Ulysses Shelter writers’ residency in Caernarfon
We were please to have welcomed our final residents of the current Ulysses Shelter to Caernarfon earlier this month. Klára Krásenská and Luiza Bouharaoua representing the Czech Republic and Croatia respectively, arrived as strangers but developed a meaningful professional relationship through their shared accommodation at the very special Glan Morfa cottage.
Their networking extended to local Welsh authors, creating opportunities for ongoing literary exchanges. During their residency, they benefited from dedicated time and space for reading and writing, and visiting locations useful for their research.
Favourable weather conditions enabled them to explore the surrounding region and appreciate the remarkable landscapes of Eryri. The immersion in Welsh language and culture provided an additional enriching dimension to their experience.
Collaborative Poetry Translation Session with Dr. Angharad Price
A productive poetry translation workshop took place in Caernarfon towards the end of the residency bringing together Dr. Angharad Price and visiting poet Klára for an in-depth exploration of Czech-Welsh literary translation. The session focused on the collaborative translation of Klára’s poem ‘Slavnost v bílé’ (Celebration in White) from Czech into Welsh.
Following their collaborative discussion, Dr. Price completed a Welsh translation of ‘Slavnost v bílé’. The translation process involved careful consideration of linguistic and cultural elements, with particular attention paid to maintaining the poem’s original character and subtle nuances.
The residency represents a valuable contribution to international cultural exchange, demonstrating the potential for meaningful literary collaboration across linguistic boundaries and we hope that future projects and ongoing correspondence will ensue.