Funds, poetry and a tribute
The Balkan Translation Center (BTC) is funding translations of 14 books selected by a 10-member committee of writers, critics and academics from Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Serbia-Montenegro. Eight works of fiction, two biographies, three works of history and two essays will receive funding, which includes up to 35 percent of the cost of publication (or no more than 10,000 euros annually per publisher). The BTC was set up by the National Book Center of Greece (EKEBI), following an initiative signed in 2002 by culture and sports ministers from Southeastern Europe. The BTC’s objective is to promote dialogue and understanding among the people of Southeastern Europe by supporting the translation and publication of high-quality literary and social science titles to and from Greek and other Southeastern European languages. The idea is to give publishers incentives to include such works in their lists. Applications are accepted twice yearly, March 20-30 and September 20-30 from publishing companies and cultural organizations which regularly publish books (but not public organizations, universities, research centers or banks). (EKEBI, Areti Kontogiorgi, tel 210.929.0343, or log on to www.ekebi.gr.) Tribute to Jacques Bouchard Jacques Bouchard, professor of Modern Greek at the universities of Montreal and McGill, is the subject of «Philhellenism Today,» a tribute on Saturday to be held at the Stoa tou Vivliou book arcade. Bouchard has published widely on Modern Greek studies and translated many works of Modern Greek literature into French. Among the writers whose work he has translated are Andreas Emberikos, Miltos Sachtouris and Pavlos Matessis. Athens University Rector Giorgios Babiniotis will make a welcoming address and academics Frangiski Abatzoglou, Aikaterini Koumarianou, David Connolly and Dimitris Pentelodimos will speak. (Stoa tou Vivliou, 5 Pesmazoglou & Stadiou, 7 p.m., tel 210.325.3989.) International Poetry Day EKEBI celebrates International Poetry Day (March 21) on Monday, March 22, this year. In collaboration with the Hellenic Society of Authors, «The Poet as a Citizen of the Historical Present» will take place at the Byzantine Museum (22 Vas. Sofias, tel 210.729.4926) at 7 p.m. Professors and literary critics will be analyzing the challenges facing poets in a changing world, while 19 poets will read from their own and each other’s works.
