The UNESCO Cities of Literature network also provides opportunities for networking and collaboration and this time Ljubljana had the honor of bringing authors to the book fair in Granada.

For the first time in 14 years, Carlos Pascual spoke in his native language in front of an audience in Granada and read from his first three Slovenian books. In conversation with his translator Mojca Medvedšek, he presented the process of publishing and translating in Slovenia. An outstanding example of a writer who succeeded in a foreign country by writing in his mother tongue.

Unfortunately, Alenka Zupančič could not attend the conversation with Jorge Alemán due to illness, but Jorge continued in front of the audience the conversation he started with Alenko Zupančič before the event about how the Lacanian school is a useful factor in critical reflection. In this, he emphasized the important role of the Ljubljana school, to which Alenka Zupančič, Slavoj Žižek and Mladen Dolar belong.

An unforgettable event with Anja Zag Golob was a special rhythmic experience, her poetry first came to life in an excellent Spanish translation by Mojca Medvedšek and Carlos Pascual, which was read in Spanish by Carlos, then in Slovenian by Anja Z. Golob, all of which was rounded off by a conversation of the author with Erika, which was perfectly interpreted by Mojca Medvedšek.

The visit was successful. Thanks to the entire team of Granada, a UNESCO City of Literature, with Jesus Ortega and Carmen Casares at the head, who took care that everything went smoothly and they did this with incredible happiness and devotion to literature. And life!
 

Ljubljana, Zvezda park
SAT, April 23, 2022

The first live book fair after almost a year is coming under the plane trees in the center of the capital.

The popular Air Fair will take place in Zvezda Park on World Book Day and Book Night. In cooperation with 50 publishers, we will set up tables with the best literature that Slovenian publishers can offer. 

On Saturday the fair will be illuminated with table lamps and will be open until 10 p.m.
Part of the Fair in the air will also be the stage, on which literary events will take place.
See you at the (f)air!

On the World Poetry Day, the office of Ljubljana, UNESCO city of literature, is preparing a mini bookstore with 60 poetry collections at reasonable prices. The mini bookshop will first accompany the Ljubljana Poetry Marathon on March 21, then it will be set up at Vodnik's homestead Šiška until the end of the month.

The Ljubljana Poetry Marathon on World Poetry Day will take place in five different locations.

The office of Ljubljana, a UNESCO City of Literature, encourages the purchase and reading of poetry. On March 21st, give (yourself) a poetry collection and support domestic creativity!
 

As many as 110 applications from other cities of literature from all over the world arrived, which is a record since 2018, when we started the residency program!

Our three-member jury  will review the extremely interesting applications and select a resident for the May and November.

With the residency program Writer in the Park, we encourage cooperation and connection with authors from other cities of literature, and in this way we offer an open space for creation and integration into the local literary landscape.
 

Among the nominees are also two Slovenian novels, The Masochist by Katja Perat, which was nominated by the Maribor Library, and The Fig Tree by Goran Vojnović, which was nominated by the City Library of Ljubljana and the City Library of Rijeka.

Both volumes were published in English translation by Istros Books.

Congratulations to both authors, as well as the publishers and translators!
 

These funds open up an exceptional opportunity for two months of creation in the cultural space of the city (libraries, museums, etc.).

The funds will be given to 20 authors. Each receives 3,000 euros.

Applications are open until January 27.

You can find more about it at the link. 
 

Ana Barič Moder received the award for the translation of the novel The Handbook for Exiles by Velibor Čolić, which was published last year by Založba Goga.

Congratulations!
 

WHAT
Ljubljana, a UNESCO City of Literature since 2015, offers two one-month residencies for writers at the Švicarija/Swisshouse Creative Centre, which is part of the International Centre of Graphic Arts.

WHEN
May and November 2022 (one month per residency/applicant).

WHO
The residency is aimed at foreign published writers with a palpable, factual relation with any of the other UNESCO Cities of Literature that has to be apparent and described as part of the application. 
The applicant must have published at least one book of fiction (be it prose, poetry or drama) in their language. There are no restrictions regarding age, race, gender or nationality. 

WHAT WE OFFER
Each resident will get a sum amount of the grant and travel expenses of €1000 gross in total (details regarding potential wire-transfer charges and other expenses can be found in the contract). Each resident will stay in their own, separate and fully equipped apartment with a kitchenette at Švicarija/Swisshouse, along with other artists-residents, artists, and exhibitions.

More information.