Rüsselsheim honors poet Melis Ntente with a scholarship!

Rüsselsheim honors poet Melis Ntente with a scholarship!

There is reason to be happy in Rüsselsheim's lively literary scene. On June 26, 2025, the talented poet Melis Ntente was awarded the city's scholarship. Mayor Patrick Burghardt was present at the award ceremony and emphasized the jury's demanding selection. Out of five applications, Ntente stood out as the most convincing candidate and received a lot of praise for her independent voice and the literary depth that she develops in her texts, reports the city of Rüsselsheim.

The artist, born in 1999, is already well-known in the German-speaking literary scene. She earned her bachelor's degree in online journalism at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and is now studying for a master's degree in “Literary Writing and Editing” at the Hildesheim Literature Institute. She was not only the winner of the hr2 literature prize, but also achieved first place at the Young Literature Forum Hesse-Thuringia. Her poetry debut “kleid aus maps” will be published by Edition Assemblage in 2025.

A creative year ahead

With the scholarship of 855 euros per month, which is based on the maximum BAföG rate, Ntente also receives 2,000 euros for an artistic project. A writing workshop for young people is planned in Rüsselsheim as well as a poetic-visual project that will make poetry visible in the urban space. “I am very happy to be able to give something back to Rüsselsheim, which has shaped my literary career,” explained the poet.

The ceremonial handover of the scholarship will be announced later and will take place at a public event. In the past, Ntente has shaped the local cultural scene through her readings at the “Culture in Summer” events, “Bel R! Festival” and in art spaces. Her texts are not only very popular in the region, but also at cultural festivals and literary houses nationwide.

Committed to literary education

Melis Ntente's commitment does not only relate to her own literary work. She is active in the Muslim poetry slam collective “i,Slam e.V.” and organizes socio-political workshops and events. This initiative promotes intercultural exchange and brings young talents together. An appearance at the fourth edition of the Other Salon at the Villa Clementine literary house in Wiesbaden, where she appeared with, among others, Leonie Klendauer, once again shows her connection to the regional literary scene.

The Germany-wide literary scholarships are a valuable part of creative work and offer authors an opportunity to support their projects financially. As the Weyrother platform reports, regional funding offers dominate, which are often associated with a stay in artists' apartments.

Ntente's award reflects not only her talent, but also the city of Rüsselsheim's valuable support for the literary cultural landscape. This makes it a shining example of how local initiatives can help keep literature and the artistic community alive.