Versopolis – Where Poetry Lives

Participants: Aljaž Koprivnikar, Uroš Prah, Eka Kevanishvili, Martin Piekar, Valentina Colonna, Dejan Aleksić and Alen Bešić

Moderator: José F. A. Oliver

Summary:

Versopolis, the European platform for poetry, will present its achievements and future goals, alongside a conversation on the state of European poetry and readings by selected Versopolis poets. Join the discovery of poetry with Versopolis!

Description:

Versopolis is a European platform for poetry, creating new opportunities for emerging European poets and bringing together European poetry festivals, with the mission of a future in which poetry and art are deeply integrated into the cultural fabric of Europe, transcending linguistic, cultural and physical borders and fostering meaningful connections between different literary communities and authorial poetics. The platform, which was developed in Slovenia, this year's Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair, and is managed by Beletrina Academic Press, today hosts 34 diverse European festivals and is home to more than 380 poets, from 47 countries, creating in more than 42 world languages. The presentation of the platform, as part of the Slovenian guest appearance at the Frankfurt Book Fair, will provide an in-depth insight into the activities of Versopolis, revealing its goals, achievements and the unique support it provides to emerging poetic talent. Participants will learn how a project that started in Slovenia has expanded its horizons and today fosters connections between poets, individual festivals and poetry lovers in Europe and around the world. An introductory presentation of the platform and a short talk in which selected representatives of the partner festivals and poets from the Versopolis network will discuss the current state of contemporary European poetry, its translation and the dialogue between different poetics and cultures, will be rounded off by a poetry reading that will enrich the event with expressive poetics of contemporary European literature in its diversity. We invite you to immerse yourself in the spirit of collaboration of European poetry, in its nuances, and to join us in a comprehensive exploration of what Versopolis has to offer to the world of contemporary poetry.

Co-organiser: Beletrina Academic Press

Aljaž Koprivnikar

Aljaž Koprivnikar (1987, Ljubljana) is a Slovenian poet, critic and organizer. With academic interests in early 20th century art and literature, he is completing his PhD at Charles University. He is the main coordinator of Versopolis and is involved in several international literary organisations.

Uroš Prah (1988, Maribor) is a Slovenian poet, editor and translator whose work has gained international recognition. His poetry collections, including the recently published "Udor", have been nominated for prestigious awards such as the Simon Jenko and Veronika Poetry Prizes. His work has been translated into several languages and appears in various international anthologies.

Mikael Vogel

Mikael Vogel (1975, Germany) is a prolific German poet and author of six volumes of poetry and one novella. Vogel has received several awards, including the RAI South Tyrol Media Prize. He has also been a writer-in-residence in Hausach. Two of his poems were included in Friederike Mayröcker's list of her 25 favourite poems of all time.

Martin Piekar

Martin Piekar (1990, Bad Soden am Taunus) is a German-Polish poet known for his raw emotional intensity. A graduate in philosophy and history, Piekar finds his muse in the urban life of Frankfurt. His work ranges from the interpersonal to the political, making him a compelling voice in modern German literature.

Valentina Colonna

Valentina Colonna (1990, Turin) is an Italian poet and composer. She has a Master's degree in both ancient literature and piano. Her poems have been translated into several languages and presented at international festivals. Colonna is also pursuing a PhD in Digital Humanities.

Dejan Aleksić

Dejan Aleksić (1972, Serbia) is a leading Serbian poet and children's author. Aleksić has won numerous awards in Serbia and abroad and is the editor-in-chief of the Povelja publishing house. Several of his works are part of the Serbian school curriculum.

Alen Bešić

Alen Bešić (1975, Bihac) is a Bosnian poet, literary critic and essayist. With an MA in Serbian literature, he has been editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Polja since 2007. His work often includes translations from English.

José F. A. Oliver

José F.A. Oliver (1961, Germany) is a German poet of Spanish origin who has published over 14 volumes of poetry. Oliver is an influential intercultural writer and has been awarded Germany's prestigious Adalbert von Chamisso Prize and the Heinrich Böll Prize.