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Home , Josip Murn, University of Ljubljana, World Book Capital

citizens field inthe in of ment opportunities courage creating employ new . among youth. the and infrastructure the promote groups cessibility of for age all to continue to devote attention . everyone. remain will which accessible to of and literary cultural events continue to . from around all world. the come asafe haven for writers conditions create spiritual and material development of literature and continuously aim to . Citya UNESCO of Literature: aims to fulfil bydesignation as 4 commitments the activities around activities the city. the home as new their in and else everyone engage immigrants, foreigners and infrastructure,dustry and

The City of Ljubljana The City of Ljubljana will The City of Ljubljana will The City of Ljubljana will promoting reading and ac as well as to support for Ljubljana to be support thousands thousands support who chose chose who for young young for Ljubljana Ljubljana ensure the will en will - - -

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photo: Matej Kastelic MANIFESTO FOR LJUBLJANA – CITY OF LI- In the beginning of the 19th special interna- The on top of the Castle Hill also hosts heritage dating back as far as the pre-Emona times are on 5. Numerous events dedicated to the book: 7. Education, openness and concern for the Müller, Tomas Transrtömer, Jonathan Franzen, Irvine TERATURE DESIGNATED UNESCO CREATIVE century Ljubljana was the tional recogni- many cultural events throughout the year and especially display. In the recent years, a new museum quarter was built Each Autumn, the Slovenian Book Fair traditionally takes youth: Welsh, Michel Houellebecq, Georgi Gospodinov, Janice CITY IN 2015 capital of Napoleon’s Illyr- tion for publish- during the summer. Apart from the rich cultural infrastruc- and is home to the Museum of Contemporary Art and the place in Ljubljana. On 23 April each spring, the date mark- Ljubljana has the greatest concentration of primary and sec- Galloway etc.). Numerous writers took part in the PEN 1. History: ian Provinces. The era had a ing exceptional ture, new cultural quarters are becoming more and more new Etnographic Museum. ing the World Book Day, publishers, writers and readers ondary schools in the country. The of Ljubljana international congress and Literary festival Fabula. In 2014-15 Ljubljana celebrated the 2000th anniversary great impact on writer Charles literature and prominent: Križevniška Ulica, Novi Trg, Park Tabor, Šiška meet. Writers and readers are all grateful for the varied is the oldest Slovenian University and has the largest num- of its antique predecessor Aemona, which was inte- Nodier who lived here at the illustrations for Cultural Quarter. In the very centre of Ljubljana, next to the 4. : literary programme and abundant book supply during the ber of enrolled students. Ljubljana is also home to the Slo- 10. Diverse amateur cultural and associa- grated into the literary movements of the time and was time. In the 30s and 40s of the children and the Plečnik’s stands the famous monument dedi- The National and University in Ljubljana was de- Book Week. On midsummer’s eve (23 June) a traditional venian Academy of and Arts. In the framework of tion life: National and University Library / photo: B. Jakše & already linked to the legend of Argonauts in the antique 19th century Romantic poet S. Jeršič youth. The old- cated to the poet Prešeren, which is symbolically one signed by architect Jože Plečnik and is one of the most bonfire is set the Ljubljana Reads project, the City of Ljubljana gives out 248 amateur cultural associations work in the area of sources – in the Old Christian era Saint Jerome was al- France Prešeren lived here and est still operat- of the most important spots in the city as well as one of the beautiful palaces in the city. The library holds an extensive up on the books written by Slovenian authors to all three-year-olds, to the City of Ljubljana, among which numerous theatre ready sending letters to Ljubljana. Almost a millennium composed some of his most ing house in Ljubljana is the Slovenska Matica most popular meeting points. of medieval codices, incunabula and literary Rožnik Hill all six-year-olds, pupils of the first year, and to all ten-year- groups, choirs, folklore groups, book clubs, educational has passed since 14 April 1112 when medieval Ljubljana accomplished work which rose which celebrated its 150th anniversary this year and is still heritage of some of the most important Slovenian poets and where Ivan olds, the pupils of the fourth year of elementary schools, clubs for seniors etc. was first mentioned in writing and since then it has Slovenian literature (written an important cultural and scientific association. 4. Ljubljana theatres, galleries and museums: writers. The Ljubljana City Library with its 24 independent Cankar spent thus aiming to promote reading and book ownership. Monument of France Prešeren, become the centre of administrative and cultural life of the biggest Slovene poet/ photo: in Slovenian language) to the Books still bear a special symbolic meaning in Ljubljana Apart from the national theatre, there are 14 other theatres units is the most important cornerstone of literature and a significant 11. Public projects for integrating im- this area. The first boom in literature took place in the Gregor Murn European level. Since then, Lju- and that is why in 2010 the city was deservedly named the which are active under the auspices of Ljubljana and annu- has the biggest membership of all the libraries in . part of his 8. Literary societies and organisations: migrants from different cultural environ- middle of the 16th century when Primož Trubar worked bljana has been the ultimate Slo- UNESCO’s World Book Capital. Ljubljana is the centre of ally organise over 100 premieres for all age groups, as well Apart from life. Each year, 284 associations, institutions and ments: in Ljubljana. He was the father of the Slovenian liter- venian literary centre which boasts a vibrant and extremely literary movement having numerous publishing houses and as other theatres which bring home awards from numerous the Reading the bonfire organisations promoting books As the capital of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana ac- ary language and an internationally important religious productive literary life. Slovenian literature reaches an im- boasting a vibrant literary activity, especially in the field of international festivals and contribute to