, Kurt Kojalek's Die Bildungswerke and Volksbildung in der Steiermark 1819–1979, the latter documenting the long history of popular education in the region. Throughout its history the association has carried out cultural and social projects on behalf of public bodies and has maintained its state-wide network of local education centres. Its guiding idea is to offer people orientation through educational and cultural impulses, information and specific offerings, to enable opinion-forming, and to foster critical faculties, independence and the ability to act. In 2026 the organisation celebrates its 70th anniversary, presenting itself as close to the people, open to new ideas and firmly rooted in Styria, and continuing to promote lifelong learning for all generations.

• 2026

  Celebrates 70 years of the Steirisches Volksbildungswerk; offers the Baukultur, Ortsbild & Raumplanung course and the Impulstag Ehrenamt.

• 1999

  Publishes Kurt Kojalek's Die Bildungswerke and Volksbildung in der Steiermark 1819–1979.

• 1991

  Publishes Dorferneuerung, volumes 1 and 2.

• 1990

  Publishes Arbeitsmappe Weinkultur for the provincial exhibition in Gamlitz.

• 1989

  Publishes Arbeitsmappe Menschen & Münzen & Märkte for the provincial exhibition in Judenburg.

• 1988

  Publishes Arbeitsmappe Glas und Kohle for the provincial exhibition in Bärnbach.

• 1987

  Publishes Arbeitsmappe Hexen und Zauberer in der Steiermark for the provincial exhibition at Riegersburg.

• 1986

  Publishes Arbeitsmappe Die Steiermark – Brücke und Bollwerk for the provincial exhibition at Schloß Herberstein.

• 1984

  Publishes Arbeitsmappe Erz und Eisen in der Grünen Mark for the provincial exhibition in Eisenerz.

• 1983

  Publishes Peter Rosegger Superstar and Spielideen zum Erzherzog Johann Jahr.

• 1980

  Publishes energiebewusstes planen & wohnen.

• 1978

  Publishes Bauernhäuser richtig sanieren, a research project of the Styrian provincial government.

• 1961

  Publishes Steirisches Liederbuch and Steirischer Ehrenspiegel.

• 1960

  Publishes Steirische Heimatmuseen and Steirische Ehrengalerie.

• 1959

  Early publications issued, including Fest und Feier, Mooskirchner Tänze, Die Streich, Die gute steirische Gaststätte, Ortspflege and Steirische Trachten.

• 1956

  Steirisches Volksbildungswerk founded in Graz; begins publishing the magazine steirische berichte.

Politically independent, non-confessional, non-profit adult-education provider rooted in Styria, offering lifelong learning and cultural education close to the people.

• steirische berichte (magazine)

  Magazine published since 1956, issued four to six times a year, covering adult education, art and culture, and Styrian personalities and particularities.

• Baukultur, Ortsbild & Raumplanung (course)

  Course combining knowledge and practice around the built environment, liveable places, townscape protection and spatial planning.

• Impulstag Ehrenamt

  Event addressing the future of volunteering in cultural and educational work.

• Fest und Feier (1959)

  Handbook with suggestions and proposals, by Friedrich Cinibulk and Ingo Wampera.

• Mooskirchner Tänze (1959)

  Old Styrian dance tunes for various instruments, by Walter Kainz.

• Steirisches Liederbuch (1961)

  Songbook/teaching book by Rudolf Schwarz and Emil Seidel.

• Bauernhäuser richtig sanieren (1978)

  Research project of the Styrian provincial government on renovating farmhouses, by Herrad Spielhofer.

• Dorferneuerung (1991)

  Two-volume work by Dieter Schoeller encouraging participation in village renewal.

• Volksbildung in der Steiermark 1819–1979 (1999)

  Historical work by Kurt Kojalek on popular education in Styria.

1. 1Steirisches Volksbildungswerk – Bildung und Kultur in der Steiermarkvolksbildung.at
2. 2Über uns – Steirisches Volksbildungswerkvolksbildung.at
3. 3Steirisches Volksbildungswerk (Graz, Austria) – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Steirisches Volksbildungswerk – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org