Literature needs to flow in order to reach readers in different cultures and create a wave of stories. With the project “Literature in flux” stories and words are being carried along, connecting cultural landscapes in order to create a confluence of literature and dialogue across borders. The Danube is a river in Europe that has a rich history. It is a symbol of a shared culture and history, but it has also served as a borderline between east and west during the decades of the cold war. The Danube creates a natural life line that connects the Balkans with other European countries. The project title “Literature in Flux” refers to the aim to provide a temporary space on the Danube where contemporary literature from the Balkans and other countries will merge and new, long lasting partnerships will be initiated. In its second year, the project “Literature in Flux” will move from the Danube to the Western Balkans with events that create a flux of literature along the coast line from the Western Balkans to Turkey.
Literature in Flux (via Danube)
A boat will be a temporary HALMA literature house and provide an independent and transnational space for dialogue and exchange about similarities and differences in our cultures and literatures. The temporary literature house, presumably the historical boat Radetzki, which itself already tells a peculiar story about the relation between the Austrian empire and the Balkans, will stop in 7 countries along the Danube. Aboard up to 10 writers, intellectuals and journalists come together, during the stops additional encounters with writers and translators from the countries that are visited take place. For the first time, we also want to invite writers from other countries to a “virtual participation” via Skype in the events that will take place during the journey. By using the internet for participation in and dissemination of the events, we contribute to ecological awareness and the reduction of travel costs. The focus of the journey will be on a region that has a long history of multiculturalism and historical problems about separation und unification, nationalisms and war but which is now looking towards inclusion into the common European house.
Literature in Flux (sealine)
After the first journey is concluded, we will implement the second phase of the project “Literature in flux revisited”. The ideas and outcomes of the temporary HALMA house will be revisited in Albania, Croatia and Turkey. Writers and intellectuals from these countries will already have participated in the journey on the Danube. Now, the flow of literature and dialogue continues in those countries that are connected to the European culture but still on the threshold to Europe.
The HALMA network connects 26 literary centers in 21 European countries. The network was founded in 2006 with a special focus on Central and Eastern Europe. After an enlargement to Western Europe in 2008 we now want to find new partners in the Western Balkans and Turkey. The initial idea of HALMA was to stimulate an exchange of literature that is not limited to the political borders of the European Union. HALMA wants to support partners in countries and regions that do not provide a functioning and supportive infrastructure for cultural NGOs but nevertheless share a common history and culture within Europe.
(Laura Seifert)
