Welsh Literature Abroad International Translators' Gathering
26th - 30th November
Ty Newydd, Wales
Welsh Literature Abroad, with the support of Literature Across Frontiers, brought translators of Welsh literature from all over the world together at the National Writers’ Centre for Wales, Ty Newydd, in the Eryri/Snowdonia National Park in November. Nationally and internationally recognised translators travelled from accross Europe,
Prague International Poetry Days
12th - 19th November,
Prague
The Poetry Days Festival in the Czech Republic will be celebrated around the birthday of Czech poet K.H. Macha from the 5th to the 23rd of November this year. Schools, libraries, universities, literary groups and individuals will be organising events in over forty towns throughout the country.
This year, Společnost Poezie (Poetry Society), in co-operation with Literature Across Frontiers, presents the first Prague International Poetry Days involving readings by over twenty-five poets from fifteen countries.
Fatos Kongoli - UK tour
October
Albanian author Fatos Kongoli makes a tour of the UK to launch the English translation of his novel I Humburi (The Loser). With the support of Welsh Literature Abroad, English PEN and Literature Across Frontiers the award winning writer travelled with his translators Robert Elsie and Janice Mathie-Heck to readings in Foyles in London, the Maison Francaise in Oxford and Bangor University.
Released by Welsh publisher Seren, the new translation has received excellent critical acclaim in the UK. It has also received a Writers in Translation award by International PEN who have praised the humanism and significance of the novel: ‘it is about the denial of the right to freedom of an entire population and the kind of personal despair such despotism can produce’. It has also been shortlisted for the TR Fyvel Book Award as part of the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards.
Istanbul Book Fair
23rd - 29th October
TUYAP,
LAF brings poets Anna Aguilar-Amat (Catalonia),
The visiting writers will also participate in several public events over the weekend. These include an evening of Latvian poetry in translation – accompanied by music and singing and an international poetry reading where Turkish poets and poets from the EU will present a kaleidoscopic range of voices.
There will be a collective stand presenting literature from the Basque Coutry, the
Frankfurt Book Fair
12th October 2007
Translators' Centre, Hall 5.0
2pm - 3pm,
Making Literature Travel: support for the international literary exchange and translation in Europe
The majority of EU countries operate programmes promoting their national literature abroad and encouraging its translation and publication, as well as supporting their own publishers and translators in bringing international literature to local readers. In addition, the European Union supports translation and cooperation in the field of books and reading. The report, prepared by Literature Across Frontiers, provides an overview of support for the international circulation of literary works and professionals, with reference to selected countries whose infrastructure, policies and their implementation are profiled in case studies. The document also presents data and statistics on the publishing of translations and on financial support for translation provided by individual countries, highlights and analyses successful policies and practices, identifies obstacles to wider circulation of works and professionals, and formulates recommendations with respect to EU and national support, as well as addressing a range of issues related to the subject. Presented by Alexandra Büchler.
Festival of Mediterranean Literature
24th – 30th September
Valetta and Birgu, Malta
Writers are gathering in Malta to participate in a translation and script-writing workshop: Clare Azzopardi, Adrian Grima, Antoine Cassar (Malta), Walid Nabhan (Palestine / Malta), Valerio Cruciani (Italy), Biel Mesquida (Catalonia), Samira Negrouche (Algeria), Fatena Al-Ghorra (Palestine), Ipek Seyalioglu (Turkey). They are joined by two authors who took part in LAF's Sealines project, Robert Minhinnick (Wales) and Mikko Rimminen (Finland) and the Maltese artist Pierre Portelli.
In cooperation with Inizjamed. For more information, visit www.inizjamed.org
With support from FILI - Finnish Literature Centre, Institut Ramon Llull and Wales Arts International.
Riga Poetry Days
10th – 16th September
Ventspils and Riga
Riga Poetry Days, an annual event organised by the Latvian Writers Association, welcomes poets from Mediterranean countries who will join their Latvian colleagues in a translation workshop in the Ventspils Writes' and Translators' House. With Uldis Berzins, Dagnija Dreika and Pēteris Cedriņš (Latvia), Sargon Boulus (Iraq / US), Sabina Messeg (Israel), Ataol Behramoglu, Enver Ercan (Turkey), Demetra Christodoulou (Greece) and Paolo Ruffili (Italy).
The Czech poet, editor and translator Petr Borkovec is among the international guests of the Riga Poetry Days Festival.The growing network of European translators' retreats was joined by Ventspils Writers’ and Translators’ House in 2005. The facility welcomes applications and more information can be found at www.ventspilshouse.lv
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Saturday, 18 August, 19.30
Writers’ Retreat
Latife Tekin and Moris Farhi
Turkish fiction is offering another window into that endlessly fascinating complex land. Latife Tekin is a major besteseller: her Swords of Ice (Marion Boyars) illuminates the tragicomical struggle of the poor in the surreal world of globalized commerce. Moris Farhi, a senior international figure, shows teenagers coming of age in a multiracial Turkey against the backdrop of Nazism in his novel Young Turk (Telegram Books).
