Download european literary marathon

EUROPEAN LITERARY MARATHON
Project title
EUROPEAN LITERARY MARATHON II – ELM II
Background
Europe is characterised both by its multicultural character and by its Eurocentric identification
mechanisms towards a common modernity and culture. Although, that historically, it hosted tens of
different civilisations, peoples, notions and movements, its inhabitants, the Europeans, have always
proclaimed a common cultural origin.
Amongst the areas where Europeans have been seeking a common ground, is in the case of literature.
Ancient or modern, literature has been the medium through which the Europeans expressed their ideas
and made them known to the wider public within and outside Europe. Literature, of any genre, is a
historical testimonial of the development of the common and unique European culture.
Therefore, in today’s globalising culture, the study and promotion of the European Literary heritage is
imperative.
The original idea of the ELM aroused in Verona (Italy) where Fondazione Aida realised the four editions
of the Literary Marathon at the local level between 2002 and 2005, involving hundreds of citizens in the
public no-stop readings dedicated to Dante‘s Divine Comedy (2002), to Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso
(2003), to Homer’s “Iliad"” by Vincenzo Monti (2004); to Petrarch’s “Canzoniere, or Rerum vulgarium
fragmenta” (2005).
After these successful initiatives the idea to realise the initiative at the European level was launched: the
first ELM-EUROPEAN LITERARY MARATHON on the 9th May 2007, in order to celebrate the Day of
Europe involving citizens in a unique simultaneous cultural event. The result was 8 no-stop public
readings (8-10 hours) taking place at the same time in 8 European Countries (Italy, Bulgaria, Greece,
Romania, Spain, Finland, Poland, UK). Each of them was dedicated to a national author of the 20th
Century chosen as representative of the National Literature and as expression of the European Culture.
Eight marathons were realised by different partners (i.e. associations, theatres, regional library,
municipality, national radio) in different locations (open squares, theatres, libraries, radio studios) but
linked together by a unique European spirit. Each partner added collateral events according to its culture
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and history: theatre performances, music concerts, radio programmes, seminars, drawing competitions,
conferences etc. together with the main readings.
The ELM 2007 was a great success everywhere not only because hundreds of volunteers (a total of
1.600 readers and 15.000 persons as audience) from different ages, professions and social groups
participated as readers in the main Marathons but also because schools, universities, libraries, public
institutions (i.e. Ministers of Culture, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, local politicians, etc. and also a prison)
decided with enthusiasm to join the project organising twin short- marathons and other events dedicated
to the authors and the Masterpieces of the ELM.
Project brief overview
Aim
The aim of this proposal is to repeat this successful attempt by organising a second Literary Marathon in
a wider European level in order to promote and communicate the different cultural parts of the common
European Literary heritage.
Brief description
The event is meant to last about 8 - 12 hours; each marathon will be dedicated to all the masterpieces
selected by each country. It will be a unique event with same literary program, decided together with an
international scientific committee, but realised in different languages and in different countries. It will be
located into a theatre, a cinema, or a square and it will be free-entrance and will take place on a day
common for all countries. All the marathons should be connected together by radio and TV.
Readers will be chosen amongst citizen volunteers: students and young people, housewives,
professionals, retired people, etc. The audience will be informed about the event through a promotional
campaign using means such as: radio spots, posters, leaflets, and articles on the newspaper. The event
will be video recorded and a DVD will be prepared.
We would like the events to have a social and civil significance by promoting the peace and the common
living of different peoples in our societies.
Project leader
Fondazione Aida
Aida was established in Verona in 1983 by a group of theatre artists and professionals who decided to
join forces to promote children’s theatre. From the very beginning, it was set up as an open space where
artists with different backgrounds can examine ideas, work together and produce new artistic creations.
In 1987 the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities approved the association as an innovative
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permanent children’s theatre. In 1996 the association became a private foundation: the Fondazione
Aida.
