7 April @ 7:30pm
European Poetry Festival: The European Camarade
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Sergejs Timofejevs
30 poets in 15 pairs presenting brand new collaborations of literary performance made especially for the night. The Camarade is a way to bring together dozens of European poets to London to collaborate, perform and to build connections that will last for decades.
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6LA
Free entry
8 April @ 6.00pm
Parthian Baltic poetry launch
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writers Madara Gruntmane, Eduards Aivars and Krišjānis Zeļģis
An evening of poetry and beer-tasting to kick off London Book Fair 2018 and celebrate the launch of Parthian Baltic, an exciting series of books showcasing the best writing from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Each country’s poetry will be accompanied by a sample of its finest beer for a real Baltic sensory treat!
Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JB
8 April @ 7:30pm doors, 8pm start
European Poetry Festival: Performance Literature & Sound Poetry
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Sergejs Timofejevs
European poetry is going through a remarkable renaissance in avant-garde and innovative practise. A series of poets explore the possibilities of performance, liveness, space, time and sound. This event is a unique opportunity to witness first-hand the possibilities of an old art in a new century.
IKLECTIK, Old Paradise Yard, 20 Carlisle Lane, London SE1 7LG
Free entry
9 April @ 2:30pm
Reading and a workshop for children by Luīze Pastore
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Luīze Pastore
Award-winning Latvian author Luīze Pastore will be running a workshop and talking about her new book Dog Town. Dog Town is a charming adventure story, full of surprises, wisdom and humour. It is Pastore`s debut in English published by Firefly Press Ltd.
For ages 8-12s
Moon Lane Ink, 300 Stanstead Road, London SE23 1DE
9 April @ 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Being Baltic: At the crossroads of influence
Latvian writers participating Latvian writer Nora Ikstena
Explore the literary influences of European, Russian and Nordic cultures on contemporary Baltic authors! Three leading Baltic writers – Mihkel Mutt (Estonia), Nora Ikstena (Latvia) and Kristina Sabaliauskaitė (Lithuania) – join the discussion!
Knowledge Centre, British Library, 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB
10 April – 20 May @ 9.30am – 6.30pm daily
Pop Up Creators Exhibition
Latvian writers participating: Latvian illustrators including Liāna Mihailova, Pauls Rietums, Roberts Rūrāns, Vivianna Marija Staņislavska, Zane Zlemeša, Sanita Muižniece
Pop Up Creators is an international exchange of 18 professional illustrators across the UK, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania working with multilingual groups of talented emerging artists. Guided by their mentors, the 150 young artists produced illustrated leporellos, published by Nobrow, Päike Ja Pilv, kuš! and the Vilnius Academy of Arts Publishing House.
Royal Over-Sees League, 5 Park Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1LR
10 April @ 10am – 11am
London Book Fair Seminar: Pushing the limits of graphic stories: spotlight on the Pop-Up creators project
Latvian writers participating: Latvian editor and artist Sanita Muižniece (magazine KUŠ!)
Join a panel of artists, mentors, tutors and publishers from the project to discuss their experience of the process and the main outcomes from it. The panel will explore how the innovative and eccentric styles of these young artists push the limits of the genre.
Children’s Hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
10 April @ 10am – 11am
London Book Fair Seminar: From promotion to pitching seminar
Latvian writers participating: Latvian literary agent Vilis Kasims
This panel explores how publishers choose which books to translate and how literary translators and cultural institutes can influence these choices. The panel will discuss how publishers, translators and cultural institutes can work together – from pitching through editing to promotion.
Literary Translation Centre, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
10 April @ 11:30am – 12.30pm
London Book Fair Seminar: Translating illustrated children’s books: the challenges of text and image seminar
Latvian writers participating: Alīse Nīgale, director of the publishing house “Liels un mazs”
In many beloved children’s books, text and illustration are inseparable. This poses a range of problems for translators and editors: what to? Join Emma Wright of the Emma Press, alongside Latvian publisher Alīse Nīgale, translation specialist Lawrence Schimel, and picturebook publisher Greet Pauwelijn for a discussion of how to get things across.
