To the Villa Decius in Krakow arrived, traditionally for three months, writers from Poland and some other countries: Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland – grantees of the Homines Urbani project. In the park surrounded idyllic residence of Justus Decius once again there will be created books inspired by the soulful Krakow and the literary culture dialogue, practiced daily in the scholarship kitchen.
Guests of the autumn project’s edition are:
- MARINA BOLZLI (*1980 in Emmental)
Freelance author and journalist, columnist for “Berner Zeitung”, member of the Bern-based female authors group “Almösen” (play Camp der Guten Hoffnung – Camp Hope, premiere 2007). Host of the monday-morning-broadcast at Radio Radio RaBe. Studied Politology and Russion at the University of Bern. For four years whe worked as editor at “Berner Zeitung BZ”. Participation in many readings and poetry-slams. Examples of her work can be seen at www.myspace.com/marinabolzli.
- JAN BÖTTCHER (*1973 in Lüneburg)
Freelance Author and musician. Studied New German Literature and Scandinavistics at Humboldt University Berlin and at Stockholm University. His texts were published in many literary magazines and anthologies. He is also the Founder, songwriter and vocalist of the Berlin musicgroup “Herr Nilsson”, co-founder of the literary branch of the label “KOOK” (“KOOKread”). Awarded with some prizes and stipends. Published the novel Geld oder Leben (Money or Life, 2006), the audiobook Der Krepierer (2004) and the narrative Lina oder: Das kalte Moor (Lina or: the cold marsh, 2003).
- SYLWIA CHUTNIK (*1979 in Warsaw)
Cultural Scientist, degree in Gender Studies at the Universtiy of Warsaw, chairwoman of the foundation MaMa, which fights for the improvement of mother’s situation in Poland. Committed to various NGOs and social movements, presently she is involved with the virtual museum of women’s history. Additionally she works as cityguide in Warsaw and as journalist.
Her texts were published in “Życie Warszawy”, “Laifstyle”, “Zadra” and “Grafia” as well as in the anthologies Kobieta i polityka and Queerowanie feminizmu; author of the novel Kieszonkowy Atlas Kobiet (2008).
- SŁAWOMIR SHUTY (*1973 in Krakow)
Multimedia artist: writer, director, photographer, performer; author of the novels Nowy Wspaniały Smak (1999), Bełkot (2001), Cukier w Normie (2002), Zwał (2004), Produkt Polski (2005), Cukier w normie z ekstrabonusem (2005), Ruchy (2008) and of the first polish internet novel Blok (www.blok.art.pl); was awarded with the “Paszport Polityki” for Zwał in 2005; some of his works were adapted for the stage; directed the following movies: W drodze (2003), Oblubienica (2008) and Luna (2005); initiator and manager of the performance-cicle Cyrk Shuty; author of the opera Disco Polo Opera (premiere in the “Łaźnia theatre” in Krakow).
- ZMICIER WISZNIOU (*1973 in Debrecen)
Belorussian poet and writer, painter, performer, editor and promoter of the New Belorussian Literature. Studied Philology and Journalism in Minsk and Moskow; in the 90s he was co-founder of the avantgardistic poetry movement “Bum-Bam-Lit”, in the last years initiator of the book series The Other Artfront; participent in many international poetry festivals and literary congresses; author of six novels, which have been translated into ca. 20 languages; presently director of the publishing house “Galijafy”.
- DAVID ZÁBRANSKÝ (*1977 in Prag)
Lawyer, author, journalist. Law degree at Karls-University in Prague. Also studied Media Science, Sociology and Philosophy. Very active in the field of human rights. Published two novels so far: Any Beach but this (2006) and Stern’s attempt to love (2008). His texts also appeared in many magazines and journals, among others in “Magyar Lettre International”, “Revue Labyrint” and “Comma Magazin”.
- ANDRA JOECKLE (*1967)
Writer, translator, journalist, university lecturer and author of radio plays. Studied German literature in Munich, Paris and Berlin. In 2002 her first novel Laura und die Verschwendung der Liebe was published, and in 2007 Deutschlandradio broadcasted her first radio play about Ré Soupault. Frequent motives in her works are Argentinean dance, travel, difference, melancholic sex and the idealized human body. “Homines Urbani” grantee in 2008.
HOMINES URBANI
A cyclical project of the Villa Decius Association and the Polish Book Institute which includes scholarships for writers, translators and literary critics from Poland, German speaking countries and the neighbouring Central and East European countries. Since 2007 the project pertains also the above described scholarships for German speaking literature creators. Scholarship duration time: up to 3 months. The scholarships are financed by the Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation, the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. The sponsor of the literary meetings accomplished during the project is also PZU Życie.
The leitmotiv is literature perceived as a platform of understanding of the European homines urbani. “Urbani” not only in the narrow meaning “urban”, but also “global” – a man of the world and open to this world. Krakow, named “the city of poets”, is a city made for this dialogue. Villa Decius – a Renaissance palace rich in humanistic traditions is the locus amoenus, locus superior – the ideal place for meetings, and an intellectual and artistic dialogue. Twice a year, in spring (always since April 1st till June 30th) and autumn (since September 1st till November 30th) writers, literary critics and translators are arriving here. They spend three months in Krakow, living in a historic annexe located on the grounds of the park surrounded Renaissance Villa Decius. The grantees work on their own creative projects, initiate and organise common literary undertakings, get to know each other and inspire one another.
The Homines Urbani programme offers also creative scholarships for people from German speaking countries who are accomplishing artistic projects (photographers, filmmakers, producers of radio plays) connected with Poland. The dates are set individually. The scholarships are granted for a period of 1 – 3 months.