Verein Brenner-Forum

The Brenner Archive Research Institute at the University of Innsbruck is the regional Tyrolean and South Tyrolean literary archive, with a supra-regional and interdisciplinary focus. The name goes back to the cultural magazine “Der Brenner” (1910-1954).

In addition to the estates of Ludwig von Ficker and Georg Trakl, over the years holdings relating to Austrian modernism, literature, philosophy, theology, fine arts, music, theatre, science and event series have been acquired. Some of the materials are bilingual (German and Italian) or trilingual (German, Italian and Ladin). Currently, more than 320 estates, partial estates and collections are kept in the archive. The library, with around 30,000 volumes and historical journals, is listed in the Union Catalogue of Austrian Academic Libraries.

One focus of the archive is on research. In addition to editions with commentaries on cultural studies, literary-historical documentation and biographies, there are also publications on theoretical and methodological reflections. Since 1982, the journal “Mitteilungen aus dem Brenner-Archiv” has reported anually on relevant topics from the archive. These are sent to members of the Brenner Forum Support Association free of charge, as are the facsimiles of the Brenner Archive. In addition to archiving (i.e. making collections usable, supplementing and expanding them), digitisation and digital long-term archiving now play an important role. The so-called ‘3-pillar model’ (W. Methlagl) - collecting, researching, communicating - forms the focus of the archive.

The online portal ‘LiteraturTirol’ has created a platform for communicating cultural heritage to the non-academic public. The open access encyclopaedia ‘LiteraturTirol’ contains articles on almost 1,000 authors. Other highlights include the ‘Literaturlandkarte Tirol’ and the literary magazine ‘LiLit’.

The ‘Literaturhaus am Inn’, founded in 1997, offers a stage for contemporary literature as well as for current discussions in art and culture. The Ernst von Glaserfeld Archive houses the estate of the founder of Radical Constructivism, who died in 2010. The Rudolf Greinz Archive in the Villa Rosenegg, where the author lived for many years, paints a detailed picture of Rudolf Greinz's life.