To celebrate the poets and translators we’ve worked with over the past two decades, we’ve planned five themed showcases in Norfolk, Newcastle, Ledbury, London, Sheffield and Manchester. In preparation, we’ve been building relationships with communities in those regions, partnering with an array of leading cultural and community organisations to run informal workshops and events exploring ideas around translation.
But that’s not all! As we turn twenty, we’re also getting a new look – keep your eyes peeled for a rebrand and a refresh of our website very soon.
The PTC will also publish four astonishing books in 2024, including our groundbreaking anthology Living in Language: International Reflections for the Practising Poet; a new World Poet Series title, Real by Turkish poet Karin Karakaşlı, translated by Canan Marasligil and Sarah Howe; a new title by Mexican poet Victor Terán, translated by Shook from Zapotec; and Translations of the Route, a collection by Argentine poet Laura Wittner translated by Juana Adcock, published in partnership with Bloodaxe Books. Laura will be touring her book with Juana here in the UK in October.
In September, back at SOAS where the PTC was founded, we’ll celebrate the winners of the Sarah Maguire Prize for poetry in translation, and then make way for an all-out birthday party. The Sarah Maguire Prize closed for submissions on 31 December 2023 – stay tuned for the shortlist announcement in the Spring, and events featuring the shortlistees throughout the Summer.
We are also developing a new hybrid event format, which we’ll be evaluating throughout the year. Each showcase will feature one blockbuster hybrid event that won’t not remind you of Eurovision, as we connect poets, translators and audiences virtually across borders, limiting our carbon footprint.
On top of that, we’re running our regular workshop seasons at home in Deptford and online, and have more plans for UNDERTOW, our programme for polylingual young poets.