Cross-Cultural hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
10 April @ 1pm – 2pm
London Book Fair Seminar: Get connected to Baltic books! Publishing markets in the Baltics
Latvian writers participating: Renāte Punka, the president of the Latvian Publishers Association
When looking on the region, a usual question for an outsider is whether you can consider the Baltics as one market, or whether there are three separate markets.
Come and learn about Baltic book markets!
Cross-Cultural hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
10 April @ 1pm – 2pm
London Book Fair Seminar: A dialogue between poets: Baltic and UK poets explore memory and history
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Kārlis Vērdiņš
Maarja Kangro (Estonia), Kārlis Vērdiņš (Latvia) – the author of six collections of poetry for adults and children, containing work that is gentle, vivid and intimate as it explores ideas of coming to terms with one’s self and Tomas Venclova (Lithuania) will discuss the political and aesthetic dimension of memory and history alongside British poets and chaired by Ellen Hinsey.
Poets’ Corner, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
10 April @ 4pm – 5pm
British Council Seminar: Revealed or lost in translation: literature from the Baltics
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Kārlis Vērdiņš
How much can be ‘lost’ or ‘revealed’ by translation? And how can we translate different genres such as poetry, folk songs, and dialects? Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian are very different languages, and their idiosyncrasies make them undeniably challenging to translate. Latvian writer Kārlis Vērdiņš and Estonian writer Maarja Kangro discuss their experiences.
Literary Translation Centre, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
10 April @ 7pm
Band Sigma concert “Mythemes”
This year, Latvian indie-rock band “Sigma” is releasing its second album “Mythologies”, especially significant for the fact that all song lyrics are written by well-known Latvian poets – Kārlis Vērdiņš, Inese Zandere, Marts Pujāts, Anna Auziņa, Jānis Rokpelnis, Inga Gaile and Uldis Bērziņš. Sigma will be performing songs in Latvian and English to celebrate Latvia’s participation at The London Book Fair 2018 and Latvia’s Centenary.
St Ethelburga’s, The Nave, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG
Free entry
11 April @ 9.15 AM
Literary breakfast with Introvert Latvian writers
Latvian writers participating: Madara Gruntmane, Artis Ostups, Sergej Timofejev
Start your LBF morning with literary discoveries and join us at the Baltic café for networking breakfast! We’ll be sharing some of the new Latvian titles coming out over the year in the UK. It’s a great chance to meet some of our writers and hear more from Latvia about the exciting literary adventures that await you. Breakfast pastries, tea and coffee will be offered.
Baltic Café, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 10am – 11am
British Council Seminar: Finding new voices: children’s literature from the Baltics
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Luīze Pastore
Each of the Baltic countries has a flourishing children’s book market, previously little known in the UK. This panel discussion explores the publication choices of several UK children’s publishers and introduces the authors / illustrators and the books they have chosen to publish.
Children’s Hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 11:30am – 12.30pm
London Book Fair Seminar: Promoting reading – experience and ideas in the Baltics
Participating: Silvija Tretjakova, director of the Children’s Literature Centre of National Library of Latvia
At the seminar, each of the Baltic countries will present activities for promoting reading that have been designed for different audiences in order to involve them in reading, boost their imagination, and develop a joy for reading in an era of new challenges.
Children’s Hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 12am – 1pm
London Book Fair Book launch: children’s book “Dog Town” by Luīze Pastore
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Luīze Pastore
Award-winning Latvian author`s Luize Pastore’s debut in English, published by Firefly Press Ltd..
Wales stand (5C129), London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April 1pm – 1:30pm
PEN Salon: Baltics Author of the Day- Nora Ikstena in conversation with Claire Armitstead
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Nora Ikstena
Guardian journalist Claire Armitstead will be exploring the background of one of the most astonishing Latvian literature voices – Nora Ikstena.
