Picador Professorship for Literature

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Picador Professorship for Literature

The Picador Professorship for Literature at the University of Leipzig is unique in Germany.

The Picador Professorship for Literature at the University of Leipzig is located at the University's American Studies Program and combines elements of a writers-in-residence program, creative writing programs, and university learning Located at the university's American Studies Program and based on a partnership between Holtzbrinck Berlin - Inspire Together, the DAAD, and the University of Leipzig

, it combines elements of a writers-in-residence program, creative writing programs, and university learning. The Picador Professorship for Literature brings leading young writers of English language literature to Leipzig and Mitteldeutschland, thereby providing students with a chance to work with 'practitioners' of literature. It thus also engages in and fosters a vivid exchange about the relationship between literature, language, and culture, especially as they shape society's negotiation of diversity and difference.

08/05/2026

A truly magical evening at GfZK in Leipzig!💫🥹

Yesterday, we celebrated incredible 20 years of the Picador Guest Professorship with the brilliant author and current , Rachel Khong.

Hosted by Nhi Le (), we were taken into an inspiring panel discussion on imagination as a necessity in times of crisis, and on words as lifelines across borders and politics.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on May 7, and a very special thanks to , , and the great voice actor !

02/04/2026

Voices of 💚💬

Quotes, memories, and moments from past Picador Guest Professors—now collected on our website.
Read the full quotes on our website and look out for highlights here in the coming weeks!

The Picador Guest Professorship for Literature, a collaboration between , , , and , has brought authors from around the world to teach, share their work, and connect with students and the creative community.

01/04/2026

Imagination is not a luxury. It is a lifeline.

We celebrate 20 years of ! In two decades 39 authors from the US and UK came to Leipzig creating a literary lifeline across borders, crises, and politics.

Join us for the anniversary and an amazing evening with current Rachel Khong (). Her latest collection „My Dear You“, which was written through years marked by political extremism and fear, is reflecting on the importance of imagination.

Because in a world shaped by wars, unrest, and the rise of autocracies, we need imagination to save us. It helps us absorb the present, transform it, and return it to us in forms we can finally feel, question, and understand.

Let’s celebrate these Lifelines of Words in over 20 years together. ✨

📅 Thursday, May 7, 2026
📍.leipzig
🕕 6:00 PM

Free admission, tickets are limited. Link in bio!

The Picador Professorship is a project of , , and . In cooperation with , and their project .

19/12/2025

Two decades of remarkable writers, inspiring classes, and vibrant conversations. The Picador Guest Professorship for Literature, a collaboration between , , , and , has brought authors from around the world to teach, share their work, and connect with students and the creative community.

From the very first professors to our current guest Hannah Michell, each writer has left their mark on this program. Thank you for being part of this journey.

26/11/2025

Thoughtful faces, moments of laughter, and a truly special atmosphere. Thank you for joining us as Hannah Michell () and Senthuran Varatharajah () filled the GfZK with fresh perspectives, powerful stories, and sparks of hope.

Together, we explored the spaces between self and other, the courage in collective disobedience, and the light that can be found even in darker times. It was an evening of vivid conversation, dramatic film moments, and readings that linger. We’re grateful you were part of it!

Missed the event? On 13 December, you can see Hannah Michell live at the Frohes Festival in Berlin! Secure your ticket now at frohes-festival.de.

The Picador Professorship is a project of , , , and . This event is in cooperation with .

24/11/2025

At the upcoming Picador Guest Professorship event with , we’ll explore forms of resistance that unfold quietly, in everyday life or in global protests.

Join us on November 25 at GfZK Leipzig, hosted by !

📅 November 25 | 18:00
📍 .leipzig
🎟️ Admission free! Reserve your spot now!

The Picador Professorship is a project of , , , and . This event is in cooperation with .

14/11/2025

SAVE YOUR SEAT (and afterdrinks hehe)

We often imagine activism as something loud and visible — marches, speeches and grand acts of defiance. But stories are where power first takes hold: in what is remembered, and in what is erased. Let’s dig into this and join the talk between and on November 25 at .leipzig.

The Picador Guest Professorship is brought to you by Uni Leipzig, American Studies Leipzig, DAAD Artist Program and Holtzbrinck Berlin. This Event is in cooperation with EDIT Magazine.

13/11/2025

Such a catastrophe is also at the center of Hannah Michell’s novel “Excavations.”

Meet , current Picador Professor, as she talks about the power of small, invisible acts and the stories that refuse to be forgotten.

Join the conversation, hosted by , and be part of an evening about writing, memory, and the courage to speak.

📅 November 25 | 18:30📍 .leipzig
🎟️ Admission free! Reserve your spot now!

The Picador Professorship is a project of , , and . This event is in cooperation with .

30/10/2025

What breaks first when courage meets fear? How can resistance live quietly, and still be heard? Current PicadorProf invites us to explore the small, invisible acts that ripple far beyond themselves and the stories that refuse to be forgotten.

The evening will be hosted by .

📅 November 25 | 18:30
📍 .leipzig
🎟️ Admission free! Reserve your spot now!

Presented by Uni Leipzig, American Studies Leipzig, DAAD Artists Program, Holtzbrinck Berlin, Picador U.S., and in cooperation with .

Be part of an evening that reflects on how art does more than accompany activism. It transforms it, reshaping the narratives that define what we dare to imagine as possible.

Adresse

Beethovenstraße 15
Leipzig
04107

Telefon

+493027871812

Webseite

https://picadorprof.de/

Benachrichtigungen

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