ICORN joins Nordic network meeting and CPH Reads in Copenhagen 6 – 7 March 2014

Guest writers in Scandinavia have many colleagues living relatively close by – so this is an excellent opportunity for writers in the different Nordic nations to get together to exchange ideas and experiences. A good handful of the artists participating will take the stage at public events forming part of the Cph Reads literary festival – www.kbhlaeser.dk. 

The meeting offers a wide range of events, introducing new literary voices in Copenhagen and turning the public spotlight on freedom of expression and life in exile. This will include a reading event, the screening of two hard-hitting documentaries about persecuted writers in exile, and a panel discussion: ‘What is it we are not allowed to say?’ 

PROGRAMME 

THURSDAY 6 MARCH 2014 

10.30-12.00 
Reception and welcome lunch at Copenhagen City Hall 

Speeches by Copenhagen ICORN writer Suhael Sami Nader, and others. 

13.00-16.00 
The Challenges of Exile: Networking event for city coordinators  
Copenhagen Main Library, Krystalgade 15, 3rd floor 

‘Being new in another country when you cannot leave your baggage at home.’ Presentation by Michel Otto, integration consultant from the Municipality of Odense. Followed by discussion and debate with Michael Linde Larsen, ICORN coordinator in Odense, as moderator. 

Coffee break. 

‘How do you protect locally when persecution is global?’
Presentation by Elisabeth Dyvik and Marianne Hovdan from ICORN:  Followed by discussion and debate. 

13.30-15.00 
Four ICORN writers tell their stories at Gefion Gymnasium 
Gefion Gymnasium, Østre Voldgade 10. 

• Nasrin Madani (ICORN guest writer in Växjö, from Iran) 
• Khaled Harara (ICORN guest writer in Gothenburg, from Palestine) 
• Tendai Tagarira (previous ICORN writer in Aarhus, from Zimbabwe) 
• Abduallahi Ali Muhiaddin (ICORN writer in Skien, from Somalia) 

17.00-18.30 
'What is it we are not allowed to say?' Panel discussion about freedom of expression 
Dagbladet Information, St. Kongensgade 40 C. 

Discussion about freedom of expression and its suppression in the ICORN guest writers’ home countries and about what can be done here in Scandinavia to support and strengthen freedom of expression. 

Journalist Vibeke Sperling interviews Parvin Ardalan (Iran), previous ICORN writer in Malmoe, and Alex Tor (Russia), current ICORN writer in Odense.

Followed by a debate with Birgithe Kosovic (writer and debater), Helge Lunde (Director, ICORN), Poyâ Pâkzâd (Middle East Editor, RÆSON), Mille Rode (Head of Secretariat, Danish PEN) and Flemming Rose (Foreign News Editor, Jyllands Posten). 

The event is open to the public and forms part of Cph Reads. 

20.00-22.30 
'Free words in the night' Music and readings by a group of Nordic ICORN writers
Koncertkirken, Blågårds Plads 6A, Nørrebro 

• Noufel Bouzeboudja from Algeria, 
• Easterine Kire from Nagaland, 
• the Palestinian rapper Khaled Harara, 
• Chenjerai Hove from Zimbabwe, 
• Elahe Rahroniya from Iran, 
• Mansur Rajih from Yemen and 
• Mazen Maarouf from Lebanon. 

The words of persecuted ICORN writers mix with Danish poetry provided by the evening’s host, writer Dy Plambeck. Music by Katrine Amsler (keyboard), Stephan Sieben (guitar) and Frederik Hauch (drums). The event is open to the public and forms part of Cph Reads. 

The programme is organised by Helge Lunde (ICORN) and journalist Karsten Pharao. 

The event is open to the public and forms part of Cph Reads. 

FRIDAY 7 MARCH 

12.00-14.00 
'Promotion and wishes for the future'  Networking event for coordinators Kulturhuset Indre By, Charlotte Ammundsens Plads, 3 

The ICORN coordinators share positive experiences and discuss the promotion of ICORN writers as well as future plans. Coordinators discuss what they are able to build on and maybe form new and reform old partnerships. 

