Slovene Writers’ Association

Infobox Venue

The Slovene Writers' Association is the professional organisation of Slovene writers. The Association was originally founded on 21 April 1872 in Ljubljana with the aim of supporting writers and their families. It was dissolved in 1915 by the Austrian authorities, but re-established in 1920. From World War II until 1989 the Association was a member of the Writers' Association of Yugoslavia. In the early 1980s the Slovene Writers' Association became more involved in social questions, particularly issues concerning nationality, creative freedom and political pluralism (during this period a commission for the protection of writing and thinking functioned within the framework of the Association, and - with help from external experts - participated in measures to change the Constitution). The Association also played an important role in Slovenia gaining independence.

In recent years the Association has been above all a literary organisation, devoting a great deal of energy to promoting Slovene literature abroad. Its international activities are focused on maintaining contacts with writers’ societies and cultural institutions around the world (it has signed international co-operation protocols with many countries), and collaborating with other literary magazines. The focus of these efforts is the international writers’ event Vilenica International Writers’ Gathering, which is attended by more than 100 renowned writers from all over the world each year.

The Slovene Writers’ Association has maintained productive contacts with translators and promoters of Slovene literature abroad. Occasionally – and depending on its financial resources – the Association sends out newly-published Slovene books and dictionaries, enabling established as well as future translators who are learning the Slovene language (up to five) to participate in the Seminar of the Slovene Language, Literature and Culture, which is held each July at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. There are also grants available for translators who wish to perfect their skills in Ljubljana (the Association provides financial aid and the possibility of lodging). This form of co-operation with translators has developed into a unique series of writers’ and translators’ workshops, which make possible a constant creative exchange. The Association's international activities also include the participation of Slovene writers in annual and biannual international events and festivals abroad. When its members are personally invited to take part in events, readings, festivals and meetings abroad, the Association covers part of their travel expenses (50 to 75 per cent).

Each year at the Vilenica International Writers’ Gathering the Association bestows the Vilenica International Literary Award, which comprises the Vilenica Grand Prix, the Young Vilenica International Literary Award and various other minor awards. It also bestows the biennial Jenko Award for poetry, the annual Stritar Award for literary criticism, and (in co-operation with the Sodobnost International Cultural Society) the annual Best Short Story Award at the Slovene Book Days festival.

Twice each year the Association issues the special foreign-language publication Litterae slovenicae, which contains excerpts from works by Slovene authors. In 2002 the Association also issued the publication ‘Key: Slovenia, Contemporary Slovene Literature in Translation’ for the Slovene presentation at the Frankfurt Book Fair, along with some special publications on particular authors.

The Slovene Writers' Association has also collaborated with Slovene PEN Centre and the Centre for Slovene Literature to set up the Trubar Foundation.