Event Dedicated to Narrative Artistry Happening in August
The Short Story Festival, a captivating literary event, is set to take place at the historic Alten Stadtbad in Krefeld on August 16, 2025. Organised by the Niederrheinische Literaturhaus der Stadt Krefeld, this festival promises to be diverse, impressive, and sociable, thanks to the support from the freischwimmer e. V. and the Ministry of Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
### Featured Workshops
One of the highlights of the festival is the "Satzgefüge" writing workshop, designed for young writers aged between 15 and 30 years. This workshop focuses on writing about characters who are different from oneself, with an emphasis on exploring diverse backgrounds, avoiding stereotypes, and integrating subtle values through stories. The workshop, free and supported by the Niederrheinische Literaturhaus, aims to promote empathetic storytelling and nuanced character development.
### Author Readings and Program
The festival will feature readings by Cornelius Gebert, the winner of the regional Niederrhein-Short-Story-Wettbewerb, who will be honored for his story "Das Schlagloch," a quirky yet meaningful narrative set in Krefeld. Alongside Gebert, four other authors will also read their works. The program, hosted by Dr. Thomas Hoeps, head of the Literaturhaus, and organised by Marlene Jäger and others, begins at 17:30 with entry from 17:00, and admission is free.
### Regional Writing Competition
The Niederrhein-Short-Story-Wettbewerb is the regional writing competition associated with the festival. The 2025 winner is Cornelius Gebert for his short story "Das Schlagloch," which is described as intelligent and skurril (quirky) with a serious undertone, emphasising local relevance since it is set in Krefeld.
### Additional Details
Admission to workshops and festival events is mostly free or very affordable, with some events requiring a small fee or festival card. The venues are accessible, with accommodations such as elevators and barrier-free restrooms available. The festival encourages engagement with diverse voices and thoughtful storytelling, supported by local cultural institutions like the Kulturbüro Krefeld and Kulturrucksack NRW.
On August 7th, impressions of two stories that will be featured at the festival will be shared. The authors of the five short stories come from Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, Zagreb, and the Lower Rhine.
In summary, the Short Story Festival in Krefeld offers a rich program combining author readings, a regional writing competition, and workshops that emphasise diversity and craft in writing, all centered in the historic Alten Stadtbad venue on August 16, 2025.
- As part of the Short Story Festival in Krefeld, a workshop titled "Satzgefüge" is designed for young writers, focusing on empathetic storytelling and nuanced character development, particularly exploring diverse backgrounds and avoiding stereotypes. This workshop, sponsored by the Niederrheinische Literaturhaus, aims to promote such writing within a home-and-garden setting of literacy and inclusion.
- The Short Story Festival also boasts a lifestyle segment featuring five short stories from authors hailing from various cities, including Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, Zagreb, and the Lower Rhine. This literature event hosted at the Alten Stadtbad in Krefeld on August 16, 2025, invites participants to engage with diverse voices and thoughtful storytelling, offering a fresh perspective on home-and-garden scenes through the lens of literature.
