The 6th World Congress of Translators of Polish Literature has ended

The great celebration of Polish literature has come to a close. In Kraków, from 2–4 July, we hosted translators from around the world. We also announced the winner of the Transatlantyk Award, the most prestigious award given by the Book Institute to ambassadors of Polish literature. The laureate was Finnish translator Tapani Kärkkäinen.

This year nearly three hundred translators from several dozen countries visited Kraków. It was an opportunity for them to meet Polish authors, publishers and literary agents. During the three days of the event they attended numerous lectures, forged connections and exchanged translation experiences.

The event was opened on Thursday by Grzegorz Jankowicz, Director of the Book Institute, and Marta Cienkowska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and a masterclass lecture was delivered by Jacek Dehnel. During the inauguration the author of Lala received the Bronze Medal “Gloria Artis – For Merit to Culture”, and the distinguished translator of Polish literature into English, Antonia Lloyd‑Jones, was awarded the Gold Medal “Gloria Artis – For Merit to Culture”.

The highlight of the event was Friday evening, when the formal Transatlantyk Award gala took place. This year’s laureate, Tapani Kärkkäinen, translates Polish literature into Finnish and is a major promoter of Polish culture in Finland. Thanks to him, Finnish readers have discovered not only the works of such luminaries as Ryszard Kapuściński, Hanna Krall, Andrzej Sapkowski, Bruno Schulz, Olga Tokarczuk, Michał Witkowski and Sławomir Mrożek, but can also enjoy excellent guides to the cultures of Warsaw and Kraków.

The winner was chosen by the Award Chapter composed of: Xavier Farré, Hatif Janabi, Grzegorz Jankowicz, Abel Murcia, Tomasz Pindel, Anna Wasilewska and Aga Zano. The Award comprises PLN 50,000, a commemorative diploma and a statuette by Justyna Żak.

Over the three days of the Congress, translators were introduced to the latest trends in Polish prose, crime fiction, drama, reportage, children’s and YA literature, fantasy, poetry and essay. Lectures on specific phenomena in contemporary Polish literature were prepared by experts: Przemysław Czapliński, Wojciech Gunia, Grzegorz Jankowicz, Piotr Kofta, Joanna Oparek, Joanna Piekarska, Malina Prześluga, Jakub Skurtys, Ishbel Szatrawska and Mariusz Szczygieł.

Many esteemed Polish writers were also present — among the guests were: Grzegorz Bogdał, Jacek Dukaj, Julia Fiedorczuk, Joanna Gierak‑Onoszko, Joanna Kuciel‑Frydryszak, Eliza Kącka, Michał Książek, Małgorzata Lebda, Renata Lis, Marta Michalak, Szymon Opryszek, Radek Rak, Maciej Robert, Tomasz Różycki, Zyta Rudzka, Paweł Rzewuski, Natalka Suszczyńska, Joanna Wilengowska and Aleksandra Wojtaszek.

A small book fair with publishers and literary agents from across Poland was also organized. Participants included: Beata Stasińska Literary‑Screenplay Agency, Czarna Owca, Wydawnictwo Czarne, Dowody, Dwie Siostry, Foksal Publishing Group, Zwierciadło Group, Ha!Art, KaBooks, Karakter, Kultura Gniewu, Marginesy, Mięta, PIW, Powergraph, SIW Znak, Syndykat Autorów, Timof Comics, Warstwy, Wydawnictwo Literackie and Wydawnictwo Poznańskie.

The World Congress of Translators of Polish Literature is held every four years. The first edition was organized in 2005. The Transatlantyk Award was inaugurated then as well — it was awarded to Henryk Bereska, a Silesian translator of Polish literature into German.

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The 6th World Congress of Translators of Polish Literature was co‑funded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.