View source for Slovene Writers’ Association

{{Article
| status       = PHOTO NEEDSUPDATE WRITING TOPROOFREAD NIFERTIK!
| maintainer   = Simon Žlahtič
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{{Infobox
|name             = Slovene Writers' Association
|localname        = Društvo slovenskih pisateljev
|logo            = Slovene Writers Association (logo).svg
|street           = Tomšičeva 12
|town             = SI-1000 Ljubljana
|map              = http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lon=14.49986&lat=46.05286&zoom=17&layer=mapnik
|telephone           = 386 (0) 1 251 4144, 386 (0) 1 425 2340
|fax                 = 386 (0) 1 421 6435
|email               = dsp@drustvo-dsp.si
|website             = http://www.drustvopisateljev.si
|street              = Tomšičeva 12
|town                = SI-1000 Ljubljana
| contacts = {{Contact
| name                = Dušan Merc
| role                = President
| email               = 
}}
| accounts            =
https://www.facebook.com/drustvoslovenskihpisateljev.si/
}}

{{Teaser|

{{Image|Slovene_Writers’_Association_2020_Fair_in_the_Fresh_Air_Photo_Alenka_Strukelj.jpg}}

The [[Slovene Writers’ Association]] is the professional organisation of Slovene writers. Its aim is to provide a network for authors in the Slovene cultural space, represent their interests, encourage creative freedom and promote Slovene literature. Since 1986 the Slovene Writers' Association organises a significant Central European event, [[Vilenica International Literary Festival]] in the karst caves of Vilenica, with more than 100 guests every year. 
}}
{{TeaserSlo|Društvo slovenskih pisateljev je strokovna organizacija slovenskih pisateljev. Njegov cilj je podpirati mrežo avtorjev v slovenskem kulturnem prostoru, zastopati njihove interese, spodbujati ustvarjalno svobodo in promocijo slovenske literature. }}

==History==

The Association was originally founded on 21 April [[Established::1872]] in Ljubljana with the aim of supporting writers and their families. It was dissolved in 1915 by the Austrian authorities, but re-established in 1920. From World War II until 1989 the Association was a member of the Writers' Association of Yugoslavia. In the early 1980s the Slovene Writers' Association became more involved in social questions, particularly issues concerning nationality, creative freedom and political pluralism (during this period a commission for the protection of writing and thinking functioned within the framework of the Association, and &ndash; with help from external experts &ndash; participated in measures to change the Constitution). The Association also played an important role in Slovenia gaining independence.

In recent years the Association has been above all a literary organisation, devoting a great deal of energy to promoting Slovene literature abroad. Its international activities are focused on maintaining contacts with writers’ societies and cultural institutions around the world (it has signed international cooperation protocols with many countries), and on collaborating with other literary magazines. The focus of these efforts is the international writers’ event [[Vilenica International Literary Festival]], which is attended by more than 100 renowned writers from all over the world each year.

==Support services==

The Slovene Writers’ Association has maintained productive contacts with translators and promoters of Slovene literature abroad. Occasionally the Association sends out newly-published Slovene books and dictionaries, enabling established as well as future translators who are learning the Slovene language (up to five) to participate in the Seminar of the Slovene Language, Literature and Culture, which is held each July at the [[Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana]]. There are also grants available for translators who wish to perfect their skills in Ljubljana (the Association provides financial aid and the possibility of lodging, also through the HALMA network). This form of cooperation with translators has developed into a unique series of writers’ and translators’ workshops, which make possible a constant creative exchange. 

The Association's international activities also include the participation of Slovene writers in annual and biennial international events and festivals abroad. When its members are personally invited to take part in events, readings, festivals and meetings abroad, the Association covers part of their travel expenses (50 to 75 %).

The Slovene Writers' Association has also collaborated with [[Slovene PEN Centre]] and the [[Centre for Slovene Literature]] to set up the [[Trubar Foundation]].

==Award programme==
Each year at the [[Vilenica International Literary Festival]] the Association bestows the [[has project::Vilenica International Literary Awards]], which comprises the Vilenica Grand Prix, the Young Vilenica International Literary Award and various other minor awards. It also bestows the annual [[Jenko Award]] for poetry, [[Stritar Award]] for literary criticism, and [[Desetnica Award]] for children and youth literature. In cooperation with the [[Sodobnost International Cultural Society]] the annual competition for the [[Best Short Story Award]] is run at the [[Slovene Book Days]] festival.

==Publishing==
Twice each year the Association issues the special foreign-language publication ''[[Litterae slovenicae]]'', which contains excerpts from works by Slovene authors. In 2002 the Association also issued the publication ''Key: Slovenia, Contemporary Slovene Literature in Translation'' for the Slovene presentation at the ''Frankfurt Book Fair'', along with some special publications on particular authors.

==The Association's online database==
[[Slovene Writers’ Association]]'s website features basic information on its members (CV, bibliography, genres) [Pisatelji] and presentations of selected books [Knjige] in Slovenian language. 

==See also==
*[[Litterae slovenicae]]
Festivals
*[[Vilenica International Literary Festival]]
*[[Slovene Book Days]]
Awards
*[[Vilenica International Literary Awards]]
*[[Jenko Award]]
*[[Stritar Award]]
*[[Desetnica Award]]
*[[Best Short Story Award]]
Networks and associations
*[[Slovene PEN Centre]]
*[[Slovenian Association of Literary Translators]]

==External link==
*[http://www.drustvopisateljev.si/en/ Slovene Writers' Association website]
*[http://www.readme.cc Readme.cc European Platform for Literature]

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[[Category:Literature]]
[[Category:Venues]]
[[Category:Support services]]

[[Category:Professional associations]]
[[Category:Professional literature associations]]
[[Category:Literature publishers]]

[[Category:Information offices]]

[[Category:Exhibition organisers]]
[[Category:Festival organisers]]

[[Category:Competition organisers]]
[[Category:Literature competition organisers]]

[[Category:Literature festival organisers]]
[[Category:Literature venues]]
[[Category:Literature support services]]

[[Category:EU funding of Slovene organisations (Culture and MEDIA Programmes)]] 
[[Category:EU Culture funding recipient]]
[[Category:EU Creative Europe, Culture funding recipient]]
[[Category:Literature_festival_and_event_organisers]]
[[Category:Literature_funding,_professional_and_support_services]]
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