Saturday, 18 August, 19.30
Writers’ Retreat
The Fire and the Page
A unique insight into the great figures of Russia's twentieth century golden age of literature. Peter Oram presents his book The Fire and the Page, an anthology of poems written by poets in homage of each other, published by Arc Publications. With Valentina Polukhina and Daniel Weissborth. Chaired by Elaine Feinstein.
Sunday, 12 August, 19.30
Writers’ Retreat
Basque Poets on Tour
Leading Basque writer Bernardo Atxaga is joined by his fellow poets Rikardo Arregi and Miren Agur Meabe, and translator Amaia Gabantxo, to launch the anthology Six Basque Poets, edited by Mari Jose Olaziregi and published by Arc Publications in cooperation with Literature Across Frontiers. For more information about the series New Poetry from Europe and Beyond go to the Publications page.
Saturday, 11 August, 19.30
Writers’ Retreat
Poets from the Middle East
A unique chance to meet four influential poets from the Middle East and discover the mosiac of contemporary cultural identity through their poetry. With Naim Araidi (Arab-Israeli), Seyhan Erözçelik (Turkish), Fatma Naoot (Egyptian) and Amir Or (Israeli), presented by Robyn Marsack (Director, Scottish Poetry Library).
[read more]National Eisteddfod of Wales
10th August, 4pm
Mold, North Wales
Three leading Basque writers, Bernardo Atxaga, Rikardo Arregi and Miren Agur Meabe, will be reading at one of the biggest cultural festivals in Wales - the National Eisteddfod - on the occasion of the publication of Six Basque Poets, an anthology edited by Mari Jose Olaziregi and translated by Amaia Gabantxo.
In cooperation with Instituto Cervantes Manchester.
Between the Lines - Poetry Translation Workshop
6th – 10th August
Crear, Argyll
Poets Amir Or, Naim Araidi (Israel), Fatima Naoot (Egypt), Seyhan Erözçelik (Turkey), Valerie Gillies (Scotland) and Robert Minhinnick (Wales) spend five days in the tranquil surroundings of Crear in Argyll exploring each other's poetry and the literary and linguistic context of their work through translation.
In cooperation with the Scottish Poetry Library and with kind support from the Scottish Arts Council and the British Council Egypt. www.crear.co.uk
Lebanese Poets at Ledbury Poetry Festival
7th July, 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Burgage Hall, Ledbury Poetry Festival
£8
Three Lebanese poets travel to Ledbury for this exclusive event. Two of the poets have never read in the UK before and one is newly translated into English. Abdo Wazen is a major poet and cultural editor of the international daily Al-Hayat. Bassam Hajjar is one of the best poets of his generation and this is his first performance in English. Zeinab Assaf is a young talented poet and this will be her first UK appearance. If one literary event could shed light on modern Lebanon, this may well be that occasion.
In partnership with Banipal Magazine and Ledbury Poetry Festival. For more information click here
Gay Poetry Workshop in Slovenia
9th – 16th June
Dane and Ljubljana
Following the success of the first gay poetry translation workshop held in Slovenia in 2006, LAF and the Center for Slovenian Literature are organising a second workshop, with the following particiopants: Arnold de Vos (Italy), Ivar Sild (Estonia), Kuçuk Iskender (Turkey), Valter Hugo Mae (Portugal), Martí Sales (Catalonia), Rami Saari (Israel), Milan Šelj (Slovenia).
In cooperation with Festival Ziva knjizevnost / Living Literature Festival and Galerija Skuc www.skuc.org
[read more]LAF at the European Festival of the Short Story
3rd June, 8pm
Club Booksa, Marticeva 14D
Writing for 300,000 readers
Bernardo Atxaga (Basque Country), Clare Azzopardi (Malta), Hallgrímur Helgason (Iceland) and Fflur Dafydd (Wales). Moderated by Alexandra Büchler (Literature Across Frontiers). What do these authors have in common?
LAF at Queerupnorth Festival in Manchester
23rd May, 7.30 pm
Odd Bar, 30-32 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester
Queer Slovenia
Writers and gay rights activists Brane Mozetič and Suzana Tratnik appear at the biggest festival of gay culture in the UK.
Meet Brane Mozetic and Suzana Tratnik, two of Slovenia’s leading authors and gay rights activists. Brane has published nine collections of poetry and three novels, translated Genet and Rimbaud, and edited the gay magazine Revolver. Suzana’s work includes translations of Jackie Kay’s Trumpet and Michael Cunningham’s The Hours, as well as three short story collections and two novels. They’ll be reading from their work and discussing queer life in Slovenia.
