Category: International Events

Title: The Nobel Prize in Literature

Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Description: Alfred Nobel had broad cultural interests. The interest that he developed in literature during his early youth lasted throughout his life. His library holds a rich spectrum of literature in different languages. Further evidence of Nobel’s literary interest was that during the last years of his life, he began writing fiction again. Literature was the fourth prize area Nobel mentioned in his will.

The very first Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded in 1901 to the French poet and philosopher Sully Prudhomme, who in his poetry showed the “rare combination of the qualities of both heart and intellect”. Over the years, the Nobel Prize in Literature has distinguished the works of authors from many different languages and cultural backgrounds. The Literature Prize has been awarded to unknown masters as well as authors acclaimed worldwide.

According to tradition, the Swedish Academy sets the date for its announcement of the Nobel Prize in Literature later in October relative to the other prizes.

Learn more here.

Date: October 1, 2012

Title: Lunch poems @sfu presents poets George Bowering and Cecily Nicholson

Location: Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Description: Lunch poems @sfu is volunteer-run, hosting poetry readings once a month at Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre, Vancouver, BC. Lunch Poems @SFU holds readings from noon to 1pm in the Teck Gallery. All events are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

Learn more here.
Date: September 19, 2012

Title: Science Fiction Poetry Association Contest deadline for entries

Description: The Science Fiction Poetry Association was founded in 1978 to bring together poets and readers interested in science fiction poetry. Science fiction poetry includes some element of speculation — usually science fiction, fantasy, or horror, and might also include surrealism, or some straight science.

Learn more here.

Date: September 15, 2012

Title: Struga Poetry Evenings

Location: Struga, Republic of Macedonia
Description: The Struga Poetry Evenings started in 1962 with a series of readings by a number of Macedonian poets in honor of the two brothers, Konstantin and Dimitar Miladinov, great intellectuals, teachers, and writers, born in Struga in the beginning of 19th century. Despite the tremendous difficulties and harsh realities that the festival has had to live with — the fall of Yugoslavia, the war in Bosnia, the Kosovo crisis, the political and ethnic clashes in Macedonia, the terrorist crisis after September 11th attacks, and the numerous political and economic embargos imposed on the region — the SPE has successfully flourished, becoming one of the most important poetry festivals in the modern world. And that is a tribute to world poetry and its poets. since its inception, the festival has hosted about 4.000 poets, translators, essayists and literary critics from 95 countries of the world.

Learn more here.

Start Date: August 23, 2012
End Date: August 26, 2012

Title: Edinburgh International Book Festival

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Description: The Edinburgh International Book Festival welcomes over 800 authors in over 750 events each year including novelists, poets, scientists, philosophers, sportsmen, illustrators, graphic artists, historians, musicians, biographers, environmentalists, economists, Nobel and Booker prize-winners and many more besides, bringing readers and writers together for entertainment, discussion and pure inspiration.

Learn more here.

Start Date: August 11, 2012
End Date: August 27, 2012

Title: Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award deadline for entries

Description: The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is an opportunity for any young poet aged 11-17 to accelerate their writing career. Since it began 15 years ago the Award has kick-started the career of some of today’s most exciting new voices. With entries from over 7,200 young people last year across from the UK and worldwide, it is the largest competition of its kind and its importance is widely attested.

Learn more here.

Date: July 31, 2012

Title: West Cork Literary Festival

Location: Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland
Description: Now an annual highlight in the Irish literary calendar, the West Cork Literary Festival is a week-long celebration of writing and reading for people of all ages. From its humble beginnings as a series of casual poetry readings and fringe events around the Chamber Music Festival, it has expanded into a varied and extensive programme of readings, talks and week-long workshops, growing more adventurous and imaginative with each year.

Learn more here.
Start Date: July 8, 2012
End Date: July 14, 2012

Title: Hay Festival Wales

Location: Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales
Description: For 25 years Hay Festival has brought together writers from around the world to debate and share stories at its festival in the staggering beauty of the Welsh Borders. Hay celebrates great writing from poets and scientists, lyricists and comedians, novelists and environmentalists, and the power of great ideas to transform our way of thinking.Hay is, in Bill Clinton’s phrase, ‘The Woodstock of the mind’.

Learn more about the Hay Festival in Wales here.

Start Date: May 23, 2013
End Date: June 2, 2013

Title: Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie National Finals

Location: Canada
Description: Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie is a national, bilingual poetry recitation contest for high-school students in Canada founded by Scott Griffin, Chairman and founder of The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry, along with Trustees Margaret Atwood, Carolyn Forché, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson, and David Young.

The goal of this competition is to promote the art of poetry in both the classroom and the community. Poetry In Voice provides an entry point for students to develop a personal relationship with poetry by learning their favourite poems by heart. It encourages them to learn about great poetry through exploration, memorization, and performance.

Learn more here.

Start Date: May 14, 2013
End Date: May 15, 2013

Title: Ottawa International Writers Festival

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Description: As Canada’s largest independent literary celebration, the Ottawa International Writers Festival promotes and contends that a love of reading and learning should be nurtured throughout our lives and that literacy is a birthright. Whether offering writing workshops to the homeless, hosting a Nobel Laureate, organizing biannual literary celebrations or bringing authors into area schools, the goal is the same: to create an environment that activates creativity and encourages the love of reading, learning and self-expression.

Learn more here.

Start Date: April 25, 2013
End Date: April 30, 2013