Kraków, a city with a literary history of long standing, has decided to honor those authors, both past and present, by launching a web portal dedicated to its poets, writers, publications and various happenings that celebrate the written word.
Information about the literary life of the city was previously scattered on websites of various institutions, universities and publishers. The new portal, created by the Kraków Festival Office, is modeled on UNESCO websites for that organisation's Cities of Literature, among them Dublin, Iowa City and Reykjavik. Says director of the Krakow Festival Office Izabela Helbin,
"The new website http://krakowcityofliterature.com/ will constantly receive updates about the literary life of the city. We want to introduce this project so that it promotes the mission of the UNESCO Cities of Literature, in a manner that not only creates artistic growth, but also economic growth.
She added that the initiative would be a fine complement to the existing portal Reading Małopolska, which shows the literary diversity of the Małopolska voivodeship, the region in which Kraków is located.
On http://krakowcityofliterature.com/ visitors will find information about Kraków’s best-know writers past and present, about literary awards and iconic bookstores, as well as local literature-friendly venues and events.
Kraków carries many literary associations in Polish culture, being home to Marcin Świetlicki, Ewa Lipska, Grzegorz Turnau, Ryszard Krynicki and Bronisław Maj. It is also where legendary poet Wisława Szymborska spent most of her life, and where her colleague and fellow Nobel laureate Czesław Miłosz spent his last years. A film about Kraków’s literary life, View of Kraków, by Magdalena Piekorz, features poet and writer Adam Zagajewski leading viewers through this decidedly poetic city.
Kraków has been vying for the title of UNESCO City of Literature since 2010, and made its formal request at the end of 2011. Candidate cities should have a tradition of literary and publishing activities, support programs for writers, poets and translators, a dynamic network of libraries, as well as literary festivals.
According to Magdalena Sroka, Deputy Mayor of Kraków for the Promotion of Culture, becoming a UNESCO City of Literature would put appropriate emphasis Kraków’s rich literary tradition as an essential aspect of the city’s long and varied history. "Because of this we are building programs to support the diversity and wealth of literary initiatives in the city" says Sroka. "Literature can help improve social cohesion, stimulate economic growth and develop the creative industry, thus having a significant impact on intercultural dialogue".
Two important literary festivals are held in Kraków - the annual Conrad Festival and the Miłosz Festival, held every two years. Its annual Book Fair also receives thousands of visitors.
In 2011 came the city's accession to the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), which helps writers who cannot write in their own country for fear of persecution. In May of this year ICORN held the Writing Freedom conference in Kraków, an event on freedom of speech co-organized by the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International (PEN International WiPC).
Since last year, the Kraków Festival Office has also been organizing a free book-exchange program called Second Life for Books. In July, the Virtual Library of Publishers was launched, co-organized by 20 Kraków publishing houses, to make book excerpts available online simply by scanning a code on posters and signs put up all over the city.
The portal http://krakowcityofliterature.com/ is part of the Kraków City of Literature program, which is co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Sources: PAP, edited by MG, 19/07/2013
Translation: LB, 19/07/2013