Literaturhaus

I discovered Literaturhaus thanks to an article written by Ivan from BSG (Bookstoreguide).

Here there are some passages but I recommend you to read the full article.

"The concept originated in Germany, where the very first of these Houses was opened in Berlin back in 1986. It has slowly spread through several German cities and subsequently to some other countries as well. (...)

In the German speaking countries 11 of these Houses (8 from Germany, 2 from Austria and one from Switzerland) created an organization 'Literaturhaus.net', which coordinates common projects and even awards an annual literary prize.(...)"

"Reading about the principles behind the House of Literature project is like reading any other material published by an NGO with noble ideals – bittersweet sci-fi. None of its basic principles seem to fit into the free-market reality of the Western world. (...)

The fact that this specific sci-fi became a true story in reality can serve as an inspiration for many others and it proves that, from time to time, the most improbable projects see the light of the day."


"The number of books sold is not the only criterion by which the success of this enterprise is judged. In fact, the bookstores which form a part of most of these institutions are more like a complementary to more general goals the Houses try to fulfill. Promoting literature, as vague as it may sound, is the unifying ambition, (...)

They offer an exclusive space for the self-realization of authors, translators, critics, theoreticians, booksellers, publishers, journalists and all literature enthusiasts."

"Other forms of art – music, film or fine arts, especially in forms connected to the literary world receive a lot of coverage as well. Most of the Houses also contain a multilingual bookstore and even their own library while some of them organize annual literary festivals."


" It is very important to realize that these institutions are far away from a local independent bookstore where the owner makes most, if not all, of the decisions regarding its future. Houses of Literature are big conglomerates in every sense of this word and their successful functioning requires a very high level of cooperation between different sections and all the organizations involved. Good management is as important as a strong belief in the principles and ideals of the Literaturhaus project.

(...) the power of the Houses of Literature lies in their ability cooperate with a wide variety of organizations and thus multiply their potential to offer quality events in different fields.

The strategy adopted by the Houses relies on diversifying the financial resources instead of relying on a single income source. One of the ways to cover the expenses is renting out their premises for cultural events (...) Some of the activities are also financially supported by the governments of the given country. Another important source of income is represented by donations from individuals, interest groups or foundations."

"We think that the true value of this project lies within the general message that it is dedicated to spreading. Recreating and supporting the notion of literature with a deeper meaning and impact, literature as an end in itself, not just a means to generate profit. (...)

Literaturhaus is a space where literature has found not only its shelter but also home. The fact that special places like these exist and are actually growing in number is definitely something to build on."

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