About the Festival
At this point, Poznań of the Poets can boast
quite a tradition, being held every two years since 2003. Throughout that time,
it has managed to become a distinctive and important event in the literary life
in Poland. Its curator, Professor Piotr Śliwiński (AMU), is one of the most
eminent experts in contemporary poetry, an active and versatile critic as well
as the initiator of numerous undertakings promoting literary culture.
One might say that the festival is a sweeping undertaking, as it hosts numerous
poets from Poland, international authors, musicians, theatre people and visual
artists; it is multilingual (presenting diverse poetics, styles, values, and
modes of interacting with the readers and audiences), serious and sophisticated
(welcoming novel phenomena which overcome the established habits and
conventions, as well as embracing academic reflection on literature), and seeks
to popularize the verse (featuring canonical writings of contemporary poetry
and introducing new poets). Moreover, the Festival invariably offers diverse
educational activities intended for young people, invites the collaboration of
official agencies and authorities in the city, gets the media involved, and
strives to swell the ranks of readers—by hook or by crook. Also, Poznań of the
Poets organizes the Klemens Janicki Competition, whose winner has their volume
or collection of poetry published by the WBPiCAK publishers.