In December 2013, Creative Europe, the EU’s new funding initiative for the cultural sector, launched a call for new partnership projects. What kind of opportunities does Creative Europe give member cities? 
By Cathrine Helland, ICORN. 

12.00-14.00 
Networking event for ICORN writers  
Kulturhuset Indre By, Charlotte Ammundsens Plads, 3 

Guest writers share thoughts and feelings on how they experience their working conditions and opportunities during their stay. Do they find it possible to work and continue to have a presence in the literary/journalistic/political arena in their home countries? How do their readers and followers perceive their exile? A strategic step for continuity or a desertion? What can the host city or other organisations/institutions do to help the writers to stay connected to their audience back home, and/or to find new audiences? How do the writers interact professionally with their host city and how do they assess their contributions within/to the host city/country’s cultural and/or political debate and development? 

14.45-16.00 
'Writer in a cold, dark gilded cage' – meet Danish writer Jan Sonnergaard Hofteatret, Christiansborgs Ridebane 18 

On arrival, Museum Director Peter Christensen Teilmann will briefly introduce the fine, historic Hofteater (the former Court Theatre) which dates back to 1767. A unique and atmospheric place where King Christian VII’s personal physician Struensee and King Frederik VII and Countess Danner spent many evenings.

This is followed by a discussion on stage between Danish writer Jan Sonnergaard and journalist Karsten Pharao. Sonnergaard will describe what it is like being a writer in a small welfare state in the cold, dark north which offers public grants for the arts, a social safety net, and broad freedom of expression. 

The interview with writer Jan Sonnergaard is open to the public and forms part of Cph Reads. 

17.00-18.30 
Interview with Naeimeh Doostdar, Nasrin Madani and Asieh Amini 
Dagbladet Information, St. Kongensgade 40 C 

Several Iranian writers and journalists are currently living as ICORN Writers in Scandinavia. Naeimeh Doostdar (ICORN Writer in Malmoe), Nasrin Madani (ICORN Writer in Växjö), Asieh Amini (former ICORN Writer in Trondheim) will give readings and will be interviewed about their lives and work by writer and Vice President of Dansk PEN Merete Pryds Helle. 

The event is open to the public and forms part of Cph Reads. 

20.00-23.00 
Film screenings: Silenced Voices and Silence or Exile Café 
Liva, Nyhavn 26 

20.00-21.30 
Silenced Voices 
The director, Norwegian journalist Beate Arnestad, will introduce the film. Silenced Voices is a film about freedom of expression and witnesses of truth. Through personal meetings with exiled journalists from Sri Lanka, the film shows how much people are willing to sacrifice to bring hidden realities out into the light. Sri Lanka’s record on freedom of expression is one of the worst in Asia. In recent years, many independent journalists have been persecuted and tortured. Others have simply vanished. At least 50 have fled the country. Silenced Voices is their story. The film’s director Beate Arnestad will introduce the film. 

The event is open to the public and forms part of Cph Reads. 

21.30-23.00 
Silence or Exile (2012) 
The French director, Marion Stalens will introduce the film. Silence or Exile is the story of a violent, absurd and unjust world where writers are driven into exile because of their opinions. Ma Jian (China), Mana Neyestani (Iran), Svetlana Alexievitch (Belarus) and Horacio Castellanos Moya (El Salv ador) are four writers who have had to flee their home coun-tries because of threats related to their work. Three of them have been ICORN writers. They tell their personal stories about persecution, writing and life in exile. 

The event is open to the public and forms part of Cph Reads. 

Organisers
The Guest Writers Meeting has been organised by the Danish ICORN coordinators Michael Linde Larsen (Odense), Henning Kjærgaard (Fanø) and Annette Matthiesen (Copenhagen) in collaboration with the ICORN secretariat, Mille Rode from Danish PEN, student Jacob Svane, and journalist Karsten Pharao.