Organisations

Slovene Writers’ Association

Tomšičeva 12

1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

Phone: 00386 1 4252 340, 2514 144

Fax: 00386 1 421 64 30

E-mail:

barbara.subert@guest.arnes.si

dsp@drustvo-dsp.si

www.drustvo-dsp.si

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE SLOVENE WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (SWA)

The SWA international activities are focused on maintaining contacts with writers’ societies and cultural institutions around the world (with many countries it has signed international co-operation protocols), and with literary magazines (Lettre internationale in Berlin, Verse in Oxford, Neue Sirene in Munich, Trafika in Prague, Sampark in Bombay, Remanences in France, Wespennest in Vienna, Ord & Bild in Göteborg and many others; some have already compiled anthological reviews of Slovenian literature or informed their readers of the cultural, historical and political situation in Slovenia). These efforts are strongly supported by the international writers’ event called VILENICA, which provides plenty of opportunities for establishing links with authors, editors, publisher and translators from all over the world.

The Slovene Writers’ Association has maintained productive contacts with translators and promoters of Slovenian literature abroad. Occasionally – and depending on our financial resources – we send out newly published Slovenian books and dictionaries, and enable established as well as future translators, who are learning the Slovene language (up to five), participation in the Seminar of the Slovene Language, Literature and Culture, which is held every year in the first half of July at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana.

There are also grants available for translators who wish to perfect their skills in Ljubljana (the SWA provides financial aid and the possibility of lodging in its bed-sitter). This form of co-operation with translators is developing into unique writers’ and translators’ workshops, which make possible a constant creative exchange.

The SWA international activities include the participation of Slovenian writers in annual and biannual international events and festivals abroad. There are also numerous forms of exchange which cannot be predicted; when our members are personally invited to take part in events, readings, festivals and meetings abroad, we cover part of their travel expenses (50 to 75 percent).

The SWA will continue to promote Slovenian authors and their works through individual or group readings abroad (Paris, London, St-Etienne, Bratislava, etc.).

The Trubar Foundation

c/o Slovenian Writers' Association

Tomšičeva 12

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

Tel: ++386 1 4252 340, 2514 144

Fax: ++386 1 421 64 30

www.drustvo-dsp.si/drustvo/dejavnosti/trubarjev_sklad/trubarjev_

sklad.html

Contacts

Tina Jurkovič: kristina.jurkovic@guest.arnes.si

The Trubar Foundation is a joint venture of the Slovenian Writers’ Association, Slovenian PEN and the Centre for Slovenian Literature. The financial means for its activities are provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and by other sources. The aim of the Trubar Foundation is to subsidise the publications of Slovenian literature in translation.

Application for funds

Foreign publishers can apply for subsidies to publish Slovenian authors in their native languages. Trubar Foundation contributes up to 50% of printing costs. It does not subsidise translation; translators can apply for translation grants directly to the Slovenian Ministry of Culture. The application should include the title of the book, the name of the author, the name of the translator, the length in pages, the number of copies and the planned date of publication. Publishers should also prepare a financial estimate of all the costs associated with the publication: copyright, royalties, layout, paper, printing, binding. The application should be accompanied by the publisher's latest catalogue. Priority is given to the works of the well-known living authors. However, the Board will take all applications for works of fiction, poetry, drama, or literary essays into consideration, as long as they are originally written in Slovenian. The Board advises applicants to submit their applications in Slovenian or English, in written form, by regular mail.

Time limits

The Board consists of seven equal members including the Presidents of the Slovenian Writers' Association and Slovenian PEN. They convene at least twice a year, usually in March and October. Therefore, applications received by the end of February and the end of September will promptly be dealt with. The book selected by the Board is to be published within six months following the date of the written notice informing the publisher of the Board's decision. Should the publisher release the book after the expired term, a new application is required.

Financial terms

Foreign publishers are required to provide the entire edition for which they received financial support from the Trubar Foundation with an inscription stating that the book was published with the aid of the Foundation. The inscription should read as follows: This book was published with the support of the Trubar Foundation at the Slovenian Writers’ Association, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Ta knjiga je bila objavljena s pomočjo Trubarjevega sklada pri Društvu slovenskih pisateljev, Ljubljana, Slovenija. The English language can be substituted by the language of the edition. Immediately upon publication, the publisher should send to the Foundation ten (10) copies of the book, along with two original copies of an invoice (signed and sealed) in exactly the approved amount. The Trubar Foundation will forward a certain number of copies to the National and University Library in Ljubljana.

