Prague has more to offer than Franz Kafka – but of course this great writer is also one focus of this City of Literature. In our interview, project manager Kateřina Bajo talked more about Prague's residency program, the exchange with the other literary cities, above all, Heidelberg.
What makes Prague a City of Literature and since when does it have the title?
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, since its early history has been a crossroads of several cultures and place where cultures and nations have been meeting and influencing each other.
The literary tradition in the Czech lands is certainly more than a thousand years old and literature has always been an important factor in the formation and recognition of the Czech national identity and Prague always played an extraordinary role also in culture. Prague´s literary past and present is very rich and diverse and it keeps inspiring literary authors from both the Czech republic and abroad. Let´s mention some most importants authors, i.e. Franz Kafka, Jaroslav Hašek, Karel Čapek, Jaroslav Seifert, Bohumil Hrabal, who and whose works are closely associated with Prague.
We considered all of this with our partner organizations when we were preparing the application to the Creative Cities UNESCO Network, on the basis of which Prague became a member of the network in 2014. So this year is actually our 10th anniversary.
More about the UNESCO City of Literature Prague
With which projects did your city apply for the title City of Literature?
From the very beginning, we agreed with our partners, that cooperation with the cities of the network is very important for us. But of course, we also agreed on some specific plans, which we actually manage to implement.
I´m probably most happy that the residency program for foreign authors has been succesfully implemented for nine years. Every year we invite up to 12 authors to Prague for two-month creative stays, which take place in the very inspiring birthplace of Franz Kafka. Starting this year, we have also joined the activities of the ICORN network and will also provide residencies to authors at risk who are seeking safe asylum.
How did the idea for the application come about and what did the application process look like?
Prague decided to submit an application to the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities after having realistically assessed its literary and book traditions according to its previous practival experience from its literary life. By January 2012, 27 partner organizations from Prague, active in various areas of book culture or related to it and operated on various economic bases either in the public sector or in the private sector, joined to support Prague's application.
What were your first steps after receiving the title?
We had already built a number of practical things from the proces of preparing the application. That is, websites or social media etc. But after receiving the title, we could start implementing specific activities, and the first one was the residency program.
What does it mean for Prague to be part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities?
We are certainly glad to have become part of a community of people who are very inspiring, creative and interesting, eager to collaborate and bring new projects and colaborate on an international scale. Which, of course, is not always completely easy in the case of literature, by which I mean that of course we work with different languages and always need translations of texts.
How did the title effect the local literary scene?
Our office is part of one of Prague's largest cultural institution, the Municipal Library of Prague. Cooperation with partner organizations is essential for us. And thanks to the title of Creative City, we manage to implement large projects that would otherwise be difficult to implement, such as the mentioned residential program.
What is your focus as a City of Literature?
Supporting Prague's literary life is just as important to us as international activities. We try to balance both.
Which international relations emerged for your city after joining the Creative Cities Network? Which specific international projects could be initiated as a result?
We became members of the network in December 2014 and a few weeks later we received an invitation from Andrea Edel from Heidelberg, who also became part of the network in 2014, to the first joint meeting of cities of literature. It was the beginning of a great collaboration with Heidelberg and the very next year we organized a joint workshop of poets.
Do you know the city of Bremen? What do you think: What makes Bremen a City of Literature?
Unfortunately, I have never been to the city of Bremen, but I´m looking forward to visiting this city. I met Mrs. Libuše Černá several times in Prague and everything she told me about Bremen and its literary activities was truly astonishing and interesting.
