ZAMEK Culture Centre

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.