For full programme visit www.queerupnorth.com Organised in co-operation with Queerupnorth, The Centre for Slovenian Literature and Skuc Gallery in Ljubljana, and with kind support from the Slovenian Ministry of Culture.
[read more]BookWorld 2007, 13th International Prague Book Fair
3rd - 6th May, 2007
Exhbibition Grounds, Industrial Palace, Prague 7, and other venues
For the seventh time LAF is co-operating with the Prague International Book Fair. Events and a collective stand will be held with the participation of partner organisations from the Basque Country, Catalonia, Estonia, Flanders, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Wales. Visit our stand S204 in the Central Hall.
Literature in Interaction Seminar
3rd May
12pm – 19om, Hall “Growing with the book”
Literature has always crossed the boundaries of other art forms, merging and interacting with drama and music, as well as the still and moving image. With the sometimes serious, sometimes tongue-in-cheek efforts of the avant-gardes of the twntieth century and later with the rapid development of new technology, the art of the word set out on an ever more experimental course, taking literature off the page and onto the stage, the canvass, the projection screen, and finally onto the computer screen, replacing chance with the incalculable possibilities of software programmes.
How does literature interact today - with itself, with other art forms, with writers and readers? What opportunities and challenges do computers and the internet present for the promotion of reading and for literary creation itself? Can writing, like other arts, be taught and how? These questions will be debated at the Literature in Interaction seminar which will open the Prague Book Fair 2007.
LAF at Cuirt International Festival of Literature
April
The Cuirt International Festival of Literature hosts a Sealines project premiere featuring the work of the Slovenian poet Barbara Korun and musician Zlatko Kaučič and Artūrs Punte, a Russian-language poet from Riga. The two poets stayed in the port on the West coast of Ireland in April 2006 as part of LAF’s Sealines project, as well as the work of two Irish writers Celia de Fréine and Michael O’Loughlin, who spent a month in Koper / Capodistria and Riga respectively. This is the first presentation of the work created as a result of the Sealines residencies. of Galway
Programme of the Cuirt Festival can be found on www.galwayartscentre.ie
London International Book Fair
16th – 18th April
Earl’s Court, London, Balcony, stand Q805
Collective stand with participating countries: Latvia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Portugal and Iceland
Abu Dhabi Book Fair
Collective stand
31st March – 7th April
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company
Participating countries: Catalonia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Flanders, Latvia, Lithuania, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Wales.
Alexandra Büchler speaks on small-market opportunities in publishing in a panel discussion organised by the Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt Book Fair as part of the professional programme.
Europeatica Festival
Panel debate
29th – 31st March,
Ráday Könyvesház, Ráday Street, Budapest
Director Alexandra Büchler participates in a panel debate on literary exchange in Europe and presents the work of Literature Across Frontiers.
Leipzig Book Fair
Collective stand
15th – 19th March,
Leipzige Messe, Hall 4, D400-402
Participating countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Ireland and Wales.
European Translation Project in Israel
7th – 12th March
Zichron Yaakov
Poets from Europe and Israel meet to explore each other’s work through translation. With the Israeli poets Amir Or and Asher Reich, Palestinian Nawal Nafaa, and Alan Robert Jamieson (Scotland) , Maria Laina (Greece), Christopher Meredith (Wales), Francesc Parcerisas (Catalonia) and Tadeusz Pioro (Poland), in a project hosted by the Helicon Society for the Advancement of Poetry in Israel.
Poetry reading and discussion about translation
13th March, 8.30pm – 10pm
Beit Helicon, Nahalat Benyamin 73, Tel Aviv
The poets read their work in the original language and in English, Hebrew and Arabic translation. The reading is followed by “Speech by Movement”, a modern dance performance by Jill and Amnon Damti. Hosted by Keren Koch.
The project is supported by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, British Council in Israel, Institut Ramon Llull, Polish Book Institute and the National Book Centre of Greece.
Spit-Lit Festival in London
3rd March, 16pm – 17pm,
Spit-Lit Festival – Celebrating Women’s Writing
Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Road, London E1 (Aldgate East Tube)
Eastern Promise
Prose writers Nora Ikstena (Latvia) and Carmen Francesca Banciu (Romania / Germany) read and discuss their work on the occasion of the launch of The Third Shore anthology, published by Dublin–based Brandon Books.
In cooperation with Brandon Books and with support from the Latvian Literature Centre, Latvian Embassy in Ireland and the Romanian Cultural Institute London.
Translator training and skills development
Brainstorming meeting
12th - 14th February
Helsinki and Tuusula
Representatives of LAF partner organisations FILI – Finnish Literature Abroad, Institut Ramon Llull, Latvian Literature Centre Polish Book Institute and Welsh Literature Abroad meet with experts to discuss issues concerning training of literary translators working from and into less-diffused languages.
Cairo Book Fair
23th –
Visit to the