Our Offices & Partners Abroad

Category: Literature

© Dmitrij Gawrisch
Literature

Near Freezing Point at Ledig House

In Autumn 2017, dramatist and prose writer Dmitrij Gawrisch spent one month at Ledig House in Ghent/New York. The location is run by an NPO and hosts international artists, who are tended by a grandmotherly lady. Around ten authors are in residence there at any one time, and they can dedicate themselves fully to writing. …

14.08.2018
Zora del Buono in Split
Literature

Split, canine attraction

In partnership with Traduki – the European network for translation, literature and books – and Pro Helvetia, Zora del Buono spent four weeks in 2017 together with her dog Mica in residency in Split (Croatia). The text produced there gives an account of her residency experience and tells the story of people she got to …

28.06.2018
«Bahnverkehr Leukerbad» © Leukerbad Tourismus
Literature

Leukerbad International Literature Festival

The 2018 Leukerbad International Literature Festival is being held from 29 June to 1 July. One of the special features at this year’s event in the Valais mountain resort is that no fewer than five Swiss authors whose latest work was realised with the help of a work grant from Pro Helvetia will be there …

21.06.2018
Literature

Promotion of Swiss books abroad

Besides sponsoring the presence of Swiss authors at international book fairs, Pro Helvetia also supports projects that help raise international awareness of Swiss books. Examples include programmes with a special focus on Switzerland or the presence of a delegation of Swiss publishers at international book and literature events. Further examples and details can be found …

19.06.2018
Stimmung Fabiano Alborghetti / Solothurner Literaturtage
Literature

Solothurn – Switzerland’s capital of literature

The Solothurner Literaturtage festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year from 11 to 13 May. To mark the jubilee, a special evening programme has been created with literary discoveries to be made in bars and restaurants and on squares in the old town centre of Solothurn. The traditional festival programme features over 70 Swiss …

03.05.2018
Atrium EÜK Straelen
Literature

Translating in residence

Pro Helvetia is offering residency grants in conjunction with the Europäisches Übersetzer-Kollegium (EÜK) in Straelen and the Collège International des Traducteurs Littéraires (CITL) in Arles. The offer is aimed at literary translators from Switzerland and international translators of Swiss literature. They can apply for residencies of various lengths in Straelen and Arles to work on …

15.03.2018
Francfort en français, Frankfurter Buchmesse 2017
Literature

Swiss literature in Frankfurt

Following the invitation of France, Switzerland participated in the «Francfort en français» programme at the 69th Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2017 with well-received contributions by 12 authors from the French-speaking part of the country, the Romandie. As guest of honour at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair from 10 to 15 October, France placed the …

16.11.2017
Literature

«Have you also written anything?»

Patric Marino in Split (Croatia), August 2016 In the summer of 2016, I spent one month as a writer in residence in Split, Croatia, yet the impression remains that I could just as well have gone to Rimini to write in peace and become acquainted with a new culture. Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the experience, …

29.06.2017
Literature

I consider travelling an essential part of being a writer

Michael Fehr at Sangam House, India, January 2017 I spent one month as a writer and performer in India and Sri Lanka. My perceptions are an important source for my thoughts and for the flights of fancy which, born from these thoughts, then take on a life of their own. This sphere of the imagination …

15.05.2017
Literature

Literary get-together in Solothurn

Three days dedicated entirely to literature: As every year, the Ascension weekend is when literary practitioners and aficionados from Switzerland and beyond gather for the Solothurner Literaturtage. This year’s 39th edition brings together around 70 authors from all four linguistic regions in Switzerland for a literary tour d’horizon. Guest writers from abroad include Shumona Sinha …

11.05.2017
Literature

Mentoring programme: Camille Luscher

Arno Camenisch, «Sez Ner», Editions d’en bas, 2009. Translated by Camille Luscher in collaboration with Marion Graf as mentor. When Jean Richard from the publisher Editions d’en bas contacted me to suggest that I should undertake the translation of «Sez Ner» by Arno Camenisch with the support of a mentoring programme, I immediately accepted without …

12.04.2017
Literature

Russia, yesterday and today: Podcasts from the «Days of Russian Literature»

Did you miss the «Days of Russian Literature» in Zurich? Then we recommend you listen to the podcasts which Literaturhaus Zürich made of them. Bringing together authors, translators, literary critics and scientists from Russia and Switzerland, the « top-class » event, as wrote the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, attracted a large audience. The discussions were highly engaged and …

03.03.2017