History of the Lyrik Kabinett

1989:
Ursula Haeusgen, who studied commercial administration, founds the Lyrik Kabinett as a bookstore; it opens in April with a reading by Wolfdietrich Schnurre. The store at Herzog-Rudolf-Straße 6 in downtown Munich is devoted to poetry and high-quality artists’ books. Rationale: Until now Ursula Haeusgen’s experience is of bookstores whose poetry sections are hidden away in the rearmost corner. Her bookstore devoted exclusively to poetry sets different priorities. Regular readings are organized.

1991:
Relocation to Maximilianstraße 38. Readings are held here, as well as at external venues in collaboration with other cultural institutions.

1994:
The bookstore closes; the nonprofit “Lyrik Kabinett” association is founded and continues to hold readings. After donating the stock of her bookstore to the association as the basis for a poetry library, Ursula Haeusgen proceeds to build up the library using her own funds. The association lives on today as the Friends of the Lyrik Kabinett e.V. Foundation.

1997–2004:
The poetry library is housed in the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Institute for Comparative Literature, Schellingstraße 3, an arrangement facilitated by the institute director Hendrik Birus; most of the readings also take place here.

2003:
Ursula Haeusgen founds the public nonprofit Stiftung Lyrik Kabinett, an incorporated foundation according to civil law. The aims of the Foundation laid down in its articles include promoting “knowledge and understanding of poetry in society,” particularly through the maintenance and expansion of its library, the organization of events, the publication of texts, and other promotional measures.

2005:
The Foundation erects a new building on a lot at Amalienstraße 83 leased for 66 years from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität; the premises are ready for use in March.

2010:
Ursula Haeusgen retires as director of the Lyrik Kabinett but remains chair of the Foundation board; Maria Gazzetti takes over as director in December 2010; since January 2014 the Stiftung Lyrik Kabinett has been under the direction of Holger Pils.