The Agency organises an annual international translation seminar in Novo mesto, which affords insight into the current state of Slovenian contemporary literature and the possibility to work with Slovenian authors, critics, publishers, lecturers and other agents in the field of books. The seminar contributes to an increased number of published high-quality translations, provides better information for translators from the Slovenian language and fosters closer cooperation between translators, publishing houses and authors.

Who the seminar is for

The target group of the international Slovenian literature translation seminar is professional literary translators from across the world who translate Slovenian literature. Every year the expert committee for the international promotion of Slovenian literature and the humanities in cooperation with the expert services of the Agency examines and assesses the received applications following a public invitation. On the basis of the submitted documentation and references the committee selects the candidates who will participate in the seminar. Translators can only be selected for the international translation seminar every other year.

The course of the seminar

The translation seminar comprises two parts. The first part is dedicated to translation workshops where participants work on an excerpt from a selected text with the help of guest authors and expert workshop leaders. The aim is to provide an in-depth look at the author's work and oeuvre and create conditions leading to a publication of the literary translation of the work in question.

The second part of the seminar is intended for presentations and lectures by Slovenian experts on the topic of contemporary Slovenian literature, publishing and promotion of Slovenian literature. In the evenings literary events with guest authors and a thematic cultural programme (including visits to publishing houses, bookshops, etc.) take place. The professional part of the programme is organised only for seminar participants, while evening events with guest authors and musical guests are open to the public.

Selected authors and their works

2016

• Aleš Debeljak: Balkanska brv. Ljubljana: Študentska založba 2010; Evropa brez Evropejcev. Ljubljana: Sophia 2004; in nekaj pesmi iz zbirke Tihotapci. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga 2009
• Milan Kleč: Samo gledam. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga 2007
• Franci Novak: Podnebne spremembe. Ljubljana: LUD Literatura 2014
• Andrej Rozman Roza: Mali rimski cirkus. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga 2013

2015

• Lojze Kovačič: Childish Things (Otroške stvari). Ljubljana: Beletrina 2014 (autobiography)
• Tadej Golob: Where Has Brina Gone? (Kam je izginila Brina?). Ljubljana: Založba Miš 2013 (novel for children)
• Sebastijan Pregelj: Chronicle of Forgetting (Kronika pozabljanja). Novo mesto: Goga 2014 (novel)
• Andrej E. Skubic: Just Come Home (Samo pridi domov). Ljubljana: Modrijan 2014 (novel)

2014

• Maruša Krese: All My Christmases (Vsi moji božiči). Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga 2006 (short stories)
• Peter Rezman: The Downfall of the Cave (Zahod jame). Novo mesto: Goga 2012 (novel)
• Veronika Simoniti: The Devil's Togue (Hudičev jezik). Ljubljana: LUD Literatura 2011 (short stories)
• Anja Štefan: A Swing for All (Gugalnica za vse). Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga 2013 (fairy tales for children)

2013

• Berta Bojetu Boeta: Filio is Not at Home (Filio ni doma). Klagenfurt: Založba Wieser 1990 (novel)
• Dušan Šarotar: Billiards at the Hotel Dobray (Biljard v Dobrayu). Ljubljana: Študentska založba 2007 (novel)
• Marko Sosič: From Earth and Dreams (Iz zemlje in sanj). Maribor: Litera 2011 (short story collection)
• Peter Svetina: Hippopotamus Wisdom (Modrost nilskih konjev). Ljubljana: DZS 2010 (story collection for children)

2012

/

2011

• Drago Jančar: That Night I saw Her (To noč sem jo videl). Modrijan, Ljubljana 2010
• Miroslav Košuta:Of Križ and Karst (Križko kraške). Zadruga Novi Matajur. Trst 2005
• Mojca Kumerdej: Dark Matter (Temna snov). Študentska založba, Ljubljana 2011
• Vitomil Zupan: Playing with the Devil's Tail (Igra s hudičevim repom). Pomurska založba, Murska Sobota 1978, 1985 (Delo, 2004)

2010

• Milan Dekleva: The Triumph of the Rats (Zmagoslavje podgan). Cankarjeva založba, Ljubljana 2006
• Edvard Kocbek: The Comendership. Diary Entries from 17th May 1942 to 1st May 1943 (Tovarišija. Dnevniški zapiski od 17. maja 1942 do 1. maja 1943). DZS, Ljubljana 2004; 5 selected poems by Edvard Kocbek
• Katarina Marinčič: About Three (O treh). Mladinska knjiga, Ljubljana 2005
• Suzana Tratnik: Third World (Tretji svet). Cankarjeva založba, Ljubljana 2007

Participants of the translation seminar

2015

2014

2013

2012

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2011

2010