Frankfurt am Main – IG Metall and Büchergilde Gutenberg are expanding their long-standing partnership and will work even more closely together in the future. The focus of the cooperation is on joint projects in the areas of education, democracy promotion and cultural participation. Future collaboration is also planned with the Otto Brenner Foundation, the science foundation of IG Metall.
In recent years, the Büchergilde and IG Metall have regularly hosted joint literary events, including discussion evenings on socio-politically relevant topics such as escape and migration, as well as entertaining literary salons or readings.
Jürgen Kerner, second chairman of IG Metall, emphasizes the importance of culture and exchange in the face of increasing social upheaval: “The gaps in society are becoming ever wider. This development does not stop at companies and employees. IG Metall stands for dealing with distribution conflicts harshly if necessary. That is our mission. At the same time, we are convinced that in these times there is a need for more spaces for encounters, culture and exchange. I wish that we organize readings in companies again – where the people are. The Book Guild, with its unique program and special history, is an ideal partner for this.”
Alexander Elspas, managing director of the Book Guild, sees the cooperation as a return to the book community’s origins: “The Book Guild has always been more than a publisher – it is a cultural movement. Our history is closely linked to the trade union movement. The fact that we are now revitalizing this connection together with IG Metall and the Otto Brenner Foundation is a strong signal for us. Together we want to create spaces in which literature, education and social engagement come together.”
The cooperation should be reflected in concrete projects – such as joint events, educational offers for young union members and the promotion of literary projects with socio-political aims. Regional activities should also be supported.
By joining forces, both partners are building on almost 100 years of shared history – and setting an example for the importance of education, culture and solidarity in a changing world of work.
The Gutenberg Book Guild, founded in 1924 by the Educational Association of German Printers in Leipzig, is the only literary book community in German-speaking countries. It emerged from the spirit of the labor movement with the aim of giving people from less educated backgrounds access to high-quality literature. Today the book guild has around 60,000 members and is organized as a cooperative.
Date note: As part of the Frankfurt Book Fair, IG Metall and Büchergilde invite you to a literary-musical evening with literary experts Matthias Hartwich and Jan Wilm. The focus of the evening is Mark Twain, his stories and characters. The event will be accompanied musically by blues musician Lewis Glover, and Ann Christin Krumm will read from Twain’s texts.
Friday, October 17th, 7 p.m
In the atrium of IG Metall, Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße 79, Frankfurt am Main
Please register at event@buechergilde.de
Entry is free.
More information about the event: Mark Twain Book Guild Salon – Book Guild