Letters to Europe
a journey of discovery
In November 2008, three non-European writers will be invited to send a Letter to Europe. The writer may decide to address Europe as an individual, as an abstract idea, as an economic and political power, as a cultural entity. The letter might be in the form of commentary, critique, rhetoric, satire, fantasy or polemic. He or she may choose to interrogate ‘fortress’ Europe, ‘free’ Europe, post-colonial Europe, a unified Europe, a fractured Europe, a European identity, a multi-lingual Europe, Enlightenment Europe, or their own vision, as non-Europeans, of a future Europe. Whatever they decide to write, the touchstone will be freedom of expression.
In January 2009, three European writers will respond. Over the following year, a total of 24 non-Europeans will write Letters to Europe and 24 leading European writers will reply. All 48 letters will be published in the original language, with translations into English, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, French, Catalan and Spanish.
Some of the correspondents will be ICORN guest writers. Others will be well-known across Europe. Together, they will form a series of 24 letter-writing duets – one European/one non-European – to be developed through the Shahrazad programme as follows:
· photographic portraits of all 48 writers
· 24 photo-reportages
· audio narration in the original language
· an accumulation of objects chosen to symbolise the cultures of both non-European and European participants.
The material will be published in the Shahrazad participating countries through:
· print and broadcast media
· touring exhibitions
· readings
· the website
· and a collection of literary texts in a high quality book/exhibition catalogue.
This will be a challenging transnational journey. No-one can guess or control the outcome. But 48 distinct voices and highly tuned minds will most certainly speak of Europe in new and revealing ways.
