Latvian Literature platform has received a record number of applications from publishers for publishing literature abroad / Day

This year, 53 applications were received to support the grant program for the translation of Latvian literature, which is approximately 40% more than last year, when 31 applications from translators were received. Platform Latvian Literature Every year, two competitions are organized – in January and May – for the translation and publication of Latvian literature abroad. This year, 42 applications from publishers in the total amount of 87,600 euros and 36 applications from translators in the total amount of 87,860 euros were supported in the competitions. The rules of the competition stipulate that all books that have received support in the publishing competition must be published during this year, thus in 2020 42 Latvian literary works in 23 languages ​​will be published abroad. The book of Anete Melece, which has already become an international bestseller, should be especially highlighted Kiosk (Large and small, 2019), which received support 6 times in the competition, as well as Semyon Hanin’s poetry collections, which were supported 5 times in the competition. For the first time Latvian literature (Nora Iksten ‘s novel Breast milk) has been translated into Faroese.

“We are happy to receive so many applications this year, because the high demand for translators and publishers is the fruit of our platform’s work in recent years. This confirms that our work makes sense and interest in Latvian literature continues to grow. But this was the first year we could not work so hard , as in previous years, and to what extent the crisis caused by Covid-19 will affect the export of Latvian literature, we will mainly see in the volume of applications in the grant program in the coming years.The publisher and translator grant program is now a particularly important support mechanism ,: revealed platforms Latvian Literature representative of Utah Pie.

Due to the limitations of Covid-19 distribution, both platforms were canceled Latvian Literature participation in several international book markets, as well as the participation of authors in various foreign festivals. That’s why platforms Latvian Literature In an official letter, the team asked the Ministries of Culture to direct the funding for the mobility of authors and other professionals in the field (€ 62,460) to grant funding, which was also approved by the Ministry. Despite the limitations of Covid-19, the platform Latvian Literature activity has not stopped this year. Both the platform’s participation in the Frankfurt book market and the authors’ participation in various foreign festivals have taken place virtually. This year, the platform has also organized a cool workshop for Baltic poets, a seminar for Finnish translators, a visit to Baltic publishers and journalists, and a Baltic prose translation workshop. Last week’s platform Latvian Literature announced that with the campaign #iamintrovert will represent Latvia at next year’s London Design Biennale.

Grant competition applications for publishing and translating Latvian literature abroad were evaluated by a commission consisting of five literary experts: literary critic and editor Sigita Kušnere, International Project Coordinator of the International House of Writers and Translators Ieva Balode, translator Dace Meiere and literary scholars Jānis Ozoliņš and Ojārs Lāms. Latvian literary works will be published this year in Hungarian, English, Ukrainian, Korean, Estonian, Lithuanian, Faroese, German, Mongolian, Croatian, Arabic, Macedonian, Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, Polish, French, Romanian, Czech, Finnish, Russian, Slovenian and Slovenian. language.

More about the results of the first competition here.

More about the results of the second competition here.

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