Slovenian P.E.N. Centre

Tomšičeva 12

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

Tel & Fax: ++386 1 425 48 47

E-mail: slopen@guest.arnes.si

This year, the Slovenian PEN. is celebrating two anniversaries: 75 years of existence, and 35 years of one of its most important activities – annual international meetings organised by the Slovenian PEN., and since its establishment also by the Writers’ for Peace Committee of International PEN., whose seat is in the Slovenian PEN. It started 35 years ago in the picturesque coastal town of Piran on the initiative of Ms Mira Mihelič, writer and translator, who at the time chaired the Slovenian PEN. and was Vice-President of the International PEN. A few years later the meeting was moved to Bled. After the greatest Slovenian poet France Prešeren immortalised Bled in his poem The Baptism on the Savica it became the mythic town of Slovenian literature, and is in all respects one of the prettiest places of the southern side of the Alps.

In the three and a half decades of Bled meetings this international writers' event has developed into an important meeting of citizens once divided by blocs, yet never ''divided'' as writers. Mostly thanks to the direct – and in certain more complex situations – kind, friendly and efficient President Mira Mihelič, her successors Miloš Mikeln, Drago Jančar, and after Slovenia gained independence and still during the Balkan wars, when the Slovenian PEN. and the International Writers' for Peace Committee were chaired by Boris A. Novak, the ''Bled PEN.'' has turned into one of the central events in the life of International PEN. as well. Now the meeting prides itself on being the oldest annual regional conference in the frame of our international writers' organisation.

Although at this moment we cannot ignore the tragic events taking place in Israel and Palestine, we can nevertheless say that it was at the Bled meetings of the Peace Committee that the Israeli and Palestinian writers were building co-operation and reaching agreements about peaceful coexistence during their debates. In the Regulations of International PEN., the Bled meeting was also recognised as a place of dialogue and search for common views regarding crises and problems, which appeal to the writers’ conscience and awareness.

The Bled international meetings, through careful observation of global events in the spiritual, cultural and particularly literary sphere, give rise to the topics for round-table discussions. In organising the event, the Slovenian PEN. and the Peace Committee are more than happy to welcome those literary guests who come from countries still characterised by problems, oppression, limited freedom and violence. Bled was the venue of friendly talks between writers coming from former Yugoslav republics, which at the time were still engaged in wars; in the last two years we listened to the shocking testimonies of Chechnyan writers, last year we heard about the oppression of the Uighur nation in China ... Bled, being the meeting point of writers from all parts of the world, may be a unique and rare opportunity for writers coming from more or less ''censored'' cultures and literatures to speak to a wider public.

But with these words I would actually like to draw attention to something that the Bled meetings imprinted on the hearts and minds of some esteemed guests – the authors, who came to Bled more than once, and who – upon the 35th anniversary – kindly responded to our invitation to share their personal impressions and memories of whatever they found unique during the meetings, of the place itself and of their contacts with writers from other parts of the world. For Slovenian PEN., the organisers and hosts of the International Bled meetings, these documents are especially valuable; they are also the most direct source of information for new guests. Actually, the true value of our meetings at Bled does not reside in the topics and debates about them, but in the pleasant moments spent together and in forming new and refreshing old friendships.

Veno Taufer

71^st WORLD CONGRESS OF INTERNATIONAL PEN

Bled, Slovenia, 14th–21st June 2005

In 1965 the Slovenian PEN Centre organized the 33rd World Congress of International PEN at Bled, the first PEN Congress to be held in eastern Europe after the Second World War, and the first to be attended by Russian writers, who came as observers. The Centre followed this landmark event with annual regional literary conferences in Bled, at which International PEN Writers for Peace Committee, founded in 1984 and hosted by the Slovenian Centre, also meets. During the years of the Cold War, the Bled Conferences provided the only substantial open forum for democratic dialogue between writers from the East and West, at which they could consider and discuss the burning questions occupying the minds of intellectuals all over the world. On the 40th anniversary of the Bled Congress, the Slovenian PEN Centre will host the 71st International Congress – both to mark Slovenia's accession to the European Union, and to celebrate this long history of free and open dialogue among intellectuals.

