17. Leipziger Hörspielsommer im Richard-Wagner-Hain Leipzig

About us

The non-profit association Hörspielsommer (transl. „summer of audio drama“) organizes the major festival for audio drama in Germany, the Leipziger Hörspielsommer. It´s an open-air event – free of charge venue – for audio art aficionados as well as professionals, publishing houses and big broadcasting organizations. Every year in July thousands of people listen to their stories on the grounds of Richard-Wagner-Hain in Leipzig.

Hörspielsommer i.a. pursues the following goals:

  • promoting non-professional audio art production
  • spreading the art form audio drama
  • enriching local and regional culture
  • providing supplies in media education
  • advancing voluntary commitment

Momentum and history

During a visit to Leipzig Book Fair in 2002 former long-term chairwoman of Hörspielsommer e. V., Sophia Littkopf, noticed the fact that while there were plenty of publishing companies for audio drama, there was no platform representing their work in a body. Thereupon she designed an event which took place in public, as a collective rather than a private experience. Along with friends she organized the first edition of Leipziger Hörspielsommer one year later.
Encouraged by the overwhelming response the organizers continued their efforts and decided to build a base for their work. As a result the founding of Hörspielsommer e. V. took place in the fall of 2004. The festival team ist growing ever since. In 2021 thirty active members and many helping hands contribute their passion and energy to the association´s goals.

Partners and networking

Hörspielsommer e. V. is closely connected to its location. The association has become an established and reliable partner for municipal and supraregional institutions.

In recent years Hörspielsommer e. V. cooperated with the following organizations:

  • Kulturstiftung des Bundes
  • Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung
  • MDR Figaro
  • Leipziger Buchmesse
  • Centraltheater
  • Deutsches Literaturinstitut Leipzig
  • Hochschule für Musik und Theater Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
  • Cinémathèque Leipzig e.V.
  • UT Connewitz e.V.
  • WERK 2 – Kulturfabrik Leipzig e. V.
  • AIDS-Hilfe Leipzig e.V.
  • Deutsche Zentralbücherei für Blinde zu Leipzig
  • Behindertenverband Leipzig e.V.

Hörspielsommer e.V. curated audio art programmes supraregional at:

  • Geschichtsforum 1989 | 2009 Berlin
  • Parkgeflüster Meiningen
  • Gartenfest im Von-Alten-Garten Hannover
  • Hörspieltag in den Franckeschen Stiftungen zu Halle

Hörspielsommer is co-initiator of Leipziger Kulturpaten.

Own productions

In 2005 Hörspielsommer e. V. published, in cooperation with Leipzig-based publishing house Voland & Quist, a compilation of selected competition entries covering the years 2003 and 2004 on CD, Hörspiellust. In 2010 the association hosted the audio drama conference Attention, please! Das Hörspiel im Zeitalter der verkürzten Aufmerksamkeitsspanne (transl. Attention, please! Audio drama in times of short attention spans). Established radio play producers, independent audio artists and an audience interested in new perspectives met for three days in Leipzig to enter into debate, attend workshops and watch performances of radio artists. In 2011 Hörspielsommer´s first book was published by Voland & Quist: Hörspielplätze. Positionen zur Radiokunst (transl. Radioplay-grounds. Positions on radio art). Featuring current positions of both major theorists and designated practicioners, it offers an intruiging insight into today´s ratio between amateurs and pros. Read the review (german) here.

Financing

Hörspielsommer e. V. is a non-profit association financed by public subsidies, private sponsorships and donations.