Many artists have worked with Aida and each one has contributed his or her own insight, in turn
receiving stimulation and inspiration. Consequently, each cultural project is the result of the fortunate
encounter of people, opportunities and energies that are always new and different. The activities of the
Fondazione Aida inevitably expanded in different directions, but the foundation has maintained its
original scope of children’s theatre. Thus, theatre has merged with the visual arts and computer
graphics, with classical and contemporary music, and with the great tradition of the Commedia dell’Arte
and the theatrical languages of the 20th century.
However, the Fondazione Aida does more than produce shows. It also promotes the culture of theatre
through its reviews in which it hosts the main Italian children’s theatre companies and important figures
in contemporary theatre. The Fondazione Aida organizes theatre courses and workshops for children of
all ages, teachers and educators, and for all other theatre enthusiasts. It has also undertaken a special
project – the University Theatre Workshop – through an agreement with the University of Verona in order
to teach students about the languages and history of contemporary theatre. In 2003 the Fondazione Aida
also became a professional training centre accredited by the Veneto Region, and it organizes courses
for technical, artistic and organizational personnel in the field of live performances. The Fondazione Aida
often goes beyond the bounds of theatre to conduct various types of cultural happenings, some of which
have now become regularly planned events.
In 2000 the Fondazione Aida began to work closely with the Teatrino dei Fondi of San Miniato (Pisa),
and together they have relaunched Titivillus, a publishing house specializing in theatre.
Lastly, the rapport with other Italian and foreign theatrical and cultural associations has always been
essential to Aida. Consequently, the Foundation participates in European and international festivals (also
with productions in local languages), collaborates on international projects and is a member of the main
European networks in this field, such as EUnetART and Assitej.
Since 2002, Fondazione Aida has implemented three literary marathons with the citizens of Verona, in
co-operation with the University of Verona: the reading of the Dante’s “Divina Commedia (Divine
Comedy)” (2002), Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso” (2003), and Homer’s “Iliad” (2004).
Project objectives
1. Create a unique and innovative European event that involves at least 6 countries in 6 different places
at the same time that through its organisation would provide an “arena” for intercultural dialogue
2. Realise a high quality - comparative study of European literature by the creation of a scientific
committee at international level, made of professionals coming from different countries
3. Facilitate the access to what is generally considered ‘high culture’ and widen cultural participation by
regular people in Europe
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4. Highlight the multicultural aspects composing the common and unique European literary heritage
and raise the awareness of contemporary Europeans of their literary heritage
5. Promote an active involvement of citizens as readers and listeners as well as cooperation and
networking between cultural organisations, publishing companies, universities, the public sector etc
who share an active interest to enhance and promote the European Literary heritage
6. Encourage European cultural organisations to cooperate to joint activities; and encourage the
mobility of their staff and related professionals
7. Promote the dissemination of live cultural events using the new technologies of the information
society.
8. Attract the younger generation to appreciate and become involved with European literature
Project activities
The activities of the proposed project include preliminary research, workshops, the Literary Marathon
events, and dissemination of project results as follows:
1. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE AND WORKSHOPS
Organisation of two one-day scientific workshops that will bring together the partners and literature
specialists (philologists, writers, poets etc) from all the participating countries. An international scientific
committe will be created to support the realisation of a common program for the Marathon. Its final
decision may be taken during or soon after the first scientific workshop, when according to the various
proposals, the genre and/or the century the authors and the works to be read will be decided,. These
two workshops will promote the exchange of experience: the first will lead to the conceptual framework
for the development and the organisation of the Literary Marathon Events and the second will illustrate
the common and unique European Literary Heritage. The results of these workshops will be published in
electronic form in the project’s website and will be included in the edited volume of the ELM II.
2. COMPARATIVE RESEARCH
Each of the partners has to undertake research at national level, which will end to a 8-12 pages
typewritten scientific report with illustrations on the nationally selected author / masterpiece / genre.
Fondazione Aida will edit the results and they will be included in the edited volume of the ELM II.
3. LITERARY MARATHON EVENTS
The idea is that each Marathon will last for 8-12 hours for one day on a specific place chosen in the city /
town of each co organiser, where all the works and authors chosen will be presented, using the
translated versions. The scenario of the Marathon is that each country with its Masterpiece takes over
from the other as in the case of the real Marathon race.
