Writer in the Park
Ljubljana UNESCO City of Literature International Literary Residency

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, was a World Book Capital in 2010. After being awarded a UNESCO City of Literature in 2015, it joined a growing world-wide network of cities and committed to actively promote literature, reading culture, and engage in activities that would strengthen the collaboration in the field of writing and publishing. 

Ljubljana bursts with a vibrant art scene and offers an array of diverse literary events from alternative performances to big international festivals. The highly regarded residency, established in 2018, offers peace and quiet for uninterrupted writing, yet it also offers the possibility to actively engage in the city’s literary life.

Note: Part of the application is a mandatory letter of recommendation, signed by an organization from your chosen City of Literature. A Google account is required for the file upload to work.

Deadline for submissions: January 7, 2023.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/DHhLMDmaAx65Y1KN9

 
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
One month per residency/applicant. Possible periods are as follows (dates cannot be changed, but a shorter stay is possible if necessary as a result of travel arrangements):
June 1–30, 2023
October 17 – November 17, 2023 

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. This means the applicant was or has been living in one of the other cities of literature or is related to a city of literature through work. For reference, consult the list of eligible cities.

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, nationality or other personal/aesthetic preferences. Though writers of all genres are currently welcome to apply, a specific focus might be chosen for calls in the following years.

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 that can be sent to the applicant upon request). Each resident will stay in their own, separate and fully equipped apartment with a kitchenette at Švicarija, along with other artists-residents, artists, and exhibitions hosted at the premises.

Local public transportation costs will be covered, including airport transfer (Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport). Access to the Internet will be provided. Through targeted activities and networking possibilities, suited to each resident’s profile, the organisers will help them get to know the vibrant art and literary scene in Ljubljana. If requested, opportunities for public presentation of the residents’ work will be made possible, as well as meetings with translators, editors, other writers etc. if necessary and/or applicable. During the resident’s stay, some group activities, such as meetings with the organizer, publishers etc., may be scheduled. 
Residents are required to take care of medical insurance and are responsible for their meals and household. Additional guests cannot be hosted.

What we expect
The resident is encouraged to show an interest, and partake, in local literary events and other related activities – which will be coordinated according to other local events as well as the needs and interests of the given resident. However, if the resident so wishes, they may request not to be distracted in order to use the time and space for writing. 

Location
Švicarija/Swisshouse Creative Centre is a cultural, educational and social hub located in the heart of Ljubljana’s central park – situated just a few steps from the city centre – which offers public programmes, studio facilities for local artists, and residencies for international artists and experts. Švicarija is part of MGLC – International Centre of Graphic Arts, a specialised museum, producer of printed and contemporary art, and provider of artist residencies, based on the heritage of the 20th century art of printing and Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, world’s oldest printmaking biennale which has been running uninterrupted since 1955.

The rather spacious building might seem empty at times or crowded at others, depending on current exhibitions and the number of residents or artists currently working in their studios. In general, Švicarija is marked by a creative, if particular, atmosphere. Peaceful and serene because of the closeness of nature, yet vibrat because of it’s artistic program and the proximity to the city centre.

Downstairs, Švicarija includes a restaurant which might host wedding receptions on Saturdays during summer months. If you think such events might interfere with your work, opt for the autumn timeframe. 

Note: Švicarija is located at the edge of the forest. Though it’s very close to the city centre, it can be reached only on foot (except for prearranged arrival and departure). It’s a short walking distance, but requires walking uphill through the park.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/DHhLMDmaAx65Y1KN9

Writers from the cities of literature (that is, also Ljubljana) will be connected as residents with 10 organizations in Melbourne. There they will then have certain tasks, they will write something, attend a workshop, participate in a conversation and/or manage their social networks .

A virtual resident receives A$2,000.

The application deadline is August 28, 2022.

More information and terms and conditions are available at: https://cityofliterature.com.au/virtual-writer-residence
 

A conversation about jazz and books with Miha Zadnikar, Ičo Vidmar and Gregor Podlogar offered some answers about what to read and why to read books about jazz at all.



At the festival venue, we also set up a bookshelf with a selection of books to browse during the festival events, thereby inviting creators and visitors of the Ljubljana Jazz Festival to read.

The accompanying literary program of the Ljubljana Jazz Festival is prepared by the office of Ljubljana, UNESCO City of Literature and in co-production with Cankarjev dom / Jazz festival Ljubljana.

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!