Come to the British Library on Tuesday 3 May for the official launch of Poetry Periscope, a new sound installation containing a curated poem from 30 countries across the continent, both in their original language and in English translation. Don’t miss your chance to encounter the richness and diversity of spoken word from Europe before it sets off on a tour around a number of festivals and venues including Brighton, Birmingham, Ledbury and Durham. The poetry periscope will be displayed at the British Library until 19 May 2016.
The launch will be hosted by poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan and will feature dynamic live readings of poems from across Europe, read by UK poets Richard Scott, Gabriel Akamo and Charlotte Higgins with special guest reading by Michal Habaj (Slovakia).The authors of the Poetry Periscope – Ondřej Kobza and Michaela Hečková from the Czech organisation ‘Piana na ulici’ will be also present during the launch.
Ian McMillan: ‘In the globalised 21st Century we need some means of speaking to ourselves and each other about our deepest hopes, desires and fears. Poetry can do that, in all its languages with all its rhythms and images, reminding us who we are and who we can become. The joy of the Poetry Periscope is that, like all periscopes, it lets us glimpse landscapes, in this case poetic landscapes, in a brand new way. It’s a great initiative and I’m proud to be associated with it.’
This event is organised by Eunic London, Czech Centre London, The British Library, The Poetry Society and Piana na ulici.
Part of The Stories We Tell: 2016 European Literature Festival, organised by EUNIC London, initiated and coordinated by the Czech Centre.
More at: http://www.europeanliteraturefestival.org.uk/
