The Epic Residencies project was topped off with a showcase of literary work produced during a two-year cycle of residency exchanges between Slovakia, Iceland and Norway. The Epic Residencies project brings together three residency centres – Literary Residencies Košice, Gunnar Gunnarson Institute and Tou Scene – with the aim to create new opportunities for connecting literary events in these countries and to provide a space for concentrated work for authors from Slovakia, Norway and Iceland. The final showcase of work from the literary residencies, Eponym, took place at Rómer House in Bratislava on 22 March (Friday) and started at 6pm.
The event was attended by authors Samuel Dani ) Juste Druskine ) Anna Grusková ) Skúli Björn Gunnarsson ) Kristína Janačková ) Jakub Juhász ) Kristína Karabová ) Vanesa Lakatošová ) Eva Lavríková ) Eva Luka ) Jana Micenková ) Kristín Ómarsdóttir ) Renáta Pankiewicz ) Michal Tallo ) Kristín Ómarsdóttir ) Álvaro Seiça.
The event was moderated by Dominika Moravčíková ) Laura Kristína Priatková ) Juliana Sokolová
Concert: Erika Coyle ) Slávo Krekovič ) Štefan Szabó
Photo: Nataša Bošková
Roundtable
Before the public part of the programme, a roundtable of alumni of the residencies took place, who discussed together with representatives of the residency centres from Slovakia, Norway and Iceland. The alumni summarised their experiences and the benefits of their residencies.
Opening of the event
At the beginning of the show, a representative and a representative of the project’s partner organisations – Skúli Björn Gunnarsson from The Institute of Gunnar Gunnarsson, (Egilsstadir, Iceland) and Juste Druskine from TOU in Stavanger – spoke. They gave presentations of their residential centres. Juliana Sokolová presented the residential centre in Košice. Jaroslav Mojžiš, Director of the Department of EEA and Norway Grants and Swiss Contribution at the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization, also gave a speech.
Children’s spooky stories
Vanesa Lakatosova and Samuel Dani ~ a young author and author from the Palikerav Book Club, together with the organization’s statute holder Renata Pankiewicz, who covers the Club’s various activities. The panel, titled Mysterious Children’s Stories, also featured author Eva Luka with her children’s book Jemňacinky / Brutálničky. The young authors presented short prose stories with a mysterious atmosphere ~ “In a stranger’s house” (Vanesa Lakatosova) and “The girl who believes in miracles” (Samuel Dani). Vanesa Lakatošová and Samuel Dani participated in a literary and bookbinding workshop at the Smile Cinema as part of the 𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒄 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔 project. You can read about the workshop here.
Residences in Iceland
A panel of alumnae and alumni in residence in Iceland. Anna Grusková, Jakub Juhász, Jana Micenková. Moderated by Laura Kristína Priatková.
Residencies in Norway
A panel of alumnae and alumni residencies and mobility in Norway. The speakers were Eva Luka, Kristína Janačková, Michal Tallo. Moderated by Juliana Sokolová.
Translation panel
A panel of translators who have completed residencies in Norway. The speakers were Eva Lavríková, Kristína Karabová. Moderated by Dominika Moravčíková.
Kristín Ómarsdóttir and Álvaro Seiça
Evening panel in 𝑬𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒚𝒎 )) showcase of literary works from the 𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒄 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔 project was given to a representative of the alumni of the residencies in Košice ~ Kristín Ómarsdóttir from Iceland and Álvaro Seiça from Norway. The discussion was moderated by Michal Tallo, Slovak author and alumnus of the residency in Norway.
Final concert
At the end of the event the trio Erika Coyle, Slávo Krekovič and Štefan Szabó from the Bratislava Improvisation Orchestra performed. Their music moves away from pigeonholes of stylishness and moves towards a more textural approach, relying heavily on conscious and deep listening (to each other and also to the surroundings) and extended techniques of playing the instrument.
The event was supported by LITA, Society of Authors. The Epic Residencies project received a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants in the amount of 150 000 € and was co-financed in the amount of 22 000 € from the state budget of the Slovak Republic. The project aims at capacity building of partner organisations, inclusive education, intercultural exchange and audience building. To find out more about EEA Grants funded programmes and projects in Slovakia, please visit www.eeagrants.sk. All projects are 15% co-financed by the state budget of the Slovak Republic. Read more information about the project in the published project contract: 1522/2021 | Register of projects (gov.sk)
