Fairy Tale Foundation Walter Kahn

The Märchen-Stiftung Walter Kahn (Fairy Tale Foundation Walter Kahn) is a non-profit foundation under German civil law (gemeinnützige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) founded in 1985 by the Braunschweig travel agency businessman Walter Kahn (1911–2009). Its original seat was in Frankfurt am Main; it was later moved to Volkach, where it remains headquartered. The foundation is dedicated to the research, preservation and public communication of traditional European fairy tales and legends (Märchen- und Sagengut). The foundation pursues its mission through several instruments. It provides financial grants to third-party projects and events that serve its purpose, including university lecture series (Ringvorlesungen), academic conferences, pedagogical training for educators, storytelling events and exhibitions. It initiates and funds Ringvorlesungen at universities and colleges across disciplines such as folklore studies, cultural anthropology, pedagogy, didactics, psychotherapy, theology, sociology, literary studies, philosophy and art studies; the results are published in a dedicated book series. It also organizes its own Märchen-Seminare, Tagungen and Märchentage (fairy tale days) with annually changing themes, combining academic lectures with practical storytelling formats. A central element of its work is the awarding of prizes. Since 1986 it has conferred the Europäischer Märchenpreis (European Fairy Tale Prize), endowed with 5,000 euros, on individuals or organizations that have rendered outstanding services to European fairy tales and legends. Since 1994 it has awarded the Lutz-Röhrich-Preis (2,500 euros) to promote young academics in historical-comparative narrative research; in cases of multiple outstanding submissions, an additional Förderpreis may be granted. Since 2020, a Grimm-Preis has been awarded for work on the fairy tales and legends of the Brothers Grimm. Prize ceremonies take place during the foundation's annual conferences in Volkach. The foundation publishes the journal Märchenspiegel. Zeitschrift für internationale Märchenforschung und Märchenpflege (ISSN 0946-1140) since 1990, serving as its organ, a mediator between academia and practice, and a source of public information. Since 2003, the results of funded Ringvorlesungen have appeared in a separate book series published by Schneider Verlag Hohengehren (DNB 977035182). Walter Kahn led the foundation until 1999. Since then it has been directed by a three-member board and accompanied by a scientific advisory council (Kuratorium), both working on an honorary basis. The board consists of Roland Kahn (chairman), Kristin Wardetzky and Harm-Peer Zimmermann. The advisory council includes Siegfried Becker, Holger Ehrhardt, Susanne Hose, Helmut Groschwitz, Janin Pisarek and Christine Shojaei Kawan. The foundation is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen (Association of German Foundations).

The Märchen-Stiftung Walter Kahn was founded in 1985 by Walter Kahn (1911–2009), a travel agency businessman from Braunschweig. It was established as a non-profit foundation under German civil law (gemeinnützige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts). Its original seat was in Frankfurt am Main; later the seat was moved to Volkach, where the foundation is currently headquartered. Walter Kahn personally placed particular emphasis on the telling of fairy tales, which had brought him much joy in his life. The foundation therefore also focuses on this aspect, supporting storytelling practice alongside academic research. Walter Kahn led the foundation until 1999. Since then, it has been directed by a three-member board and accompanied by a scientific advisory council (Kuratorium), both working on an honorary basis. In 1986, the foundation awarded the Europäischer Märchenpreis for the first time, honoring individuals or organizations that have rendered outstanding services to European fairy tales and legends. In 1990, it began publishing the journal Märchenspiegel. Zeitschrift für internationale Märchenforschung und Märchenpflege (ISSN 0946-1140) as its organ, as a mediator between academia and practice, and for public information. In 1994, it established the Lutz-Röhrich-Preis to promote young academics in historical-comparative narrative research; in cases of multiple outstanding submissions, an additional Förderpreis may be granted. Since 2003, the results of funded Ringvorlesungen have been published in a dedicated book series by Schneider Verlag Hohengehren (DNB 977035182). In 2020, the foundation added the Grimm-Preis, awarded for work on the fairy tales and legends of the Brothers Grimm. The foundation is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen (Association of German Foundations). It regularly organizes Märchentage with changing thematic focuses, combining academic lectures with practice-oriented storytelling formats. Prize ceremonies take place during the foundation's annual conferences in Volkach.

• 2020

  Introduction of the Grimm-Preis for work on the fairy tales and legends of the Brothers Grimm.

• 2003

  Results of funded Ringvorlesungen begin appearing in a dedicated book series by Schneider Verlag Hohengehren (DNB 977035182).

• 1999

  Walter Kahn steps down as head of the foundation; leadership passes to a three-member board and a scientific advisory council.

• 1994

  Establishment of the Lutz-Röhrich-Preis for young academics in historical-comparative narrative research.

• 1990

  Foundation begins publishing the journal Märchenspiegel (ISSN 0946-1140).

• 1986

  First award of the Europäischer Märchenpreis (European Fairy Tale Prize).

• 1985

  Foundation established by Walter Kahn as a non-profit foundation under German civil law; original seat in Frankfurt am Main.

A non-profit foundation acting as a bridge between academic fairy tale research and public storytelling practice, primarily active in Germany and Europe.

• Europäischer Märchenpreis

  European Fairy Tale Prize, awarded since 1986, endowed with 5,000 euros, honoring individuals or organizations for outstanding services to European fairy tales and legends.

• Lutz-Röhrich-Preis

  Awarded since 1994, endowed with 2,500 euros, to promote young academics in historical-comparative narrative research; an additional Förderpreis may be granted.

• Grimm-Preis

  Awarded since 2020 for work on the fairy tales and legends of the Brothers Grimm.

• Märchenspiegel

  Journal for international fairy tale research and care (ISSN 0946-1140), published since 1990 as the foundation's organ.

• Ringvorlesungen book series

  Results of funded university lecture series published since 2003 by Schneider Verlag Hohengehren (DNB 977035182).

• Märchentage

  Regular fairy tale days with changing thematic focuses, combining academic lectures with practical storytelling formats.

1. 1Märchen-Stiftung Walter Kahn - Märchen- und Sagenforschungmaerchen-stiftung.de
2. 2Wir über Unsmaerchen-stiftung.de
3. 3Fairy Tale Foundation Walter Kahn - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Märchen-Stiftung Walter Kahn - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org