September 21–October 4, 2026 Culture journalist Susanne Lenz, who was selected this year as a fellow of the residency program organized by the Goethe-Institut and the Thomas Mann Cultural Center, will be in residence at the International Center for Translators and Writers in Nida.
The Goethe-Institut in Lithuania launched this residency program in early 2026 in collaboration with the Thomas Mann Cultural Center. The program is intended for German-speaking cultural journalists, cultural studies scholars, writers, and other creative professionals seeking to explore in greater depth the ties between Germany and Lithuania, as well as current issues and historical contexts.
The goal of the program is to create opportunities for meaningful exploration and strengthening of German-Lithuanian cultural ties, to delve into the multifaceted regional context, and to promote cultural dialogue as well as relevant journalistic and creative projects.
About the cultural journalist Susanne Lenz
Susanne Lenz was born in Heidelberg and studied German language and literature and history. In 1990, she became the first German from the West to begin working at the *Berliner Zeitung*. She has headed the newspaper’s culture section since 2023.
2004–2009 From 2004 to 2009, S. Lenz worked as a lecturer at the University of the Philippines through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and from 2009 to 2012, she taught in the Department of Media and Communication at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
During her residency in Nida, S. Lenz will delve into the multifaceted history and present of the Curonian Spit. The cultural journalist will explore the significance of German cultural heritage today, how local residents view their region’s past and present, and its importance in Europe.
Another fellow in this year’s program is Jan Wilm, a writer, translator, and essayist living in Frankfurt am Main. From October 17–30, he will be in residence in Klaipėda, where he plans to write texts reflecting Lithuania’s cultural history and contemporary cultural life.
For more information about the residency program and the fellows, visit https://www.goethe.de/ins/lt/lt/kul/sup/res.html
