Växjö

Växjö joined the ICORN in 2012 and was then the fifth and hitherto smallest town in Sweden to become a safe haven for writers. The membership in ICORN is part of the culture and leisure management and the House for Free Speech that works to combine the literary heritage in the region  and the struggle for the right to free speech today – this for all citizens to make their voices heard - in Småland and in the world.

From 2012 to 2014 Växjö had its first writer staying in the city under the residency program, Nasrin Madani (Iran). In mid-September 2022, the city welcomed its most recent ICORN resident- the journalist, editor, and activist Aslı Ceren Aslan from Turkey. 

Växjö offers guest writers in residence a chance to take part in the culture life in various ways, both with literary events already taking place etc, but also to make it possible for the guests to create their own project. Växjö is also the pilot area for a new project called “Colleague to colleague” by Swedish Pen and the Swedish Writers Union, which will connect Swedish writers with the guest writers to form a network. 

Literary/artistic resources in the city: 

The House of Free Speech
Kronoberg Book Fair/ Växjö city library 
Swedish Writers Unions regional members 
Växjö Art Gallery 
The Regional Theatre 

The literary organizations in the region 
Vilhelm Moberg 
Elin Wägner 
The house of Elin Wägner 
Pär Lagerkvist 
Kulturparken Småland which includes the Smålands Museum, The House of Emigrants, The Swedish Glass Museum 
Musik i Syd – a regional music institution