The Book Arsenal Festival is looking for ten emerging translators into Ukrainian

The International Book Arsenal Festival has joined the European project Connecting Emerging Literary Artists (CELA) for the first time, announcing the open call for translators. Ten emerging translators will be selected to participate in the program from September 2024 to June 2027.

CELA offers emerging writers, translators, literary professionals, and literary organizations a two-year trajectory of training, tools, and network with the aim of facilitating an international career and building a combined professional practice. 

The organizers are looking for translators in the following directions:

Spanish — Ukrainian;
Italian — Ukrainian;
Polish — Ukrainian;
Dutch — Ukrainian;
Serbian — Ukrainian;
Slovenian — Ukrainian;
Czech — Ukrainian;
Romanian — Ukrainian;
Bulgarian — Ukrainian.

Deadline: March 1, 2024.

What is offered:

• paid translation assignments of 6 sample (prose) texts from emerging writers in your source language;
• a voice/vote in the selection of participating writers;
• publication of these translations on the CELA website and other literary platforms across Europe;
• 4 international online masterclasses on relevant professionalization topics;
• professional communication tool kit with a headshot and artist bio;
• mentorship program: you will work with an established translator in the same translation direction and with a literary consultant;
• 2 live national team meeting in Kyiv;
• 2 live project-wide work weeks (in Turin, Italy, and in Brussels, Belgium);
• 2 visits to a literary festival in your target language country;
• paid and mentored pitching assignment of (at least) one of your writers;
• connection to an international network of more than 300 writers, translators, and literary organizations in Europe.

What the organizers are asking for:

• you are a literary translator of prose (fiction and non-fiction both apply) in Ukrainian;
• you have published a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 literary translations in either an established literary magazine or with a national quality publishing house;
• you are a final year student at a translation faculty or just entering your professional translation career. You have graduated from an academic literary translation course and/or have proven your potential through literary translation programs, and have experience working with publishing houses;
• you are willing and able to prioritize your participation in this project, you can make the time and (head)space to dedicate focus to the activities, and you are able and willing to communicate with partner organizations and other participants (the common project language is English).

Participation in this project is free of charge. Participants are responsible for complying with the terms and conditions of participation and completing the project. CELA covers travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs for live activities.

You can find more details and apply here.

Connecting Emerging Literary Artists (CELA) is an international talent development project co-funded by the Creative Europe Program of the EU. It is a 4-year project that connects emerging translators from 11 European countries (10 languages) with emerging writers through masterclasses, sample translations, mentorship, presentations, and live meetings. CELA aims to offer literary artists from small language markets in Europe a level playing field to establish an international career, reach an international audience, and develop their professional skills.