Through Slovenia's accession to the European Union, Slovenian culture will take the final step into a rich and diverse cultural landscape. The Congress will reflect this expanding horizon through three themes.

The first is entitled The Tower of Babel – a curse or a blessing? The round table discussion on this theme will attempt to provide an answer to the question of what the linguistic diversity means in the new historical and political circumstances and from the point of view of civilisation and culture. On the one hand linguistic variety is perceived as an expression of different cultural identities and on the other – particularly by the contemporary consumer and political minds shaped by globalisation -. As a barrier hindering communication among members of different communities, hampering exchange of goods, labour force and values.

The second theme Literature as a Safeguard of the Cultural Landscape has the purpose to make men and women of letters aware that their expression does not only resonate within their own private worlds but also elicits responses in interpersonal relationships, and particularly today, in the personal attitudes towards the environment we all inhabit, an environment we reshaped, with all due respect to nature, and turned it into our cultural landscape. Since literature is in constant dialogue with its environment, it also protects it from drastic interventions, thus protecting the cultural landscape against the destructive forces of technology.

The third theme The Language of Peace – Literature as a Lingua Franca deals with the culture of peace, which – being culture – is present in language. It raises the question whether it is possible to use literature – as a universal language and a universal vessel of human emotion and thought – to express our shared human condition and thus to close the gaps between different world-views to reveal man's common fate. Close attention will be paid to those languages, literatures and cultures that border on each other, with the aim of developing a broader initiative – »Let us learn the language of our neighbours« – so that we all may better come to know and understand our neighbours and thus be better able to forestall incomprehension and conflict.

The ideas arising from the work on these themes at the Congress will be developed into statements, recommendations and appeals condemning the violation of language, of freedom of expression and of the free exchange of literary works and ideas, and urging the world to sustain and advance cultural and other forms of freedom. The Congress will be an important factor for peace and stability and an affirmation of literature, language and the culture of peace.

Slovenian association of literary translators

Tomšičeva 12

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

www.dskp-drustvo.si

The Slovenian Association of Literary Translators was founded in 1953 under the name of Association of translators of Slovenia. Given that it was originally designed as a parallel to the Slovenian Writers' Association, meaning that it mostly gathered the translators of literary works, soon emerged the need to establish another professional union: "Association of Scientific translators of Slovenia" (later renamed into "Association of Scientific and Technical Translators of Slovenia), while the former Association of translators of Slovenia was renamed into the Slovenian Association of Literary Translators.

DSKP (SALT) is a professional union essentially engaged in maintaining a high level of translation work, as well as in the affirmation of profession and in maintaining the contacts among translators themselves. Members of the Association also have the opportunity to learn about the theoretical, historical, social and practical aspects of their work. The goals of the Association are realized (among other) by organising literary and debate evenings, professional meetings, lectures, conferences and similar, as well as by stimulating international academic exchanges of translators. Furthermore, the Association is actively engaged in collaboration with other cultural, educational and professional organisations and institutions in Slovenia and abroad, as well as in editing various publications on translation released either by our or other publishing houses.

The Slovenian Association of Literary Translators (DSKP - SALT) is member of the CEATL (Conseil Européen des Associations de Traducteurs Littéraires).

Centre for Slovenian Literature

Metelkova 6

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

Phone / Fax 00386 1 505 1674

E-mail: litcenter@mail.ljudmila.org

www.ljudmila.org/litcenter

The Centre for Slovenian Literature is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to literary and publishing activities. It was founded to contribute to the international promotion of Slovenian literature, and began operating in 1999. It is run by an executive board.

The Center is dedicated to attracting support for, and encouraging work in, the following areas:

1. making quality translations of contemporary and classic Slovenian literature possible,

2. drawing the attention of international publishers to the rich, albeit not very well-known heritage of Slovenian literature,

3. presenting relevant information to the interested public in the international context.

In this way the Centre responds to the needs which other institutions in this field are either unable or unwilling to meet. While the Centre's primary task is to address an international audience, it is no less committed to informing the Slovenian public about important international literary trends, authors, and publishing events. It is opened for collaboration with other local and international institutions and individuals of similar interest. Its priorities include, but are not limited to, creating computer-assisted databases of translations and translators; providing information to chosen target-audiences; presenting selected works and authors abroad; enabling, coordinating and promoting international collaboration; integrating into existing international programs and networks with similar aims; and developing a creative approach to the promotion of Slovenian literature. The Centre for Slovenian Literature is a member of LAF (Literature Across Frontiers).

