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100 years ago, Zuzanna Ginczanka – a bright and intelligent poet, often called “Tuwim in a dress” and a very important figure in the interwar literary life, who died tragically in Krakow just a few months before the liberation of the city – was born.
On this occasion, the City of Literature Foundation and the Faculty of Polish Studies of the Jagiellonian University would like to invite everyone for numerous artistic, literary and scientific events, including a scholarly session, a poetic performance titled Ginczanka’s Room, a meeting Poets for Ginczanka, a public presentation of a radio show about the poet and film screenings.
More detailed description of the events is available here.
The event is taking place under honorary patronage of Jacek Majchrowski, Mayor of the City of Krakow.
The project was financed from the funds of the City of Krakow.
Breyten Breytenbach – one of the most appreciated authors writing in Afrikaans and a guest of the 5th edition of the Miłosz Festival, which took place last year – was chosen a laureate of the 5th Zbigniew Herbert International Literary Award 2017, one of the most important distinctions in the world of global literature and poetry. The international jury announced that the combination of the outstanding artistic values of Breytenbach’s art, as well as his uncompromising moral stance and standing for those who suffer is a perfect embodiment of an attitude that was dear to Zbigniew Herbert.
Breyten Breytenbach has published more than fifty books, including collections of poetry, novels, and memoirs. In the 1960s, he was involved in a movement against apartheid policy in South Africa, when he was still living in France. In 1975, he entered South Africa using a fake passport, with the goal to help black Africans organize trade unions. He was arrested, accused of terrorist activities and sentenced to nine years in prison. Thanks to international protests, he was ultimately released after seven years. He fled to France and took French citizenship.
fot. Michał Ramus, www.michalramus.com
Since then, the artist has won numerous awards and prizes, taught at the New York University and exhibited his paintings in galleries around the world. Currently he divides his time between France and South Africa.
Zbigniew Herbert International Literary Award is a distinction for achievements on the world stage – particularly in the field of poetry. It has been awarded since 2013 for outstanding intellectual and artistic achievements, referring to the ideas espoused by Zbigniew Herbert in his creations.
The award ceremony will take place on the 25th of May 2017 in Warsaw
The snow is thawing and the forecasts announce that sunny days are to come – it is time for first walks with books and reading outside. The lovers of poetry will certainly have something to be waiting for, as the first day of spring is also celebrated as World Poetry Day. On the 8th and 9th of March, together with the City of Literature Foundation and Faculty of Polish Studies of the Jagiellonian University, we will celebrate the 100th birthday anniversary of Zuzanna Ginczanka, an outstanding Polish poet. In March, we will also encounter poems by Tadeusz Śliwiak, Józef Baran, Zbigniew Herbert and Władysława Czuła. The youngest poetry readers will learn more about the poems of Julian Tuwim, Danuta Wawiłow and Natalia Usenko. It is also worth planning to start your spring clean-up by taking part in the Second Life of a Book campaign – even the slightest changes can really refresh your bookshelf!
Selected events:
- 19th of March, starting at 3:00 p.m. – Second Life of a Book
In March, lovers of literature will have an opportunity to exchange books at the Powiśle 11 Pavilion. The rules will remain the same as always: just bring some books – between one and ten. Books published before 1995 will be exchanged only for other books published before 1995. Those who bring new books (published after 1995) will be able to select any book from among new and old ones.
- 8th and 9th of March – 100th birthday anniversary of Zuzanna Ginczanka
The City of Literature Foundation and the Faculty of Polish Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow will celebrate the 100th birthday of Zuzanna Ginczanka, an outstanding Polish poet of Jewish descent, whose tragic fate was inseparably tied to Krakow. During the celebrations spanning two days we will remember her poems, and the support of the Department of Culture and National Heritage of the Krakow Municipal Office will allow us to commemorate the artist by installing a plaque on the wall of a townhouse at Mikołajska 26, where she hid during the war and from where she was taken by the Gestapo.
- 9th of March, 6:15 p.m. – discussion about Jacob Hein’sBerlin
The Goethe-Institut in Krakow encourages everyone to join a discussion about a book – Jacob Hein’s take on the city that changes like no other place in the world, full of love, distance and observations of its residents. The description of the metropolis is so suggestive that the reader can easily experience the smell of the metro, feel goose bumps upon realising who stepped on the cobblestones or join the beer aficionados in one of the many pubs around the Alexanderplatz.
- 20th of March, 6:00 p.m. – Poetry evening with Marek Warzyński
The Krakow Library invites everyone to come to a poetry evening and reading of the fragments of Ulisses. Marek Wawrzyński is a poet, novelist and translator from Krakow. During the meeting, he will present his poems from Na stronach (2005), Katalog (2011), Wiersze (2013), Znaczki polskie (2013), Na marginesach (2015).
- 28th of March, 6:00 p.m. – Literary Tuesday with Andrzej Chytkowski
The Kuźnia Club of the C. K. Norwid Culture Centre organises a meeting with a policeman whose passion is writing a chronicle of the most unique criminal acts and incidents in Krakow, some of which could certainly surprise even the most outstanding writers of thrillers and mystery novels. Gaja Grzegorzewska, Aleksandra Zielińska, Marcin Świetlicki and Maryla Szymiczkowa are only some of the contemporary names (and pseudonyms) of the more or less criminal stories taking place in Krakow.
