5 – 14 April 2018, various locations
More info here.
The first ever European Poetry Festival will present ten events in three British cities, in under two weeks, from April 5th to April 14th 2018. Over 50 poets from 23 countries will take part, many visiting, many residents of the UK.
It will be a pioneering showcase of live literature, including collaboration and performance, and aims at no less than to begin a tradition – an annual festival in the UK, that shares the best of 21st century European and British poetry across the country. It will seize upon a resurgent and vital interest in European culture and tap into a renaissance currently taking place across the continent in avant-garde and literary poetry. The festival is about innovation as well as community, in that the more hospitable the happening, the more challenging the work on display is free to be.
With support from over a dozen European and UK institutes, from Arts Council England to Kingston University, and crossing over the London Bookfair, European Poetry Festival will evidence the potential of modern European poetry to be remarkable when witnessed live.
The festival is curated by SJ Fowler www.stevenjfowler.com
Programme:
April Thursday 5th : European Poetry at Writers’ Centre Kingston : Rose Theatre
Opening the festival by the River Thames with readings from nearly a dozen European poets.
April Saturday 7th : The European Camarade : Rich Mix
The grand event of the festival. 30 poets in 15 pairs present brand new collaborations made for the night.
April Sunday 8th : Performance Literature & Sound Poetry : Parasol Unit
Celebrating innovation in live literature with new solo performances by a dozen of Europe’s most considerable avant-garde poets.
April Monday 9th : Lithuanian Poetry in collaboration : The Poetry Cafe
Lithuanian and British poets collaborate and share new works at the home of The Poetry Society in London, joined by many other festival poets.
April Tuesday 10th : Versopolis poets in focus : London Bookfair
Lithuanian and British poets celebrate the pan-European poetry platform and review, Versopolis.
April Wednesday 11th : Polyphonic : Romanian Cultural Institute
A multimedia poetry show celebrating the Centenary of Greater Romania with readings by ten of the most talented Romanian poets.
April Thursday 12th : Austrian Poetry in collaboration : Austrian Cultural Forum
Austrian and British poets collaborate and share new works just off Hyde Park in the heart of London, joined by many other festival poets
April Friday 13th : The European Camarade in Liverpool
The festival leaves London and presents a night of new collaborations between poets local to Liverpool and those visiting from across Europe.
April Saturday 14th : The European Camarade in Middlesbrough : MIMA
The festival closes in the North East of England, where once more European poets will present collaborations with their English counterparts, many local to the area.