Slovensko-škotska pesniška izmenjava: potovanje skozi manjše in manjšinske jezike
[Slovenian-Scottish Poetry Exchange: a journey through smaller and minority languages]
Thursday 11 June, 4–7:30 p.m., Grad Štanjel, Slovenia
Timed to coincide with the fifth Edwin Morgan Trust International Translation Exchange, this event will feature readings by the six poets – Ken Cockburn, Beth Frieden, Iva Jevtić, David Kinloch, Barbara Korun and Milan Šelj – as they reflect on the process of literary translation, offering insights into the creative and collaborative journey behind their work, and exploring the cultural and linguistic contexts that shape their writing.
The Edwin Morgan Trust International Translation Exchange is a biennial series that brings together leading international poets to collaborate with Scottish poets through workshops and public readings. This two-part exchange in Edinburgh (November 2025) and Dane-Sežana (June 2026) is organised with and supported by the Centre for Slovenian Literature and the Slovenian Book Agency.
This event will be in English and Slovenian and is proudly supported by the British Embassy Ljubljana.
Programme
16:00 – 16:45 Guided tour of the Museum of the Slovenian Language
17:00 – 18:15 Panel discussion and readings
18:15 – 18:30 Gaelic songs by Beth Frieden
18:30 – 19:30 Reception
Please RSVP to Peter Davey at ptrdavey@gmail.com.
Organised and supported by the Municipality of Komen, ORA Krasa in Brkinov, the British Embassy, the Edwin Morgan Trust, the Centre for Slovenian Literature and the Slovenian Book Agency.
About the poets
Ken Cockburn (1960) is a poet and translator based in Edinburgh, where he worked for many years at the Scottish Poetry Library. He was the first writer-in-residence at the John Murray Archive, National Library of Scotland, and was awarded the Arts Foundation Fellowship for Literary Translation 2008.
Beth Frieden (1986) is an American poet who writes in English and Scottish Gaelic. Her debut pamphlet, Acair san talamh / Anchor in the land, was published by Stewed Rhubarb Press in 2023. She received a New Scottish Writer’s Award in 2021 from the Scottish Books Trust and was in the 2023-24 cohort of Genesis Emerging Writers.
Iva Jevtić (1976) is a poet, translator, and literary theorist. Her first poetry collection Težnost [Gravity] was published by Apokalipsa in 2005. In 2023, KUD Zrakogled published her second poetry collection Milost [Grace], which won the 2023 Veronika Prize for best poetry collection.
David Kinloch (1959) is the author of six collections of poetry, most published by Carcanet Press, the latest being Greengown: New and Selected Poems. In 2022, David received a Cholmondeley Award from the Society of Authors in recognition of his contribution to poetry.
Barbara Korun (1963, Ljubljana) has published eight poetry collections and received several Slovenian and international awards and nominations. She also writes reviews and essays and actively promotes poetry written by women. Her all-round creativity has been recognised both at home (Mira Award, 2020) and abroad (Regina Coppola Award, 2016).
Milan Šelj (1960) is an award-winning Slovenian poet and translator. He is the author of five poetry collections for adults: Darilo [Gift] (2006), Kristali soli [Crystals of Salt] (2010), Gradim gradove [Building Buildings] (2015), Slediti neizgovorjenemu [Tracing the Unspoken] (2018), and Jezik je ključ [Language Is the Key] (2023). He has also published two poetry books for children: Kosmatice (2020) and Rime na veter [Rhymes in the Wind] (2024).
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