#FreeAllWords

EWC

Posted on April 29, 2022, 6:07 pm
4 mins

1 MILLION WORDS FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH

A EUROPEAN SUPPORT PROJECT BY AUTHORS FOR AUTHORS

FEE AND TRANSLATION FUND FOR TEXTS BY AUTHORS FROM BELARUS, UKRAINE AND RUSSIA.

In view of the current situation in Ukraine, Belarus, but also in Russia and the persecution of media professionals who are critical of Putin, it is essential to make the voices of threatened, harassed and war-affected writers heard – in Europe and around the world. Their texts, their opinions, their poetry, and their written testimonies of the present are a chronicle of one of the most critical situations for the world community since the Second World War.

The funding of translations of texts by persecuted, censored, forcibly silenced authors into as many languages as possible is the decisive way here – as is the quick and uncomplicated support of writers through text fees – to provide active support in the dissemination of their works and voices. The #FreeAllWords program has now been designed for this purpose: 

Specific support from authors for authors: #FreeAllWords

The #FreeAllWords text and translation fund is a joint support action for Belarusian, Ukrainian and Putin-critical or censored Russian authors of all (book) genres, and will be coordinated under the umbrella of the European Writers’ Council (EWC) and with the participation of its 46 member organisations from 30 countries, as well as with the help of the umbrella organisation of European literary translation associations CEATL.

#FreeAllWords was initiated by the authors’ associations ­A*dS (Authors of Switzerland), Forfatterforbundet (Norway), and the Union of Belarusian Writers (Belarus).

The first stage of the #FreeAllWords fundraising of 44,000 Euros was reached just in time for the start of “Freedom of Expression Week”, thanks to seed funding ­from the foundations Landis & Gyr (Switzerland), the Sophie and Karl Binding Foundation (Switzerland) and the Fritt Ord Foundation (Norway). Other foundations and non-profit organisations have been approached – and are also welcome to learn more about the project to consider supporting it.

The seed funding will enable #FreeAllWords to take the next organisational step: commissioning writers and translators, and building a unique European-wide action to provide specific support to writers.

The goal is at least one million published words for peace and freedom of expression, for understanding between cultures and nations, and as a key contribution in persuading people for a free, democratic, peaceful and inclusive society.

Within the framework of #FreeAllWords, short, actual, published, as well as new original texts, interviews, reports, essays, poems and other short forms by Belarusian, Ukrainian and Putin-critical Russian authors are to be translated into European and international languages and disseminated in a wide variety of communication channels – digital, print, blogs, media, other forms.

The authors’ and translators’ fees will be paid from the #FreeAllWords fund. The first texts and translations by 30 authors from Belarus, Ukraine and Russia will be published in up to 31 countries in June and July 2022.

In particular, writers’ and translators’ associations in the European book sector, and also literature­ institutions are welcome to request texts and bring the authors closer to the public. The European press and media can also pre-register for texts and translations.

Further information

www.freeallwords.org

Contact options:

contact@freeallwords.org

Contact persons and correspondence languages:

Nina George, President of the EWC (German, English, French)

Alena Makouskaya, Project Manager, Member of the EWC Board (English, Belarusian, Russian)
https://europeanwriterscouncil.eu/free-all-words/
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