The 39th Poetry International Festival
7th- 13th June 2008 in the Schouwburg in Rotterdam
March 26, 2008
The theme is CITY AND COUNTRY. The audience will determine how much to pay for their tickets at the end of each programme.
In 2008, for the first time in history, the majority of the world’s population will live in urban areas. This proved occasion for Poetry International to dedicate the 39th edition of the festival – from 7th –13th June in the Rotterdam Schouwburg - to the theme ‘City and Country’. The week will be filled with programmes, lectures, interviews and debates related to the theme.
Free poetry: visitors determine own ticket fee
It is not possible to buy a ticket to the festival this year. This does not mean that there is no entrance fee, but this will be asked only after the programme. In accordance with the principles of Reverse Economy, visitors will determine what to pay by seeing the programme.
Programme
This year’s festival features an event on Dutch poet Gerard Reve, and related to the theme of the festival – City and Country – a special event on T.S. Eliot‘s The Waste Land. The audience will be able to listen to the integral version of this 434-line poem and Paul Claes (Flemish author, and translator of yet to be published translation of The Waste Land) will give a talk on his interpretation of the poem and his translation of it.
In different locations at the festival grounds, some of the well-known tents by Dutch Visual artist Dre Wapenaar will be exhibited and used.
Following the yearly tradition, the C. Buddingh’ prize for new Dutch poetry will be awarded during the festival. The jury, consisting of Dutch and Flemish poets Willem Jan Otten and Paul Bogaert, and the programmer of the Dutch literary festival Wintertuin Monique Warnier, will choose the nominees from the submissions. The winner will be announced at the festival, on Wednesday June 11th.
Poets (links will be regularly updated)
Each of the poets will read more than once at the festival, giving the audience the opportunity to return for a missed poet or to revisit favourites.
Confirmed poets are: H.H. ter Balkt (Netherlands), Maria Barnas (Netherlands), Linda Maria Baros (France / Romania), Philippe Beck (France), Remco Campert (Netherlands), William Cliff (Belgium), Mangalesh Dabral (India), Jean-Michel Espitallier (France), James Fenton (United Kingdom), Andrea Gibellini (Italy), Robert Gray (Australia), Shoichiro Iwakiri (Japan), Gerdur Kristný (Iceland), Peter van Lier (Netherlands), Roni Margulies (Turkey), Risto Oikarinen (Finland) , Mirta Rosenberg (Argentina), Silke Scheuermann (Germany), Miriam Van hee (Belgium), Szabolcs Várady (Hungary), Henk van der Waal (Netherlands), Natan Zach (Israel / Germany), Adam Zagajewski (Poland).
Theme: ‘City and Country’
In 2008, for the first time in history the majority of the world’s human population will live in urban areas rather than in the country. By 2030, this is expected to rise to over 60%. This irreversible urbanisation will fundamentally change the relationship between the city and the country, and have implications on both individuals and society.
Poetry International is addressing this scenario by focussing on poetry from the city and the countryside during the 39th Poetry International Festival. Throughout the week there will be programmes, lectures, interviews and debates dedicated to the subject. Naturally, what this turning point could mean for poetry will also be part of the programme.
Visit our website regularly for updated information. Information in Dutch will be communicated via www.poetry.nl
Free poetry: visitors determine own ticket fee
It is not possible to buy a ticket to the festival this year. This does not mean that there is no entrance fee, but this will be asked only after the programme. In accordance with the principles of Reverse Economy, visitors will determine what to pay by seeing the programme.
Programme
This year’s festival features an event on Dutch poet Gerard Reve, and related to the theme of the festival – City and Country – a special event on T.S. Eliot‘s The Waste Land. The audience will be able to listen to the integral version of this 434-line poem and Paul Claes (Flemish author, and translator of yet to be published translation of The Waste Land) will give a talk on his interpretation of the poem and his translation of it.
In different locations at the festival grounds, some of the well-known tents by Dutch Visual artist Dre Wapenaar will be exhibited and used.
Following the yearly tradition, the C. Buddingh’ prize for new Dutch poetry will be awarded during the festival. The jury, consisting of Dutch and Flemish poets Willem Jan Otten and Paul Bogaert, and the programmer of the Dutch literary festival Wintertuin Monique Warnier, will choose the nominees from the submissions. The winner will be announced at the festival, on Wednesday June 11th.
Poets (links will be regularly updated)
Each of the poets will read more than once at the festival, giving the audience the opportunity to return for a missed poet or to revisit favourites.
Confirmed poets are: H.H. ter Balkt (Netherlands), Maria Barnas (Netherlands), Linda Maria Baros (France / Romania), Philippe Beck (France), Remco Campert (Netherlands), William Cliff (Belgium), Mangalesh Dabral (India), Jean-Michel Espitallier (France), James Fenton (United Kingdom), Andrea Gibellini (Italy), Robert Gray (Australia), Shoichiro Iwakiri (Japan), Gerdur Kristný (Iceland), Peter van Lier (Netherlands), Roni Margulies (Turkey), Risto Oikarinen (Finland) , Mirta Rosenberg (Argentina), Silke Scheuermann (Germany), Miriam Van hee (Belgium), Szabolcs Várady (Hungary), Henk van der Waal (Netherlands), Natan Zach (Israel / Germany), Adam Zagajewski (Poland).
Theme: ‘City and Country’
In 2008, for the first time in history the majority of the world’s human population will live in urban areas rather than in the country. By 2030, this is expected to rise to over 60%. This irreversible urbanisation will fundamentally change the relationship between the city and the country, and have implications on both individuals and society.
Poetry International is addressing this scenario by focussing on poetry from the city and the countryside during the 39th Poetry International Festival. Throughout the week there will be programmes, lectures, interviews and debates dedicated to the subject. Naturally, what this turning point could mean for poetry will also be part of the programme.
Visit our website regularly for updated information. Information in Dutch will be communicated via www.poetry.nl
