14 October 2014 Afternoon in Edinburgh

Scotland’s Capital a Special Guest of the Conrad Festival

On Sunday afternoon, October 26 from 13:00 to 16:00, the Conrad Festival organizers invite readers to literary Edinburgh. The city of Harry Potter, Dr. Jekyll, Waverley and Sir Walter Scott will open its gates to us and introduce us to its literary riches. As the first city in the world to hold the title of UNESCO City of Literature, Edinburgh greatly supported Krakow in obtaining its title. The official delegation of the Scottish capital will also renew the partnership agreement between both cities.

What is it about a place that for decades inspired so many great writers? Explanations will heard first-hand from James Robertson, an eminent Scottish poet and writer, award-winning author of novels set in the Edinburgh and benefiting from its history.

In Krakow, the city of poetry, we cannot forget about Scottish poetry! The poet Christine de Luca will read some of her poems, including one inspired by the Polish Map of Scotland. She will also introduce listeners to an unusual project combining poetry and unusual sculptures made from old books that were given a second life in a new form. The project was developed for the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh.

Participants in the afternoon in Edinburgh event will also tackle questions concerning the literary politics of the city. The challenges facing the first Creative City in the field of literature will be discussed by experts responsible for the literary image of Edinburgh, including the director of the world's largest book festival, Nick Barley and the Head of Marketing and Innovation at Festivals Edinburgh, James McVeigh !

For all who wish to obtain the best modern Scottish literature at the Book Fair, a special stand dedicated to Edinburgh will be present an interesting range of literature from the Scottish capital.

Returning home, make sure to go through the Main Square. At the corner of Bracka Street and the Main Square, for a full week, the Conrad Festival will be display Scottish poetry - in cooperation with the "Multipoetry" project. The week-long celebration of Scottish poetry will be inaugurated by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Donald Wilson, who along with festival director Michał Paweł Markowski will launch poetry projection, as well as light the famous Conrad Festival lantern signaling the beginning of the celebration of world literature from the top of the town hall tower. Illumination ceremonies will be accompanied by a group of traditional Scottish bagpipers, who will emphasize the special role of Edinburgh at this year's Festival.

We remind you that Edinburgh obtained the City of Literature title in 2004. Meetings will be held as part of the annual series, which present the most important literature and literary figures of the literary communities of UNESCO Cities of Literature. During last year's festival, the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik City of Literature by UNESCO, was our special guest.

Full Program:

13:00 – 13:45

Edinburgh inspires writers From Pavement to Page: Reading Edinburgh

Award-winning novelist and poet James Robertson joins Sarah Morrison, Communications Executive at Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, to explore the way Edinburgh has inspired generations of world-famous writers, and the way they have captured the city on the page in prose.

14.00-14.45

Edinburgh inspires poetry

Edinburgh’s poet laureate or ‘Makar’ Christine de Luca will read poems about Edinburgh, one about the Polish map of Scotland and by two poets whose work inspired the anonymous paper book sculptures left at the Scottish Poetry Library. A visual element to the event in a slideshow of images from Edinburgh will accompany the poet and her reading.

15.00-16.00

Edinburgh inspires creative industries: TheExperience and Contemporary Challenges of the First City of Literature

Nick Barley (Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival the world’s largest public book festival of its kind), James McVeigh (Head of Marketing and Innovation at Festivals Edinburgh) and Marion Sinclair (Chief Executive of Publishing Scotland) will discuss Edinburgh as an international platform for local writers and artists, and local platform for international writers and artists. The experts will also address the issue of sustainable development of the creative city and challenges the city faces in meeting the needs of the literary sector.

International Book Fair in Krakow Edinburgh inspires PublishersEdinburgh in books

Caroline Clark and Steph Scott of Canongate Books and Marion Sinclair of Publishing Scotland visit the Krakow Book Fair to showcase the diverse and dynamic literature from Edinburgh.

The Conrad Festival is the largest literary event in Poland. Its sixth edition will be held under the slogan Shared Worlds. The festival is a joint venture the City of Krakow, Krakow Festival Office and Tygodnik Powscheny Foundation.

A detailed program of the Conrad Festival is available at: www.conradfestival.pl