English PEN literary salon, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 2:30pm – 3:30pm
British Council Seminar: Interpreting cultures: Russia, Europe and the West
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Sergejs Timofejevs (Orbita)
Sergejs Timofejevs is a member of the Latvian Russian poetry collective Orbita. Orbita not only creates multimedia poetic work but actively seeks to create dialogues between Russian and Latvian speaking authors. In conversation with Estonian-born Andrei Ivanov and Sasha Dugdale, they will discuss the Russian language, and what it can give an author that other languages cannot, as well as its limitations.
Cross-Cultural hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 4pm – 5pm
British Council Seminar: Transformations: women’s writing from the edges
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Nora Ikstena
Nora Ikstena’s novel “Soviet Milk”, a Latvian bestseller recently translated into English, looks at the lives of three women – daughter, mother and grandmother – during twenty years of socialist rule. UK writer Alys Conran, who has worked with disadvantaged groups to increase access to creative writing, examines the roles of the voiceless in society and will join Latvian and Lithuanian writer to discuss women’s writing.
Cross-Cultural hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 4pm – 5pm
London Book Fair Seminar: Educational Publishing in the Baltics: from Soviet state-sponsored textbooks to digital learning, and teaching materials in 30 years
Latvian writers participating: Sintija Buhanovska, the Head of E-Learning Materials, Publishing house “Zvaigzne ABC”
This year, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are celebrating the centenary of their independence. Independent statehood, however, was in all three countries reinstated short of thirty years ago. The process involved many reforms in all walks of life, education included, and necessitated the introduction of a new educational programme, new curricula, new study materials. In what way has educational publishing developed during these thirty years?
The Faculty, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 4pm – 6pm
Book launch: “Classical Modernism. Early 20th Century Latvian painting” by Dr Dace Lamberga
“Neputns” Publishers art patrons Dina and Jānis Zuzāni (Latvia) and Calvert 22 Foundation invite you to the launch event of the book by art historian Dr Dace Lamberga.
Listen about the art book publishing in Latvia by “Neputns”, book launch and drinks reception.
Calvert 22 Foundation, 22 Calvert Avenue, London E2 7JP
Free entry
11 April @ 5pm – 6pm
Book launch: children’s book “UciPuci”
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Zane Zuste
Reading from series of “Ucipuci is looking for home” and “Ucipuci thinks outside the box” by Latvian author Zane Zusta. Children will be able to interact in the workshop after the reading.
London Latvian House, 72 Queensborough Terrace, London W2 3SH
Free entry
11 April @ 5:15pm – 6:15pm
London Book Fair Seminar: Translator mentorship presentation
Latvian writers participating: Latvian translator Mārta Ziemelis
Writers’ Centre Norwich invites you to join us in celebration of the work of our literary translation mentorships programme 2018. Featuring for the first time emerging translators working from Latvian, Lithuanian, Korean and Malayalam, as well as Arabic, Catalan, Greek, Polish and Norwegian, the reception will showcase an impressive array of new talent with publications and presentations.
Literary Translation Centre, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 5:30pm
London Book Fair Seminar: Created in Latvia: writer Imants Ziedonis as a brand of freedom, joy and creativity
Latvian writers participating: Foundation “Viegli”: Goran Gora, Renārs Kaupers, Žanete Grende, Dace Zariņa
Poet Imants Ziedonis is considered a legendary figure in Latvia. As a young poet during the Soviet occupation, he understood that his calling was to write, so with the power of the word he could preserve and strengthen Latvia’s identity. Readings and events he participated in were always special occasions, with several thousand people in attendance. In order to honour his work, several Latvian celebrities came together to form Viegli Foundation, which embodies his ideas in the form of music, books, concerts, and campaigns.
