Novalis-Stiftung "Wege wagen mit Novalis"

The Novalis Foundation "Daring Paths with Novalis" was established on March 25, 2001, by Dr. med. Arved Grieshaber as a private foundation under civil law at Oberwiederstedt Castle. It is one of the largest private literary foundations in Germany and a partner of the Mansfeld-Südharz district for the operation and preservation of the Research Center for Early Romanticism and the Novalis Museum at Oberwiederstedt Castle. The foundation supports projects of the International Novalis Society e. V., funds initiatives and courses on the life and work of the early Romantic Novalis, and promotes educational programs for Romanticism researchers and cultural studies institutions at both national and international levels.

In the spirit of Novalis, with his view of humanity and the world as well as his guiding principle "Becoming human is an art," the foundation is committed to making the transcendental thinking of the early Romantic Friedrich von Hardenberg usable in education, research, and science. The goal is to establish Novalis’ legacy as an impetus for the humanities, social sciences, medical sciences, and natural sciences, to further develop it together with professional societies, and to make his ideas accessible to a broad public.

The funding programs are aimed at scholars of Romanticism, students, educators, theologians, philosophers, depth psychologists, medical professionals, as well as members of the humanities and natural sciences. Furthermore, the foundation supports exchange and collaboration with foundations, museums, universities, and research institutions with similar objectives.