SLOVENIAN AUTHORS PRESENTED BY THE CENTER FOR SLOVENIAN LITERATURE

Louis Adamič, Andrej Blatnik, Berta Bojetu, Primož Čučnik, Aleš Debeljak, Milan Dekleva, Mate Dolenc, Evald Flisar, Brane Gradišnik, Niko Grafenauer, Herbert Grün, Andrej Hieng, Alojz Ihan, Andrej Inkret, Drago Jančar, Milan Jesih, Edvard Kocbek, Barbara Korun, Ciril Kosmač, Edvard Kovač, Lojze Kovačič, Kajetan Kovič, Taja Kramberger, Florjan Lipuš, Svetlana Makarovič, Dušan Merc, Miloš Mikeln, Vinko Möderndorfer, Vida Mokrin-Pauer, Brane Mozetič, Lela B. Njatin, Boris A. Novak, Maja Novak, Iztok Osojnik, Boris Pahor, Vera Pejovič, Žarko Petan, Gregor Podlogar, Sonja Porle, Jure Potokar, Marjan Rožanc, Peter Semolič, Andrej Skubic, Gregor Strniša, Lucija Stupica, Tomaž Šalamun, Rudi Šeligo, Tone Škrjanec, Ivo Štandeker, Veno Taufer, Suzana Tratnik, Jože Udovič, Nataša Velikonja, Maja Vidmar, Jani Virk, Dane Zajc, Uroš Zupan, Vitomil Zupan, Vlado Žabot

Association of Slovenian Publishers

Štefanova 6

1000 Ljubljana

www.drustvo-zaloznikov.si

Current president: Tanja Tuma (tanja@zalozba-tuma.si)

Supervisory board: Rudi Zaman (rudi.zaman@didakta.si)

Gregor Macedoni (gregor.macedoni@zalozba-goga.si)

Riko Rižnar (riko.riznar@mk-lj.si)

Maja Jug Hartman (maja.hartman@tzs.si)

Founded about ten years ago, the main goal of the Association of Slovenian Publishers is to promote the creativity in the publishing industry and to back up the professionalism of bookselling in Slovenia. Its members are individuals, not companies (our point of difference from the IPA branch at the Chamber of Commerce), who have to be approved by the Supervisory board of the association upon joining. In the end, the major CEOs of the Slovenian publishing houses meet under our wing as members to discuss the current issues in a more relaxed, but also very serious and productive manner. The members' commitment is voluntary, yet substantial. With the aid of the Slovenian Ministry of Culture, we organised the Congress "Books in Slovenia" (Knjiga na Slovenskem) for the second year in a row. The Congress was held in Portorož, hosting distinguished guests from Slovenia and abroad. This year, Mr. James Parker and Mrs. Lynette Owen contacted our publishers about PLR and about the possibilities to promote Slovenian authors abroad. Given the fact that it's becoming the present regulation of the market, we have been backing up the fixed book price initiative. We believe we can influence the publishing industry by supporting and through education enhancing the professionalism not only for the benefit of our membership, but also Slovenian books in general, not to speak of Slovenian language and culture.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Publishing, Printing and Media Association

Združenje za tisk in medije

Dimičeva 13, 1504 Ljubljana

www.gzs.si

Irena Brglez, secretary of the Association

irena.brglez@gzs.si

Gregor Franken, independent advisor

gregor.franken@gzs.si

Irena Gregorič, secretary

irena.gregorič@gzs.si

Tel: +386 1 58 98 277

Fax: +386 1 58 98 100

More than twenty associations are active with the Chamber of commerce and industry of Slovenia, each of them covering a particular activity. One of them is Publishing, Printing and Media Association: structurally the most diversified, it comprises the entire publishing, radio, television and graphic activities, along with the video and phonogramic industries and press agencies.

Given the dimension of work and programmes respectively, the most powerful department of the Publishing, Printing and Media Association is the Professional Association of Publishers and Booksellers, working in the present form since 1990. Its members are economic organisations established in accordance with the Law on Economic Organisations, as well as other legal persons active in the branches of publishing and bookselling. According to standard classification of activities, they are classified in the activities D 22.11 (Book publishing) and in D 22.15 (Other kinds of publishing). Also included are other members of Publishing, Printing and Media Association (or any other CCIS Association) who have registered publishing or bookselling activities alongside their primary activity.

