Växjö

Växjö is situated in the region of Småland and is a city of education and entrepreneurs, known for Linnéuniversitetet, and a varied cultural and culinary life. The name Växjö comes from the words 'väg' (road) and 'sjö' (lake), as historically merchants and farmers crossed the city's icy lake to meet and trade. 

Throughout the 20th century, the Växjö writers Pär Lagerkvist, Elin Wägner and Vilhelm Moberg stood up for people's rights through their writing and activism. They challenged governments, fought for women's suffrage, and told stories about Swedish emigrants. 

Växjö's ICORN membership is managed by the Culture and Leisure Department. The daily running of the ICORN programme is carried out by The House of Free Speech which works to combine the region's literary heritage and the ongoing struggle for the right to free expression in Småland and beyond. 

In Växjö, the ICORN residents have the chance to take part in the cultural life in various ways, both through existing literary events and also by making it possible for the writer, artist, or journalist to create their own projects. So far, all of Växjö's ICORN residents have published a book during their stay in the city. 

Växjö became a member of ICORN in 2012 and was the first smaller Swedish city to join the network, alongside Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, and Uppsala. From 2012 to 2014 Växjö hosted its first ICORN resident, Nasrin Madani from Iran. In the second half of 2022, the city welcomed its current and forth ICORN resident – the journalist, editor, and activist Aslı Ceren Aslan from Turkey.

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, and The Swedish Glass Museum.
Musik i Syd – a regional music institution.