Project purpose and goals
The project aims to strengthen cultural connections and language comprehension in the Nordic-Baltic region by creating opportunities for intercultural exchange and increasing cultural accessibility. Through literature and cultural events, the project fosters a constructive dialogue on values important to the entire region.
Objectives:
- Enable children, youngsters, and adults in the Baltic countries to meet and interact with contemporary Nordic authors, learning about the Nordic countries and their latest literature.
- Allow Nordic authors to meet and understand their readers in the Baltic countries.
- Highlight topics such as gender equality, sustainable development, and social inclusion frequently addressed in Nordic literature.
- Reach smaller towns and rural areas, enhancing access to quality culture.
- Showcase the benefits of storytelling and creative writing through workshops.
- Promote contemporary Baltic literature in the Nordic countries.
These interactions inspire intercultural experiences, open new perspectives, and encourage creativity and reading among children and young people. Nordic authors, through their engagement, provide practical reading and writing tips and serve as role models.
Key events and activities
During the project, Nordic authors visit Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to engage with children and young people in schools and public libraries. These visits are complemented by participation in various literary events and festivals, book fairs, and debate sessions. Book illustrators, creative writing experts, and storytellers also lead workshops for diverse audiences.
The project leverages the existing platform of the annual Nordic Literature Week in the Baltic countries, with numerous authors visiting libraries and schools involved in this event. Additionally, the project collaborates with major literary festivals across the Baltic region.
Some visits have targeted minority language communities in the Baltic countries, ensuring that the Nordic cultural program reaches a wider audience, including both students and adults. Two Nordic authors have also extended their visits to readers in Belarus.
Since the project’s inception, over 20 authors have visited Lithuania. Notable visitors include Denmark’s popular crime writer Michael Katz Krefeld, award-winning writers such as Sjón from Iceland and Maja Lunde from Norway, Nordic Council Children and Youth Literature Prize-winning illustrator Linda Bondestam, and nominee Rakel Helmsdal from the Faroe Islands. Other distinguished visitors include Finnish book illustrators Jenny Lucander and Anna Sailamaa, Norwegian writer Bjørn Sortland, Swedish writers Mats Strandberg and Sara B. Elfgren, Norwegian storyteller Ivanir Sibylla Hasson, Danish storyteller Rikke Houd, and Icelandic writer, TV show host, and reading promoter Ævar Thor Benediktsson, among many others.
These meetings have taken place in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys, Ukmergė, Anykščiai, Plungė, Kaišiadorys, as well as smaller towns and rural areas across different regions.
Partners
- Coordinating partner: Federation of Associations Norden (Foreningen Norden Forbund)
- Implementing partners: Nordic Council of Ministers Offices in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