The highest body is the Members' Assembly lead by the President. Operative works for Members' purposes are confided to the Managing Board consisting of seven elected members. Apart from the Secretary of the Board, all other members perform their functions on a non-professional basis. This is the current composition (mandate 2003-2007): Mitja Zupančič (Družina) - president; Matjaž Bizjak (Prešernova družba) - deputy; members: Darko Mežek (Slovenska knjiga); Rok Kvaternik (Založba Rokus); Slavko Pregl (BWO); Rudi Zaman (Didakta); Irena Brglez (CCIS).

The execution of projects is confided to the boards and working groups established by the Managing Board: Handbook Board, Board for promotion of books and reading culture, Managing Board of Slovenian Book Fare, Managing Board of International Book Fares, Fixed prices Workgroup, Workgroup for Original Slovenian Picture Book and juries electing winners in various categories (Schwenter Award, The Best Book Design Award, The Best First Book Award, The Original Slovenian Picture Book Award).

Festivals

International Writers’ Gathering Vilenica

c/o Slovenian Writers’ Association

Tomšičeva 12

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

Tel: ++386 1 4252 340, 2514 144

Fax: ++386 1 421 64 30

www.vilenica.org, www.festorg.org,

Contacts

Barbara Šubert: barbara.subert@guest.arnes.si

Since 1986, this gathering has been organised by the Slovenian Writers’ Association annually every first week in September from Wednesday till Sunday. The guests are accommodated at Lipica, a world-famous stud farm, and cradle of the white Lipizzaner horses in the heart of the Karst region. One hour's drive from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, or 20 minutes from Trieste, it represents the crossroad between the Central Europe, South-East Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Three major language groups meet here: Germanic, Slavic, and Romance, joined by Hungarian, Albanian and Greek in the background. Then there are two major European tectonic plates. The Karst, that mysterious, green landscape in the heart of Europe – like a vast natural balcony overlooking the Gulf of Trieste and Istria – left us the legacy of its name and mystery – the subterranean caves. In one of those beauties in the vicinity of Lipica, in the cave of Vilenica the President of the Slovenian writers association on the very last day of the Vilenica literary gathering presents the Vilenica International Literary Prize to one of the Central Europeans authors for his or her life-long literary achievements. The prize-giving ceremony is the peak of the four day literary festival, rich with various events. The working part includes: a book exhibition, the Vilenica almanac, Crystal Vilenica and Mlada Vilenica Awards, literary readings, presentations, lectures, conferences, workshops, concerts, public conferences, discussions, art exhibitions, and visual installations. While excursions to nearby villages, to medieval castles or to the capital Ljubljana and numerous social events, parties and meals offer one an opportunity to learn more about the cultural and historic background of the country, to enjoy the unique natural beauty of the region, its exquisite cuisine or vines and to exchange personal experience, knowledge and ideas with other participants. Roughly 100 to 120 authors, editors, publishers, translators, journalists and others participate at the Vilenica festival. So far it has been attended by over 1300 authors from about 40 countries. In recent years, this major literary festival of Central Europe has opened its door to the wider world. The organisers' ambition is to develop the festival into a focal point of literary information, presentation and learning about Central European authors and their literary production.

The Vilenica international Literary Prize is awarded by the Slovenian Writers' Association for exceptional achievements in the fields of poetry and prose to a Central European author for their life work. So far it has been awarded to:

