The Gleimhaus is a museum of literature, the German Enlightenment and friendship. It houses Gleim's collections of portraits, books and letters (the three 'Bs'). These represent a unique document of the Age of Enlightenment with its culture of friendship. This also makes the Gleimhaus a suitable place to reflect on the "public use of reason" (Kant).
Gleim was one of the most widely read poets of his time and was friends with many other writers. He gathered them together in portraits on his walls and thus compiled the most extensive portrait gallery of great minds of the 18th century, his so-called "Temple of Friendship". Lessing, Klopstock, Herder, Jean Paul, Anna Louisa Karsch and many others gaze out at visitors. Gleim also built up a large library and a collection of manuscripts, the first literary archive in Germany.
The Gleimhaus is one of the oldest German poetry museums, established in 1862 in the former home of Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim (1719-1803) at Halberstadt Cathedral. It is listed in the Federal Government's Blue Book as a "cultural memorial site" of national importance.
The Gleimhaus understands Enlightenment not only as a historical epoch, but also as a task in the present. It offers a varied programme of events and exhibitions as well as a wide range of educational activities.
Gleim began to gather friends around him in portraits at an early age. Over the years, the walls filled up. At the same time, his library grew. His correspondence with around 500 people took on the characteristics of a manuscript archive, to which he added manuscripts of works by poet friends. As the cultural value of these holdings became increasingly clear, the collector systematically expanded them further and ensured their preservation in his will.
The Gleimhaus publishes the series "Schriften des Gleimhauses Halberstadt" with Wallstein Verlag Göttingen.
A scientific conference programme is realised with partners from universities; the corresponding conference proceedings are published partly in the house's own publication series or those of the partners.
Restoration and conservation are important fields of activity for the protection and preservation of cultural assets. Conservation measures aim to maintain and preserve cultural artefacts in their current condition. Objects that are too badly damaged, on the other hand, require restoration; in this case, direct interventions must be carried out on the object to restore it to a usable condition.
Gleim recognised and promoted literary talent. In keeping with his spirit, the Gleimhaus now awards two prizes. Every two years, a research paper on the 18th century is honoured with the Gleim Literature Prize. Every year, the Gleimhaus Literature Prize is awarded to pupils (from year 5) from the Harz district.
The decision to found a circle of friends for the Gleimhaus was made in 1990, and the Förderkreis Gleimhaus e.V. was entered in the register of associations in 1991. In 1995, the association took over the sponsorship of the Gleimhaus and receives grants from the city of Halberstadt and the state of Saxony-Anhalt for this important task. Every two years, the Förderkreis Gleimhaus e.V. awards the "Gleim Literature Prize" for significant research contributions to the cultural history of the 18th century.