the publishing of City (Mesto is lit up by and reading and uniting writ- cepts everyone who desires to help create a better life in reformer who to- portant peak with Slovenian modernist poets: , poetry. Some of the prominent names in world literature Slovenian dramatics, essay writing and theory of theatre. bere) project Library Under the Tree Tops at Ljubljana Castle / the Kresnik ers have their seat in Ljubljana: mutual understanding, among them numerous inter- photo: Vita Kontič gether with some Oton Župančič, and Josip Murn. In the 20s live and work in Ljubljana, among which Slavoj The Ljubljana Puppet Theatre is the biggest standout with and the Mega Award win- Slovenian Book Agency, Slovene national partner associations such as SILA and French, other Slovenian of the previous century, Srečko Kosovel created his eruptive Žižek, poet Tomaž Šalamun, novelist Drago Jančar... its second biggest puppet stage in Europe. The theatre is Quiz intended ner (the most prominent award for novelists). The event is Publishers Society, Chamber Italian, German, Austrian and Russian cultural centres. Protestant writers opus in Ljubljana which linked Slovenian literature to the intended for children and is also home of the first bookshop for primary organised by the national newspaper house Delo. In total, of Publishing and , Foreign embassies and consulates are also located in gave Slovenians most contemporary avant-garde movements in the world. 2. Festivals: for children in Ljubljana. school pu- 12,000 literary events take place in Ljubljana annually and Slovenian Reading Association, Ljubljana and contribute to the vibrant cultural and their first printed During World War II, Ljubljana was the centre of the resis- Apart from the music, theatre and film festivals, Ljubljana Apart from the pils, the li- almost all of them are free of charge. Slovenian Library Association, literary life in Ljubljana. Our city is also a member of books. During tance movement which caused an immense illegal literary also hosts the largest number of literary festivals in Slove- key national in- brary units Reading Badge Association, Lit- the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) the Baroque pe- movement unlike any other in Europe. Numerous illegal nia: Fabula, Vilenica, Sanje Festival, closing of the annual stitutions with a Ljubljana City Library (Šiška Library) / photo: Domen all around 6. Publishers and booksellers: eratura Association, Apokalipsa, and gives refuge to persecuted writers from around the Grögl riod, Ljubljana and graphic houses did not only print propaganda international meeting of writers PEN and Mlade Rime strong tradition Ljubljana cel- The beginnings of publishing date back to the 16th century, Beletrina - Academic Press, world who were exiled from their own countries and established its material but also published literary work in times of great (Young Rhymes) Festival which brings together young and (National Gal- ebrate the Slovenian cultural holiday (8 February, marking while it flourished the most in the 18th century. The old- Slovene Writers’ Association, found a safe new home for writing and creating a new Sculpture honouring Slovene protestant Literary festival Fabula 2016 writers and printers / photo: Miha Fras first public library distress. unacclaimed writers. lery, Moderna the anniversary of the death of France Prešeren), Poetry est publishing houses still in operation are the Mohorjeva Slovene PEN Centre, Slovenian As- social network here in Ljubljana. under the aus- After World War II, Ljubljana became the capital of the Re- Galerija, Na- Day (21 March), World Book Day (23 April), Day of Slo- Družba and Slovenska Matica. Publishers and booksellers sociation of Literary Translators. pices of the Academia operosorum. At the same time, public of Slovenia with its own parliament and government 3. Cultural centre: tional Museum venian General Libraries (20 November) and the Culture in Ljubljana publish and sell two thirds of the entire Slove- polymath Johann Weikhard von Valvasor worked here but within the federally organised Republic of Yugoslavia. Ljubljana prides an honourable opera and theatre tradition etc.) Ljubljana Celebration Day (3 December, marking the anniversary of nian book production and organise up to 50 various liter- 9. Crossroads of international action in the and dedicated a special part of his main literary work, Since 1991, Ljubljana has been the capital of the indepen- since the 17th century. At the same time, the Jesuits Collegi- City Museum of Ljubljana / photo: Andrej Peunik/ has numerous the birth of France Prešeren) when all the cultural institu- ary events a week hosting literary guests from Slovenia and field of book: an extensive monograph The Glory of the Duchy of dent Republic of Slovenia. In 1952 at a literary congress um marked the beginning of higher education in this area, MGML exhibition cen- tions are admission free. In 2010 when Ljubljana was the abroad. Many great and internationally acclaimed writers regularly , to Ljubljana, the capital of Carniola. A rebirth held in the socialist Yugoslavia, a declarative break from while the Slovenian Philharmonic dates back to 1701. The tres which an- World Book Capital, the city gained a new house of litera- visited Ljubljana even before it became the World Book

of Slovenian literature happened during the Enlighten- the socialist realism was set down which opened the doors biggest cultural establishment in Ljubljana at the moment is nually host outstanding Slovenian and international exhibi- ture named after Primož Trubar and in 2015 Vodnik house Capital in 2010 (Nicodemus Frischlin, Carlo Goldoni, United Nations Designated Educational, Scientific and UNESCO Creative City ment era with Sigmund Zois and his circle of like-mind- to the and contemporary literary ventures. the Cankarjev Dom Culture and Congress Centre where a tions and museums where impressive collections of ancient where special events dedicated to the book, literature and Henry W. Longfellow, Charles Nodier, Hans Ch. Andersen, Cultural Organization in 2015 ed intellectuals. Publishing houses were also very active at the time, earning varied programme of cultural events takes place each year. and modern history of the city with a rich archaeological journalism take place every day of the year. Paul Eluard, Rolland Barthes, Salvatore Quasimodo, Miro- Published by: City of Ljubljana, Department of Culture, March 2016 Contact: [email protected] slav Krleža, Ivo Andrić, Georg Tabori, Pablo Neruda, Herta Print: Tiskarna UL/ Univerza v Ljubljani