1986 - Fulvio Tomizza, Italy

1987 - Peter Handke, Austria

1988 - Peter Eszterházy, Hungary

1989 - Jan Skácel, Czech Republic

1990 - Tomas Venclova, Lithuania

1991 - Zbigniew Herbert, Poland

1992 - Milan Kundera, Czech Republic

1993 - Libuđe Moníklová, Czech Republic – Germany

1994 - Josip Osti, Bosnia

1995 - Adolf Muschg, Switzerland

1996 - Adam Zagajewski, Poland

1997 - Pavel Vilikovsky, Slovak Republic

1998 - Péter Nádas, Hungary

1999 - Erica Pedretti, Switzerland

2000 - Slavko Mihalič, Croatia

2001 - Jaan Kaplinski, Estonia

2002 - Ana Blandiana, Romania

2003 - Mirko Kovač, Croatia

The Vilenica Almanac presents the programme of the festival, the list of all the participants, the international Vilenica Prize for literature, the Vilenica winner and sections of their work; a selection of poetry or prose of the authors invited to the Vilenica festival, published in original, translated into Slovenian and one of the major languages; as well as the basic information on the Vilenica international literary gathering from its beginnings. Other publications include various materials. The book of last year’s winner in Slovenian is presented at Šanjel castle. The Directory of the international literary festivals was issued just before the conference at Vilenica 2001 at which the working network of cooperation was established (www.festorg.org). Litterae Slovenicae, and the edition of SWA, presenting some of the classic contemporary Slovenian authors provides information on the Slovenian literature. Contemporary Slovenian literature in translation features the list of Slovenian authors published abroad. 100 years of Slovakian literature features an example of the Vilenica's presentation of one of the national literatures from Central Europe.

The Trnovo Tercets

Karunova 14

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

Tel: ++386 1 2832 288

www.kud-fp.si

Contact

Tone Škrjanec: tone@kud-fp.si

The Trnovo Tercets is an international festival of poetry, which was first organised in 1994 by the cultural society KUD France Prešeren in co-operation with the Slovenian Writers’ Association. The festival is held annually at the beginning of February in the KUD France Prešeren hall in Ljubljana, and is considered the greatest poetry event in the Slovenian capital. Readings are held in three consecutive nights, each presenting three Slovenian or foreign poets. In terms of organisation, the Trnovo Tercets have remained the same since the beginning: poets are given enough time (around 45 minutes each) and freedom in selecting the manner of the presentation so that they can allow their poetry to radiate its inner strength and establish a close relation and communication with the audience. The readings are held in the evenings in the KUD France Prešeen hall, which can seat around one hundred people. All appearances are recorded on video and audio tapes; the archives thus obtained are unique in Slovenia as they contain the record of more than 80 presentations of Slovenian and foreign poets. The Trnovo Tercets held to date have been widely acclaimed by the professional and lay public.

Participants in the Trnovo Tercets 1994–2004

1994 Aleš Debeljak, Tomaž Šalamun, Niko Grafenauer, Uroš Zupan, Milan Dekleva, Kajetan Kovič, Jure Potokar, Boris A. Novak

1995 Alojz Ihan, Veno Taufer, Tone Pavček, Esad Babačić, Ivo Svetina, Milan Jesih

1996 Peter Semolič, Brane Mozetič, Iztok Osojnik, Aleš Šteger, Novica Novakovič, Mila Kačič, Ivan Volarič-Feo, Andrej Brvar, Slavko Mihalić (Croatia)

1997 Andrej Medved, Ervin Fritz, Iztok Mlakar, Peter Paul Wiplinger (Austria), Vojo Šindolić (Croatia), Josip Osti, Matjaž Pikalo, Vinko Möderndorfer, Blaž Ogorevc

1998 Jurij Hudolin, Goran I. Janković, Andrej Rozman-Roza, Jaka Košir, Barbara Korun, Zlatko Zajc, Taja Kramberger, Maja Vidmar, Matjaž Kocbek

1999 Tomislav Vrečar, Matjaž Hanžek, Peter Lovšin, Primož Repar, Miljenko Jergović (Croatia), Brane Senegačnik, Gregor Podlogar, Rade Krstić, Tone Škrjanec

2000 Miklavž Komelj, Ivo Stropnik, Augustin Fratila (Romania), Ivan Dobnik, Sibila Petlevski (Croatia), Marjan Strojan (due to the cancellation of some participants the festival lasted only for two nights)

2001 Tatjana Gromača (Croatia), Pascal Rebetez (Switzerland), Ifigenija Simonović, Pawel Marcinkiewicz (Poland), Primož Čučnik, Jacek Podsiadlo (Poland), Neža Maurer, Delimir Rešicki (Croatia) Vida Mokrin-Pauer, Andrej Trobentar

2002 Michele Obit, Peter Svetina, Drago Glamuzina (Croatia), Victor Obiols (Catalonia), Lucija Stupica, Adam Wiedemann (Poland), Ana Ristović (Serbia), Maruša Krese, Klemen Pisk

2003 Amir Kujović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Nathalie Stephens (Canada), Ciril Bergles, Andrej Hočevar, Lidija Dimkovska (Macedonia), Eugene Savitzkaya (Belguim), Janez Ramoveš, Erika Vouk, Marian Milčak, Valerij Kupka, Daniel Pastirčak (all three are from Slovakia)

