2024 VATMH Berlin Program Highlights

In Remembrance of the Day of the Book Burning

In a sold-out evening at the Literaturhaus Berlin, seven outstanding artists read from works that were burned by the Nazis in 1933.

The writer Paula Fürstenberg provided insights into Anna Seghers' story about the uprising of the fishermen of St. Barbara (Aufstand der Fischer von St. Barbara). The actor Michael Klammer portrayed the Bavarian atmosphere and social setting described in Eva Leidmann’s Wie man sich bettet, set in a Munich tavern in the early 1930s. The poet and prose author Ann Cotten read excerpts from Klaus Mann's autobiographically influenced novel Der fromme Tanz. The actor Jonas Dassler presented passages from the anti-war novel Die Waffen nieder! by Bertha von Suttner, who was the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The journalist Sascha Chaimowicz offered insights into Jakob Wassermann's novel Der Fall Maurizius, which deals with the revelation of a judicial error. The actress, author, and filmmaker Maryam Zaree read from Lion Feuchtwanger's novel Jud Süß, which marked Feuchtwanger's international breakthrough.

At the conclusion of the evening, the writer, publisher, and translator Jo Frank read letters from Ernst Toller and Helen Keller, which they had written in response to the book burnings of 1933.

Watch the recording at Literaturhaus Berlin: Zum Gedenken an den Tag der Bücherverbrennung

Rooms with a view

This year, we continued our collaboration with Haus Kunst Mitte Berlin and presented an exhibition featuring the visual arts fellows of 2023, which ran from June 14 to August 2.

In the exhibition, the fellows engaged in a dialogue through their works, offering diverse perspectives on California—ranging from everyday life on the West Coast and the multi-lane highway architecture to views of the Pacific Ocean and the impacts of climate change at the Salton Sea.

The exhibiting artists included Janine Eggert, Nina Fischer & Maroan el Sani, Nieves de la Fuente, Paul Hutchinson, Annika Kahrs, Monika Orpik, and Anke Völk. The exhibition was curated by Anna Havemann, Artistic Director of Haus Kunst Mitte.

Lion Feuchtwanger's Literary Legacy: Identity and Exile

In June, together with KunstSalon Köln and the Bildungsstätte Anne Frank, we organized two evenings in Cologne and Frankfurt that highlighted the timeless relevance of Lion Feuchtwanger's work. The focus was on themes of identity, exile, and the transformative power of literature.

Iraqi-Kurdish writer Bachtyar Ali spoke about the profound effects of exile on creativity and cultural exchange, framed by a reading by actor Jonas Baeck. Lana Lux and Yevgeniy Breyger, meanwhile, explored the significance of Jewish-German identity in their artistic work. Readings from Feuchtwanger's texts powerfully reminded the audience of his courageous resistance against National Socialism and his open-minded, cosmopolitan stance. Both evenings were moderated by journalist Shelly Kupferberg, and the editors of Feuchtwanger's political writings, Lion Feuchtwanger: Bin ich deutscher oder jüdischer Schriftsteller (Am I a German or Jewish Writer), Nele Holdack, Marje Schuetze-Coburn, and Michaela Ullmann, opened each evening with a discussion about the book.

These events not only showcased the enduring relevance of Feuchtwanger's work but also offered enriching perspectives on migration, cultural integration, and the role of art as a shaping force in times of social crises.

Watch the recording from Frankfurt: "Bin ich deutsche*r oder jüdische*r Schriftsteller*in?" (Am I a German or Jewish Writer?)