How many generations of the future do we have left?

How many generations before us share responsibility for this reality? To what extent are we, the people of the present, the last generation? And what, exactly, is it that comes to an end—and when?

The bad news: We don't know.
The good news: Instead of predictions, there's a fresh new eLk!

For the sixth time, in the spirit of the eLk Constitution, we invite you into the literary reality of possibility. Not a dystopia, not a utopia, but the actually existing eLk.

For the sixth time, we are hosting a weekend that welcomes people and literatures to Ottmar-Pohl-Platz.

For the sixth time, we look forward to drinking Kalk's literary water with you, letting it flow through the canals of Cologne, and carrying it everywhere, to everyone.

And we admit it: our excitement is not without hope. Perhaps Kalk's water will inspire one or two people, and many new eLks will emerge in many different languages beyond the borders of Kalk. Yes, we admit it: we hope for invitations!

But before we surrender ourselves to dreams, we face the present—with you, with the artists, here at the sixth edition of the European Literature Festival Cologne-Kalk.

Welcome to the reality of the eLk Constitution.