2004 Peter Semolič, Meta Kušar, Piotr Sommer (Poland), Patrick Woodcock (Canada), Katja Plut, Bastian Boettcher (Germany), Gustav Januš, Milan Jesih, Gearóid Mac Lochlainn (North Ireland)

Days of Poetry and Wine

Beethovnova 9/1

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

Tel: ++386 1 2510 332

Fax: ++386 1 2522 618

Contact

Aleš Šteger and Jana Skaza: info@medana.org

Days of Poetry and Wine is a gathering of young poets. The idea of the festival is the enabling a direct and unobstructed dialogue between the participants, as well as creating a fluid flow of information and poetic power between them and the public. This should lead to a better knowing and understanding of various poetical practices and of poetry written in different languages, on different meridians and cultural backgrounds.

Sponsored by The Student Publishing House in Ljubljana, The Brda Community, the Slovenian Ministry for Culture and the winegrowers from Medana, the festival takes place in Medana, a small village in the heart of one of the Europe's most fascinating vine-growers regions. Situated at the cross-roads of several cultures, with its idyllic image it provides an ideal environment for informal and constructive communication between the participants, while its tradition of wine production offers an additional argument for strengthening the poetic dialogue.

The dialogue is established through the various poetry readings. For these occasions we prepare a multilingual publication containing selected poems of the poets invited to the festival, both in the original language, and in English and Slovenian translations. In the daytime, informal dialogue may spring up among the participants. We try to encourage it by the accompanying programme, including trips, sightseeing, local food and wine (which is excellent!) presentations and numerous surprises. All the participants stay at the homes of the village winegrowers. Medana has almost no lodging facilities, apart from a few private rooms, and that is why we believe in establishing a genuine contact between the locals and their guests.

Full board and lodging is provided for all guests, along with the expenses relating to the programme (the drive from Ljubljana to Medana and back, the trips, etc.). However, our funds do not allow us to cover travel expenses to Ljubljana.

Another project, which we would like to draw your attention to at this point, runs simultaneously with the Days of Poetry and Wine festival. Slovenian translations (as a whole or only certain parts) will be printed on the labels for a small quantity of carefully chosen bottled wines produced in the Medana region, which will give the event an enological mark as well. All three versions (the original, the Slovenian and the English translations of the same poems) will be published in the previously mentioned publication and on our web-page www.poetryandwine.org. The Slovenian translation (or a part of it) will also appear on the bottles of the selected wines. Both projects are of non-profitable nature, serving exclusively for the internal purposes of the festival.

Participants of the recent Medanas:

1997 Aase Berg (Sweden), Marcel Beyer (Germany), Michael Donhauser (Austria), Helena Eriksson (Sweden), Thanassis Hadjopoulos (Greece), Norbert Hummelt (Germany), Vilja Kiisler (Estonia), Bod’co Lambovski (Bulgaria), Dimitri Laurent (France), Aurora Luque (Spain), Alberto Nocerino (Italy), Luciano Paronetto (Italy), Alberto Princis (Italy), Justin Quinn (Czech Republic), Jorge Riechmann / Natividad Corral (Spain), Goran Samardžić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Triin Soomets (Estonia), Jeanette Störte (Germany), Amiran Svimonishvili (Georgia), Paulo Teixeira (Portugal), Damir Uzunović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), István Vörös (Hungary), David Wheatley (Ireland), Fahrudin Zilkić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Andrew Zawacki (USA)

1998 Helga Glantschnig (Austria), Armin Senser (Switzerland), Gerhard Falkner (Germany), Anne Talvaz (France), Neringa Abrutyte (Lithuania), Eva Kristina Olsson (Sweden), Pamela Jaskoviak (Sweden), Rati Amaglobeli (Georgia), Nenad Jovanović (Yugoslavia), Vojislav Karanović (Yugoslavia), Ghada Shafi (Palestine), Sotiris Trivizas (Greece), Dimitris Huliarakis (Greece), Michele Obit (Italy), Roberto Russo (Italy), Ewa Sonnenberg (Poland), Lavinia Greenlaw (Great Britain), Leonid Kočetkov (Russia), Emir Šaković (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Kemény István (Hungary), Imreh András (Hungary) Slave Đorđo Dimovski (Macedonia), Sashka

