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»When I hear someone judge countries or people in broad strokes (black or white), I don’t think for a moment whether these judgements are right or wrong, because it’s really not worthwhile. Instead, I wonder about the mind set and morals of a person who utters such judgements.«

Ivo Andrić, Signs by the Roadside

»Kad slušam tako nekog kako daje opšte i uopštene sudove (crno ili belo) o zemljama ili narodima, ja nijednog trenutka ne mislim o tačnosti ili netačnosti tih sudova, jer to zaista ne vredi, nego se pitam kako je stalo sa razumom i moralom toga koji te sudove daje.«

Ivo Andrić, Znakovi kraj puta

Founded in 2003 by German publisher Monika Schoeller (1939 – 2019), the S. Fischer Foundation is dedicated to the promotion of international cultural exchange initiatives, specifically in the field of literature. The Foundation’s eponymous patron, Samuel Fischer, was chosen as he embodies its core value: to disseminate the humanist spirit.

In line with its mission statement to promote cultural exchange, the S. Fischer Foundation has supported translators and translations via international grants in Belarus, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine as well as in Southeast Europe and the Blacksea Region.

In 2008, in a private-public partnership, it initiated TRADUKI, a European network for literature and books, which encompasses Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

Since 2012, the S. Fischer Foundation also organises the series DEBATES ON EUROPE together with the German Academy for Language and Literature.

In addition, the S. Fischer Foundation manages the literary estates of several renowned writers and authors, including Hubert Fichte, Dieter Forte and Wolfgang Hilbig as well as the estate of photographer Leonore Mau. Together with the German Literature Archive Marbach, the Foundation also funds historical research projects focusing on literature and culture.

Antje Contius
Member of the Board, Director

Aylin Rieger
Deputy Director, Head of Department Central and Eastern Europe and Debates on Europe

Anna Götte
Deputy Director, Head of Department Estates, Special Projects and Grants

Hanadi Fakhouri
Head of Finance

Ekaterina Tewes
Project Manager Central and Eastern Europe, Scholarships

Sophie Strauß
Assistant to Director

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