The New York Literary Translation Festival


16-18 November 2006

...translating from one language into another...is like gazing at a
Flemish tapestry with the wrong side out: even though the figures
are visible, they are full of threads that obscure the view and are not
bright and smooth as when seen from the other side.
(Cervantes,
The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha)

The Romanian Cultural Institute in New York and the Stevens Institute of Technology are organizing a Translation Festival to be held between 16-18 November 2006. The three-day festival will bring together writers, translators, academics, publishers, journalists, and cultural diplomats in order to present and initiate projects, debate problems, and identify opportunities in the field of literary translation and the interaction between cultures. Events
featured in the festival will include readings and talks, workshops, round tables and debates, an academic conference, and a publishers’ fair.


Translations are a controversial subject in a paradoxical America, one of the most complex and welcoming countries in terms of multiculturalism, yet one of the book markets that is most resistant to the translations from world literatures. We believe translations have always been the key factor in cultural interchange and a prerequisite for mutual understanding and tolerance. With this in mind, the Romanian Cultural Institute in Bucharest has launched the 2006 Translation and Publication Support Program, an ongoing project aiming to facilitate
and finance the publication abroad of Romanian authors in translation. Among other things, the Translation Festival is also meant to raise awareness and attract projects around the initiative of the Romanian Cultural Institute.


We invite publishers, translators, writers, academics, journalists, and generally any individual or organization with an interest in the field of translation and cultural interchange to participate in this Festival. Our intention is not just to celebrate the circulation of culture and provide due consideration to a vital issue in today’s world, but also to offer a context where palpable projects may be initiated and working contacts be made. Since this is a first
announcement, we welcome at this point any suggestions for conference panels,* translation workshop topics, readings, and publishers’ fair.


*Please note that the academic conference will consist of round-table panels with 15-minute talks/presentations from the panelists followed by responses and discussions.

* Poets scheduled for readings are kindly asked to read 2 poems, fiction writers up to 2 pages and drama will not exceed 15 minute.

Program:


Contact persons: