Barbara Heine, a PhD in literature and an experienced cultural manager, will become the new director of the Uwe Literaturhaus in Klütz on June 1, reports NDR. Heine has developed literature projects for more than 20 years, including for the North Church, NDR, and the German PEN authors’ association. She organized major international literature festivals with authors from over 50 countries and is well connected in the North German literary scene.
The previous director, Oliver Hintz, was dismissed last fall after a scandal involving the cancellation of publicist Michel Friedman’s reading. Hintz had claimed that the city council had canceled the reading for political reasons. Klütz then made national headlines, there were demonstrations, and the city was portrayed as anti-Semitic and right-wing extremist. Mayor Jürgen Mevius also resigned.
Heine describes the new position as a dream job. “I am especially looking forward to being able to intensively engage with Uwe Johnson professionally again, who has been my favorite author for a long time,” she told NDR. She is reading all of his works again and realizes how relevant Johnson’s political descriptions still are. The new mayor, Martin Kühl, expressed confidence that in Heine they have found a person who fits the Literaturhaus excellently both professionally and personally.
Source: www.ndr.de
