Event series
April 2026
International Writers Festival
A Literary Week|Ten Year Anniversary of the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center
The Goethe-Institut Washington and Solas Nua are proud to support The Alan Cheuse International Writers Center’s tenth anniversary festival, which will celebrate place, cross-cultural connection, and German author Thomas Mann. Join us in our beautiful regional cities for a star-studded week of international writers, local archivists, artists, and scholars for conversations on literature, history and place.
We are focusing on the Washington DC area, home to the Cheuse Center as place, while connecting Washington and Virginia in unique ways to the world. Our flagship lecture will also focus on former Washington Post publisher Agnes Meyer’s persuasive ‘rescue’ of Nobel prize winning German writer Thomas Mann from Europe. Meyer, who was of German origin, was the mother of newspaper legend Katharine Graham, who is buried in Oak Hill cemetery in Washington.
April 21–25, 2026
Conversations will be located at the School of Art, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. Polish poet and human rights activist Grzegorz Kwiatkowski joins us for a week of conversations.
Cheuse Lecture: Stories of Sanctuary by Colm Tóibín
April 23 @ 7pm Fairfax, VA
The lecture will be delivered by award-winning Irish storyteller, Colm Tóibín, who’s connection to Thomas Mann was solidified in his fictionalized biography of the German author in The Magician. He will be in conversation with Thomas Mann scholar and famed German writer Malte Herwig.
Film Screening: Malte Herwig’s The Girl with the Golden Hair
April 24 @ 6:30pm Goethe-Institut Washington
Join us for the US premier of The Girl with the Golden Hair. This powerful documentary follows Malte Herwig’s search to uncover the story behind a haunting WWII photograph that was in his grandfather’s possession. His grandfather, a gold medalist in the Los Angeles Olympics, served the German army, occupying Poland at the start of the War in 1939. The screening will be followed by a conversation and reception. This event is in conjunction with Grzegorz Kwiatkowski’s residency. Kwiatkowski and Herwig’s works overlap in ways that will make for a stimulating conversation.
Walking Tour: Oak Hill Cemetery
April 25 @ 2pm Washington, DC
The festival will end with a visit to Georgetown’s famous Oak Hill Cemetery where, since the mid-1800’s, the nation’s history stirs through the hills, including the original resting place of Lincoln’s son, Willy. Winding paths lead us through memories of the city, including of the American Civil War. We will also walk through the neighboring cemetery of Mt Zion, a secular burial ground for African Americans, in historic black Georgetown.
As we see in person the nature of power, witness, and place, we will reflect on the complexity of our common human heritage, through literature, friendship and the importance of art in public life. Come join us as we literally walk through history!
Note on Accessibility: the reading section of this event will be accessible to all and in the chapel of Oak Hill; but the tour part of this event involves walking on uneven sections, some of which can be avoided but there is still considerable walking, especially to reach the tomb of Lincoln’s son. Those with special needs please reach out to Lmehta@gmu.edu to discuss.
We are focusing on the Washington DC area, home to the Cheuse Center as place, while connecting Washington and Virginia in unique ways to the world. Our flagship lecture will also focus on former Washington Post publisher Agnes Meyer’s persuasive ‘rescue’ of Nobel prize winning German writer Thomas Mann from Europe. Meyer, who was of German origin, was the mother of newspaper legend Katharine Graham, who is buried in Oak Hill cemetery in Washington.
Featured Events
Conversations with Grzegorz Kwiatkowski (Visiting Scholar in Residence)April 21–25, 2026
Conversations will be located at the School of Art, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. Polish poet and human rights activist Grzegorz Kwiatkowski joins us for a week of conversations.
Cheuse Lecture: Stories of Sanctuary by Colm Tóibín
April 23 @ 7pm Fairfax, VA
The lecture will be delivered by award-winning Irish storyteller, Colm Tóibín, who’s connection to Thomas Mann was solidified in his fictionalized biography of the German author in The Magician. He will be in conversation with Thomas Mann scholar and famed German writer Malte Herwig.
Film Screening: Malte Herwig’s The Girl with the Golden Hair
April 24 @ 6:30pm Goethe-Institut Washington
Join us for the US premier of The Girl with the Golden Hair. This powerful documentary follows Malte Herwig’s search to uncover the story behind a haunting WWII photograph that was in his grandfather’s possession. His grandfather, a gold medalist in the Los Angeles Olympics, served the German army, occupying Poland at the start of the War in 1939. The screening will be followed by a conversation and reception. This event is in conjunction with Grzegorz Kwiatkowski’s residency. Kwiatkowski and Herwig’s works overlap in ways that will make for a stimulating conversation.
Walking Tour: Oak Hill Cemetery
April 25 @ 2pm Washington, DC
The festival will end with a visit to Georgetown’s famous Oak Hill Cemetery where, since the mid-1800’s, the nation’s history stirs through the hills, including the original resting place of Lincoln’s son, Willy. Winding paths lead us through memories of the city, including of the American Civil War. We will also walk through the neighboring cemetery of Mt Zion, a secular burial ground for African Americans, in historic black Georgetown.
As we see in person the nature of power, witness, and place, we will reflect on the complexity of our common human heritage, through literature, friendship and the importance of art in public life. Come join us as we literally walk through history!
Note on Accessibility: the reading section of this event will be accessible to all and in the chapel of Oak Hill; but the tour part of this event involves walking on uneven sections, some of which can be avoided but there is still considerable walking, especially to reach the tomb of Lincoln’s son. Those with special needs please reach out to Lmehta@gmu.edu to discuss.