And Now? International Congress of the Literary Sector in a Time of Political Upheaval

Clara Riso, Lisbon, Portugal:
On the Casa Fernando Pessoa. History and challenges in the future

Casa Fernando Pessoa – Museum of Literature was opened on 30 November 1993. In 2020, the museum was refurbished and reopened having been upgraded and made more accessible, with a new long-term exhibition on Pessoa.  The collection is organised around three main themes: on Floor 3, Pessoa the writer, with a focus on heteronymy; on Floor 2, Pessoa the reader, based on his private library; and on Floor 1, where the flat in which he lived for 15 years was located, we explore the man that Pessoa was and the era in which he lived. The museum works daily to offer a diverse programme and to establish itself as a welcoming space – physically, socially and intellectually – for people with different backgrounds and varying levels of knowledge about Pessoa and literature. The exhibits at the Casa Fernando Pessoa convey stories and memories of Pessoa, what he read, how he wrote, and the era in which he lived. During the guided tours, we ask many questions and find some answers, spoken aloud and in real time, in the literary setting where Pessoa once lived.

Sérgio Machado Letria:
Presentation José Saramago Foundation

Christian Lund, Louisiana, Denmark:
Presenting Literature on Video. The Louisiana Literature Festival & Louisiana Channel

How can a literature festival successfully reach a huge global audience through digital video? Born in 1969, Christian Lund holds degrees in Literature from the University of Copenhagen and the Academy of Creative Writing in Copenhagen. In 2010, he founded the Louisiana Literature Festival and, in 2012, co-founded the Louisiana Channel.

Fiona Razvi, London, UK:
Who Pays for Culture? The Future of Festival Funding

As festivals and the arts face growing scrutiny over how they are funded, what does this mean for a sector with no stable source of income? Drawing on Wimbledon BookFest’s experience of sponsorship protests in the UK, this session explores the impact on artists, audiences and delivery — and asks how literary festivals can build a sustainable future.

Aljaz Koprivnikar, Ljubljana, Slovenia:
Together for Literature: Festival Networks and the Power of Collective Action

Literary festival networks can create new opportunities for writers and readers while strengthening the sector’s capacity to advocate for lasting change. Drawing on existing research and practical examples, this contribution examines Versopolis, a platform connecting 37 festivals, as a model of cooperation through translation, poet mobility, shared publishing and professional development. It considers this experience alongside the work of the European Festivals Association and Festival Fabula’s proposal to establish a League of European Literary Festivals, submitted for Creative Europe support. The discussion will explore how shared resources, knowledge and experience can develop into collective advocacy for sustained funding, fair remuneration, linguistic diversity, wider participation and artistic freedom. Effective alliances can connect everyday cultural practice with policy by identifying common challenges, gathering evidence and advocating for changes that individual festivals have limited capacity to pursue alone. Through equitable cooperation and shared responsibility, literary networks can strengthen both international exchange and the conditions that allow diverse literary communities to thrive.

Marella Paramatti, Mantova, Italy:
Ageing Audiences and Strategies for Engaging Younger Generations – and the Festivaletteratura in Mantova

How can cultural festivals respond to ageing audiences and develop new ways of engaging younger generations? Drawing on the experience of Festivaletteratura in Mantova, this contribution will explore strategies and projects aimed at bringing young readers into the life of the festival, while reflecting on the broader challenge of building the audiences of the future.

Grzegorz Jankowicz, Krakow, Poland:
Does the Literary Field Need Regulations?

For many years, representatives of Poland’s book sector have debated the need to adopt legislation aimed at protecting the book market and authors. Is such regulation still necessary in the age of AI, or is it already too late?

Michaela Šilpochová, Prague, Czech Republic:

A presentation of the concept of the FALL Festival organized by the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague focusing on the role of literature festivals in fostering empathy & human connection in digital times.

Moderation: Peter Florence

Language: English