Aleksandrova (Bulgaria), Radostina Grigorova (Bulgaria)

1999 Vadim Stepancov (Russia), Hans Eichorn (Austria), Orsolya Kalasz (Germany), Mario Benedetti (Italy), Oscar Leonel Ruiz (Mexico), Peter Šulej (Slovakia), Ervina Jahić (Croatia), Ivica Prtenjaca (Croatia), Eva Ribich (Sweden), Nataša Bunteska (Macedonia), Tita Reut (France), Mustafa Zvizdić (Bosnia), Brian Henry (USA), Peter Richards (USA), Nataša Zizović (Yugoslavia), Krzysztof Siwezyk (Poland), Adam Wiedemann (Poland), Janos Lackfi (Hungary), Gerald Zschorsch (Germany)

2001 Martin Solotruk (Slovakia), Raphael Urweider (Switzerland), Tatjana Gromača (Croatia), Osvald Egger (Austria), Tomasz Rozycki (Poland), Tadeusz Pióro (Poland), Matthew Rohrer (USA), Eduardo Zuccato (Italy), Alma Vallazza (Austria), Julie & Mark Randall Osborn (Germany), Kristina Ehin (Estonia), Daniel Banulescu (Romania), Virgil Banescu (Romania), Karl Martin Sinijarv (Estonia), Drago Glamuzina (Croatia), Joshua Beckman (USA), Matthew Zapruder (UK), Lucija Stupica (Slovenia), Klemen Pisk (Slovenia), Gregor Podlogar (Slovenia), Zilahy Peter (Hungary), Anni Sumari (Finland)

2002 Ann Lee Brown (USA), Krešimir Pintarić (Croatia), Monika Rinck (Germany), Melcion Mateu (Spain), Lidija Dimkovska (Macedonia), Jouni Inkala (Finland), Simona Popescu (Romania), Bartek Majzel (Poland), Tsanko Lalev Dulev (Bulgaria), Katja Plut (Slovenia), Horia Gârbea (Romania), Gaetano Longo (Italy), Asko Künnap (Estonia), Mariusz Grzebalski (Poland), Cristine Hume (USA), Thomas S. Butkus (Lithuania), Salajdin Salihu (Albania), Eleni Sikelianos (USA), Fabjan Hafner (Slovenia/Austria), Edvin Raups, Michael Stauffer (Switzerland), Sujata Bhatt (India)

2003 Kemal Mujičić (Croatia), Katarína Kucbelová (Slovakia), Kerry Shawn Keys, (USA), Sonata Paliulyte (Lithuania), Uroš Mozetič (Slovenia), Pawel Lekszycki, (Poland), Hendrik Jackson (Germany), Mihail Galatanu (Romania), Peter Svetina (Slovenia), Sigurbjörg Thrastardóttir (Iceland), Pavle Goranović (Montenegro), Tomas Butkus (Lithuania), Jyrki Kiiskinen (Finland), Tone Škrjanec (Slovenia), Marta Podgórnik (Poland), Nikola Madžirov (Macedonia), Stanislava Chrobáková Repar (Slovakia), Sebastiŕ Alzamora (Spain), Sabina Naef (Switzerland), Asmir Kujović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Kateřina Rudčenková (Czech Republic), Jan Koneffke (Germany), Rodica Draghincescu (Romania), Fabio Franzin (Italy), Barbara Korun (Slovenia)

2004 Jovica Ivanovski (Macedonia), Joan-Elies Adell (Spain), Robi Simonišek (Slovenia) ,Violeta Hristova (Bulgaria), Matteo Lefčvre (Italia), Renata Valentić (Croatia), Bogdan Trojak(Czech Republic), Anja Utler (Germany), Caitriona O’reilly (Ireland), Tamás Jónás (Hungary), Marko Samec (Slovenia), Edward Pasewicz (Poland), Julius Kerelas (Lithuania), Jurij Andruhovič (Ukraine), Anna T. Szabó (Hungary), Matthew Hollis (England), Lauri Otonkoski (Finland), Mugur Grosu (Romania), Margerit Kreidl (Austria), Andraž Polič (Slovenia), Julija Fiedorczuk (Poland), Christian Uetz (Switzerland), Jure Jakob (Slovenia), Immanuel Mifsud (Malta),Petr Hruška (Češka), Rebecca O’connor (England), Gemma Gorga I López (Spain), Ioan Flora (Romani)