Goodbye, Lara Rüter: A literary farewell party in Halle

Goodbye, Lara Rüter: A literary farewell party in Halle

A very special evening is coming: On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the city clerk of Halle (Saale), Lara Rüter, will say goodbye. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Literaturhaus at Bernburger Straße 8. Dr. Judith Marquardt, Councilor for Culture and Sport, will warmly welcome the guests and guide them through the evening. Rüter looks back on her time as the 23rd city clerk and provides insights into her literary work.

Lara Rüter, who was born in Hanover in 1990, organized over 20 creative writing workshops at eleven schools during her tenure. These ranged from elementary schools to high schools and not only covered classic topics such as crime and the future, but also explored innovative connections to fine art and music. “Everyone has a voice – sometimes all it takes is a push from outside to make it audible,” is the city clerk’s central concern. Her focus was on activating children and young people through literature.

From workshops to new works

The workshops covered exciting topics such as the environment, the relationship with nature and animals, and even songwriting and comics. During the closing event, Lara Rüter will present excerpts from her volume of poetry “amoretten in netzen”, which will be published by Wunderhorn in 2024. She will also read passages from her unpublished collection of essays “Affenliebe” for the first time, which will be published by Hanser Verlag in spring 2026.

The event will be moderated by André Schinkel, who will talk to Rüter about her experiences as a city clerk. Admission to the reading is free and therefore offers all interested citizens the opportunity to take part in this cultural highlight.

A look into the future

Creative writing has always played a central role in Rüter's work. In her workshops, which took place at schools and museums, she not only impressively taught the written language, but also encouraged students to put their thoughts and feelings into words. Literaturhaus Halle reports on her recognition as a poet, who was awarded, among other things, the poetry prize at the 26th Open Mike and the Caroline Schlegel Prize. Her experiences and the creative energy that she incorporated into the creative processes of the young participants have left far-reaching traces and inspired many.

With Lara Rüter, Halle has an unusually committed city clerk who is not only active in literature herself, but has also passed on her passion for writing to the next generation. With a start to the new creative year through her upcoming publications and the lasting impression she leaves on the city, Rüter will certainly continue to make a name for herself in the literary world in the future.

For more information about the event and Lara Rüter herself, take a look at the official channels below Halle.de and creative-writing-learning.de.