WALTIC Conference

Some readers of this blog might be interested in the WALTIC conference that will take place in Stockholm this summer. Here is some information I received:

Welcome to WALTIC – the Value of Words!
A global arena for collaboration, creating opinion and achieving change

In June 2008, the Swedish Writers’ Union will launch WALTIC - the Value of Words, the first literary world congress of its kind. Between 29 June and 2 July 2008 one thousand writers, translators and scholars will gather for a mutual manifestation of the value of words and in support of human rights.

The key philosophy of WALTIC is to consider literature as a source of knowledge with political strength. The written word and the inherent power of the narrative is the basis for global society as a whole. That is why, in the words of Philip Pullman, “dictators and tyrants hate literature: the secret democracy of reading is too strong for them to withstand.” It is our conviction that the writers and translators of the world play an important role as mediators of knowledge, creators of opinion and as achievers of public change.

WALTIC will focus on three urgent global issues: Literacy, Intercultural dialogue and Digitalisation. The program offers a wealth of seminars, lectures and best practices. Among the speakers you will find leading writers and scholars as well as translators and innovative poets – with even numbers of women and men represented.

WALTIC will take a stand to: Increase literacy, safeguard freedom of expression, and strengthen authors’ rights.

We hope to see you in Stockholm at WALTIC 2008!

Call for Best Practice & Call for Stories now open!

Call for Best Practice
The Best Practice program will include a number of topics that concern writers and literary translators, as well as practical work related to the main themes of WALTIC. The program will hold everything from Writers’ and Translators’ Issues and Creative Writing to Literacy and Intercultural Exchange.

Call for Stories
WALTIC is a unique literary congress insofar as it also engages high-profile academics from around the world. Alongside independent writers and translators, we therefore particularly encourage researchers and academics to share their work within WALTIC’s exclusive Stories program.

The oral presentations are 15 or 30 minutes for both programs and submitters are welcome to indicate their preference. For more information and topics, see www.waltic.com

Deadline for on-line submission 3 March, 2008

Resident of a low-income country? Please look into the WALTIC scholarship program.

WALTIC 2008 is arranged in close co-operation with SIDA, The Swedish National Commission for UNESCO and SI (Svenska Institutet)