The Club Room, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
11 April @ 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Film: Knutification + Q&A with poet Kārlis Vērdiņš and film director Ivars Tontegode
Documentary film about Latvian writer and poet Knuts Skujenieks whose works were published, but forbidden until the fall of the Soviet Union. Since then his works are translated into more than 30 languages, but has only made it into English recently.
Prior the screening, join a discussion with the poet and translator Kārlis Vērdiņš, along with the director of the film Ivars Tontegode. The discussion will be moderated by visual artist and filmmaker Simons Puriņš.
Cine Lumiere, Queensberry Place 17, London SW72
12 April @ 10am-11am
British Council Seminar: Writing the city: Baltic spaces, British places
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Inga Ābele
What attracts writers to cities, and what is it about a city that inspires writers? Lithuanian author Kristina Sabaliauskaitė joins Latvian poet, prose writer and playwright Inga Ābele. Abele’s work is known for the deep psychological portraits of her characters, and the effect of the space they find themselves in on their narratives. Estonian author Vahni Capildeo attempts to “remake” herself in modern cities. Chaired by Steven Fowler, who works on cross-national poetry collaborations through the Enemies project
Cross-Cultural hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
12 April @ 11:30am – 12:30am
London Book Fair Seminar: Presentation of the main literary events and literary residencies in the Baltics
Participating: Juta Pīrāga (platform “Latvian Literature”)
Are literary events just about books? What is their purpose? Is it to see our favourite authors on stage, hear them read from their books and engage in conversation? The Baltic countries host a wide range of literary events and speakers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will provide a snapshot of literary activity in the Baltic region – from festivals and book fairs to writing residencies.
High Street Theatre, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
12 April @ 1pm – 2:15pm
London Bok Fair Seminar: Why print your books in the Baltic countries?
Latvian writers participating: Ģirts Karlsons, head of sales, printing house “Jelgavas Tipogrāfija”
Printing industry representatives from all three Baltic countries discuss recent developments in the sector and the mechanisms of coping under new circumstances and new pressures. Discuss why printing in the Baltics offers distinct advantages – affordability, proximity, expertise – and why you should consider it as an option for your future print needs.
Buzz Theatre, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
12 April @ 1pm – 1:30pm
PEN Salon: Inga Abele in conversation with Nicolette Jones
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Inga Ābele
Inga Ābele in conversation with writer, critic and broadcaster Nicolette Jones discuss Ābele’s writing and powerful emotional imagery that she spread through her plays and prose.
English PEN literary salon, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
12 April @ 1pm – 2pm
British Council Seminar: Through a child’s eyes: Baltic and UK perspectives on fiction writing
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writers Nora Ikstena and Luīze Pastore
Claire Armitstead chairs discussion about writing stories from childhood, or from the perspective of a child. Recent novels by Latvian writer Nora Ikstena and Lithuanian author Alvydas Šlepikas have both explored childhoods lived out under oppressive regimes. The writers will discuss the similarities and differences in their work, and the effects of childhood on later life.
Cross-Cultural hub, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
12 April @ 2:30pm – 3:30pm
London Book Fair: How to reheat leftover soup and recycle 4 poetry
Latvian writers participating: Latvian author and director Maira Dobele
M. Dobele presents her project recycling4poetry. It is a series of 12 short films with Latvian poems. When sequenced one after the other, these 12 short films almost by chance grew into an algorithm of life – a life story. The film series is inspired by Latvian poetry and the work of diary filmmakers Philip Hoffman and Dagie Brundert.
Poets’ Corner, London Book Fair, Olympia, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX
12 April @ 7pm – 8pm
Children of History
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Nora Ikstena
Grandparents, mothers, fathers and children – at its heart, the idea of a family should be universal. But in reality, how does a country’s history or identity affect its idea of family? Where do different cultures agree on their views of motherhood, fatherhood and childhood, and where do they differ?
Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 3GA
12 April @ 8pm – 9:30pm
World Poets Series
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Kārlis Vērdiņš
Join this one-off event with visiting Baltic poets. The evening will showcase three of the most celebrated poets from the Baltic states, Maarja Kangro (Estonia), Kārlis Vērdiņš (Latvia) and Tomas Venclova (Lithuania). The poets read from their work and discuss the poetry scene in their respective countries.
National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue side, Royal Festival Hall, London SE1 8XX
13 April @ 2pm – 4pm
Story Cafe: Baltic writers
Latvian writers participating: Latvian Writer Inga Ābele
Discover the joy of being read at the legendary lunchtime Story Cafe, immerse yourselves in tales of life, love and longing by the best women writers from across the globe.
Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, Glasgov G40 1BP
13 April @ 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Latvia: Image Music Text
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Kristīne Ulberga, Latvian author and director Maira Dobele, musician Anete Graudiņa
Acclaimed author Kristīne Ūlberga will be reading from her astonishing new novel “The Green Crow”, published by Peter Owen, followed by a series of 12 short films created by writer and filmmaker Maira Dobele, and traditional Latvian music from Anete Graudina. The event will be followed by reception where guests will have a chance to talk to the artists.
Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
Free entry
13 April @ 7pm
The Book of Riga launch at Housmans
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writers Svens Kuzmins and Dace Rukšāne
In the year in which Latvia celebrates a centenary as an independent state, we bring you stories which demonstrate how Riga has established itself as a vibrant creative centre, attracting artists, performers and writers from across the region and beyond. This rare showcase of contemporary Latvian writing gathers together stories by some of the country’s finest writers, chronicling the city’s continuing growth and transformation after centuries of foreign rule.
Housmans Booksellers, 5 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9DX
13 April @ 7pm
European Poetry Festival: The European Camarade in Manchester
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Inga Pizāne
Bringing together some of the finest modern poets of the thriving Manchester scene in collaborative pairs with writers visiting from Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, France, Germany and Italy, this special Camarade event will present dynamic new duets of live literature made especially for the night.
The International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Engine House, Chorlton Mill. 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester M1 5BY
Free entry
13 April @ 6:30 – 8:30pm
Hit the Ode
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Kārlis Vērdiņš
Apples and Snakes presents Hit the Ode, Birmingham’s premier poetry night. Every month, Hit the Ode brings the most exciting poets from the region, the country and the world to the heart of Birmingham. Join us at our new home, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome for poems from all across the world. We have poems and lots of them. Poems to ruffle feathers and caress your heart strings. Poems that will challenge your nan to a hip-hop cypher. Poems that taste like hot cocoa. Good poems. Great Poems. Come and get them.
Patrick Centre at Birmingham Hippodrome
14 April @4pm – 6pm
Up the Baltick, a talk by Mike Collier
Mike Collier is a writer and journalist who has lived in Latvia for 11 years. Mike’s recent book, Up the Baltick. is presented as a remarkable literary find.
Latvian House, 72 Queensborough Terrace, London W2 3SH
14 April @ 7pm
European Poetry Festival : The European Camarade in Middlesbrough
Latvian writers participating: Latvian writer Inga Pizāne
Bringing together some of the finest modern poets of the thriving North East scene in collaborative pairs with writers visiting from Norway, Latvia, Germany and Italy, this special Camarade event will present dynamic new duets of live literature made especially for the night.
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Centre Square, Middlesbrough TS1 2AZ
Free entry
14 April @7pm – 10 pm
Concert of Imants Ziedonis Foundation “Viegli”
Imants Ziedonis Foundation “Viegli” was established in the spring of 2010 with the aim to pursue the mission dear to the patron of the Foundation, poet Imants Ziedonis, – “Latvia is an incredibly beautiful land, but such beauty needs help to shine.”
The Foundation promots and implements the ideas and values of Imants Ziedonis, continues to support creative and unusual ideas, and organizes public projects that reveal the beauty of Latvia.
154 Holland Park Avenue, London, W11 4UH