30 years of Glashaus: The shack that made cultural history

Café operation with attitude

It is anything but commonplace for a student-run venue to survive for three decades in the club and cultural scene. ‘We have the privilege of being a non-profit organisation,’ says Christian Renner, deputy chairman of the association, whom I met at the Glashaus. The venue does not have to make a profit – but it has to function: ‘Our primary goal is to make culture accessible to all students on campus.’

In concrete terms, this means that admission prices for concerts usually remain in the single-digit euro range, and drinks are deliberately offered at low prices. Renner recounts with a smile that the association's ‘infamous’ beer price increase was legendary – after decades, the price was raised from £1.50 to £2. Fair trade coffee now costs £1 instead of 50 pence, but is ‘still cheaper than anything else you can get on campus’. It is sourced from the Weltladen fair trade shop. Regulars can also buy discounted ten-visit passes.

In everyday life, the Glashaus is primarily a café. During the semester, it is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while opening hours are restricted during the lecture-free period. Students study here, meet up after lectures or take on shifts themselves. Food is not available – this is due to the association structure: ‘We are an association, and everyone who comes here to the café or to concerts is a member of the association.’ Alcohol can be served, but a classic catering licence including a cake counter is not possible. New to the range are products from the unpackaged shop ‘Hamsterbacke’ – another building block of sustainable campus culture.

 Sometimes jazz dominates the programme, sometimes reggae, sometimes metal – and for years now, the electronic scene has also been a feature. On some evenings, the 199 approved seats quickly fill up, such as at the semester opening party. Other formats are deliberately smaller and more experimental. ’Because we definitely want to offer that too," says Renner, who has been part of the team for four years.

Open to everyone

The fact that the Glashaus has an impact beyond the campus is evident time and again – and remains an ongoing task. ‘At some concerts, the average age is between 25 and 40,’ reports Renner, for example at classic rock programmes. Film evenings attract a mixed audience; there are regulars who have long since finished their studies. At the same time, the team is aware of the inhibition threshold: those who do not belong to the university may wonder whether the programme is ‘for me’. Yes, it is! Non-students from the city and region are also welcome guests at the Glashaus. To make this even more transparent, the visibility of the Glashaus event location in the city is to be further promoted – for example, via digital information boards and collaborations that anchor the programme more firmly in Bayreuth.

A place of learning for life

The Glashaus is not only a stage, but also a training ground in the best sense of the word. Those who participate here learn event organization, public relations, design, booking, technology, and band management—much of it through learning by doing. Even the large colorful banners between the central library and the cafeteria are painted by the Glashaus members themselves.

Chris Renner was able to use his involvement for a mandatory internship. Today he knows: “Through the Glashaus, I realized that I want to work in the field of culture and public relations.” Such biographies are no exception. Some former active members now work in cultural management or in program departments in the region. The Glashaus has an impact – often far beyond the student years.

The commitment is also visible in cultural policy: in November 2025, the Glashaus received the APPLAUS Award from Initiative Musik for the third time (after 2013 and 2018) – one of the most highly endowed federal cultural prizes for independent music clubs and concert series.

Volunteering under pressure

Despite all the anniversary celebrations, the association remains realistic about the future. It has around 1,000 full members—anyone who wants to join or drink coffee there needs to be a member. Membership costs just one euro per month. The fees cover basic costs and occasional technical upgrades. Of course, the active work is shared among significantly fewer people. Renner describes the core group as a group of 20 to 25 committed individuals; 10 to 15 active members usually attend the weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Many only stay for a year or two – but it is not uncommon for their studies to be extended because the Glashaus offers so much opportunity for participation.

“Willingness to volunteer” is the big issue. You can sense that tasks are being distributed among fewer and fewer people. That's why the association wants to convey even more clearly that culture is not “just there” – it requires commitment, responsibility, and passion.

More than a club

A reunion for former members is planned for late summer or fall. Previous generations will return, exchange stories, and renew contacts. Perhaps the same questions will be asked again: How can commitment be kept alive? How can continuity be achieved? How can idealism be prevented from burning out? And then everyone will probably celebrate again.

Because the Glashaus is not a perfectly planned cultural enterprise. It is a space of possibility. A place where students learn that creating is more than consuming. That responsibility can be fun. That community arises when you organize it yourself.

For 30 years, this small hut between the geography and natural sciences departments has been proving something very simple—and very fundamental: universities are particularly strong where students not only study, but also create. In this spirit: Ad multos annos!