The framework of the event, the cooperation and the methodology will be decided and finalised during
the first scientific workshop. All co organisers should assist each other with the philological and
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presentational understanding of the selected masterpieces. For the organisation of the Marathon each
co-organiser will decide on its internal referees and will be responsible for the casting of the readers, the
artistic details, the logistics etc.
All the marathons will be connected through radio and TV as parts of a unique event, dislocated in
different countries.
The events will be video recorded and a DVD with abstracts of the recordings will become available at
the end of the programme
4. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
A series of electronic publications and print materials as well as a dedicated website are the
dissemination activities planned for this project. All workshop reports and research reports will be
published in the project’s website. An edited volume of 80 pages with illustrations of the research reports
together with the workshop reports will become available also in print.
Fondazione Aida will enrich the already created project website which was put on line during the first
ELM. The web-site will promote the project since its beginning. It will be updated regularly with the
information provided by the co-organisers.
Furthermore, Fondazione Aida will prepare a common graphic layout (poster, leaflet, programmes) and
submit the concept to the approval of the other co-organisers. Then, each co-organiser will print the
materials and spread them out in its city/town and neighbourhood for the national promotion of each of
the Marathons.
As usual, each co-organiser will also use the normal press office activities like press conference and
relation to the press.
The involvement of the media will also be a priority for this project. Radio or TV should be involved from
the very first stages of the organisation so as to make the project known and to broadcast the whole or
parts of the events.
Finally Fondazione Aida will prepare a synthesis DVD of all the Marathons. Each co-organiser will also
prepare a 30 minutes of video-recorded scenes and will send it to Fondazione Aida. Fondazione Aida
will mix the video together and prepare a DVD to be spread out.
5. MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION
Management and coordination will be undertaken by the project leader, who will be assisted in this task
by a Steering Committee, consisting of representatives of all co-organisers. The Committee will meet
three times; two will be at the same time as the workshops, and one at the end of the project. The
Steering Committee will undertake responsibility for all the strategic decisions relating to project
planning, allocation of work amongst partners, timing and coordination of tasks. Three methods of
communication will be used: formal Committee meetings, e-mail, telephone and e-conferencing.
Fondazione Aida in cooperation with the other co-organisers will undertake the activity and financial
reporting to EU.
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Long-term results
1. Celebrating the common European Literary Heritage and creativity.
2. A network of cultural organisations interested to the promotion and enhancement of the European
Literary Heritage in the future. This network will initially include as members the co-organisers and
associate partners of this project and other professionals, cultural operators and research-education
organisations etc.
3. Encouraging the mobility of professionals in the field of Literary Heritage.
4. Building a body of knowledge for the common and unique European Literary Heritage, giving rise to
future events and further joint activities.
5. Maintaining the momentum of the Literary Marathon events, in real and digital form (through the
DVDs) and provide a model to other European countries or organisations operators for organising
more joint events of literary heritage.
Beneficiaries
Professionals, writers, poets, philologists, literature professors, publishers, cultural organisations,
theatres and drama schools, creative writing schools, cultural associations, public authorities, research
organisations, schools, colleges, universities, the general public and in particular the young people.
Duration
12 months (from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008).
The event should take place in spring / summer 2008.
The activity schedule of the project should be as follows:
Month
Activity
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
One day workshop
Comparative research
Research
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National report deadline
Synthesis report deadline
Literary Marathon Events
Organisation of logistics
Organisation of artistic aspects
The ELM EVENT
Dissemination activities
website
e-publication of workshop reports
e-publication of national resports
Publication of edited volume
Printed programme of the Events, poster
and leaflets
Synthesis DVD of the Events
Management
Steering Committee meetings
Day-to-day Management
Expected budget
The expected overall budget for the project is 500,000€. It will be allocated to the partners according to
responsibilities. The EU co-funds up to 80% and the rest 20% has to be own contribution.
Referent
Fondazione Aida
ref. Cecilia Cinelli
Casella Postale 1062
37122 Verona 10 (Italy)
tel.0039-045-8001471 fax.0039-045-8009850
[email protected]
www.fondazioneaida.it
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