| Country: | Austria |
| Genre: | Literature, anthropology |
| Location: | Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg |
| Established: | 2021[1] |
| Organiser: | Nicola Steiner |
The Literaricum Lech is a literary conference in Lech am Arlberg in Vorarlberg (Austria). Its aim is to discuss classic as well as contemporary literature in a way that is accessible, innovative and diverting. It has premiered from 8 to 10 July 2021.[2]
The Swiss-German cultural journalist Nicola Steiner is responsible for the organisation and conception of the Literaricum Lech. She is advised by the Vorarlberg writer Michael Köhlmeier, co-initiator of the Philosophicum Lech, as well as the equally renowned Austrian writer and literary scholar Raoul Schrott.[3]
The Literaricum Lech will arrange classic literary discussions as well as children's and youth literature and poetry slams with the goal to provide a clear and accessible approach to literature.[4] [5]
It is intended that each edition of the Literaricum Lech has a classic piece of world literature put into focus. This classic can but doesn't have to be picked up on throughout the festival.[6] In 2021, Daniel Kehlmann gave the opening speech on Simplicius Simplicissimus by the Baroque poet Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen.[7]
The 2022 edition of the event was dedicated to Herman Melville.[8]
Since 2023 a poet laureate is selected by a committee initiated by Raoul Schrott with support by the Zürs Tourism Board. The winner receives prize money of 15.000 euros. In return, he is obliged to publish a poem every month during a year dealing with current events for the festival's media partners ORF, Der Standard, SWR and Die Welt. The first winner of the prize was German writer Michael Krüger.[9] [10]