Dear Versopolis friends,August in Versopolis world is the month of poetry festivals. If you happen to be in Slovenia, Latvia, Finland, Macedonia or Serbia, schedule some time for a delightful day of poetry. Meanwhile, we look back on heartwarming experiences of our traveling authors visiting poetry festivals in the previous months. If you missed articles from our authors of the month, we are here to invite you to have a read. Our authors from Germany and Italy shared captivating pieces worth exploring. Before we delve into the other exciting news, we want to remind you that the entries for Poetry Expo 2024 are now open!Wishing you a poetic month ahead,
Your Versopolis teamTHE STORY OF VERSOPOLISVersopolis Manual

We have updated and refreshed the Versopolis manual in which the Versopolis project's experience is utilized into a comprehensive handbook for cultural organizations, authorities, and policy shapers. The manual gives details and insights on the organization, work and contents of Versopolis and its partners, it showcases platform members,  selection processes, poet mobility, networking, branding, ... It includes testimonials, statistics, and relevant data. It is a valuable resource for understanding and participating in Versopolis initiative.
>> Download the pdfVERSOPOLIS PODCAST #6Poetry and philosophyDoes a great poem always present us with a crumb of philosophical insight or is it the other way around, can reading philosophy facilitate writing verses? Why has science replaced philosophy in discovering the bigger questions of life today? How can the gaze in the philosophy of Michel Foucault be related to the lyrical subject? Why is boredom important and how can we use it to battle burnout? These questions are explored by poet and writer Aušra Kaziliūnaitė in conversation with Dr Mitja Drab.                                                                                                                        >> Listen here

AUTHORS OF THE WEEKGermany & ItalyGermany
Mikael Vogel and Matthias Göritz

Mikael Vogel, a German poet and writer, published an article On Scarcity: confessions of a Japanese strychnine eater, a part of his longer essay, a background research for writing about extinctions. Same week another German poet, Matthias Göritz, explains in his article, why poetry is life and why he wants poems everyday.>> Read article no.1
>> Read article no.2 Italy
Barbara Garassino and Massimo MorassoThe Italian writer and former tennis champion Barbara Garassino published an article Poetry: the antidote to degradation? on how good cultural promotion can bring out good poetry. Massimo Morano intorduced us to Italian poetry today, the splendors and miseries of a rapidly evolving tradition.
>> Read article no.1
>> Read article no.2

BAHZAN RESIDENCYResidency for Ukrainian poetsOur partner Translatorium completed the first visit of BAZHAN residency with a sincere conversation with the poet and translator Iya Kiva. The poetic reading "There are no answers" has become the fourth event within the residence.The second open call for BAZHAN residency collected over 70 applications from different cities of Ukraine. And the selectors had a difficult choice to make again.Now, they are pleased to welcome the participants of the second wave of BAZHAN residency. August and September at the residence in Kamianets-Podilsky will be held by Alexander Shakirov, Roman Gardashuk, Max Lizhov, and Oleg Kotsarev.The project is implemented by the GO TRANSLATORIUM and implemented with the support of Versopolis and funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. >> More information

AUGUST FESTIVALSKraljevo, Ptuj, Riga, Helsinki, StrugaIn the month of August, the world of poetry comes alive with a series of five captivating Versopolis festivals. Almost all happening in the same week.

Kicking of the August festival season in the Metamorphosis Festival in Kraljevo, Serbia. As one of the oldest events of its kind in the country, the festival that will run between 16th and 19th of August features artistic and cultural-scientific programs, including poetry readings, music, and visual content. From 21st until the 26th Ptuj, Slovenia hosts the Days of Poetry and Wine festival, a gathering that unites renowned local and international poets and esteemed winemakers, creating an unforgettable fusion of culture and taste. In Helsinki, Finland the Poetry Moon festival illuminates the city between 24th and 27th of August with the celestial charm of poetry, bringing together four international guests, including two Versopolis poets. Meanwhile, Riga's Punctum Festival mesmerizes with its avant-garde artistic expressions from 22nd until the 30th August, pushing the boundaries of poetic creation. And in the poetic haven of Struga, North Macedonia, the oldest poetry festival in the world, Struga Poetry Evenings, will continue to thrive from 25 until the 29th, marking over half a century of inspiring dialogues and cultural unity through the power of verse.

These August festivals, each unique in its essence, pay homage to the diverse and profound art form that is poetry, uniting voices and visions from around the globe. We are excited to meet you at the festivals!>> Find the upcoming festivals

MOVED BY VERSOPOLISShannon Sullivan, Ulrike Almut Sandig & Iya KivaWe are excited to highlight the guest appearances of three Versopolis poets at poetry festivals that took place in the previous months. Leveraging the power of social media, the Moved by Versopolis initiative showcases the mobility and travels of Versopolis poets, along with their festival experiences and unique poetic expressions.

Irish poet Shannon Sullivan visited Yerevan, Armenia in May to participate in the Yerevan Book Fest. In July, German poet Ulrike Almut Sandig graced the Ledbury Poetry, while Ukrainian poet Iya Kiva participated at the Miłosz Festival in Krakow, Poland.

"During the discussion and readings, I once again heard the question of what literature can do during the war. I belong to those who answer that literature can do nothing in time of war. A poem cannot stop war, stop blood, and is not a substitute for weapons. But it was at the Milosz festival that I managed to formulate that writers during the war are those who managed to get out of the car after an accident on the road. And now, writing poems, prose or non-fiction, giving interviews and performing at international festivals, they seem to run into the oncoming lane, cry, wave their hands, shout: "We have a tragedy, we need your help."", says Iya Kiva looking back on her festival experience.
>> Stroll down their memory lane

VIR: Versopolis