This spring, Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg will give enthusiastic readers an opportunity to discover and explore the diversity of Luxembourg’s literary and book publishing scene with booths at both the Brussels Book Fair and Leipzig Book Fair.

This will be Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg’s first time exhibiting at the Luxembourg booth at these two major events.

Four Luxembourg publishers – Capybarabooks, Hydre Edition, Kiwi E.L.G. and PassaParola Editions – have opted to take advantage of this opportunity to exhibit their latest French-language releases in literature, non-fiction and children’s books at the Brussels Book Fair (30 March to 2 April 2023 on the booth “Livres du Luxembourg” – n°209).

And at the Leipzig Book Fair, the second largest in Germany, which this year will be held from 27 to 30 April, six Luxembourg publishers – Black Fountain Press, Capybarabooks, Editions Guy Binsfeld, Hydre Editions, Kremart Editions, Point Nemo Publishing – will present their new spring releases.

Not only are these fairs critically important for helping boost the profile of Luxembourg works and authors – through the organisation of readings and the presentation of authors attending the events — but they are also a platform where professionals can meet up and discuss and debate issues, while serving as the perfect venue for the general public to discover Luxembourg authors and find out just how diverse the Luxembourg book sector actually is.

To promote the publishers and authors present at these fairs to a wider readership at home with the bookstagram phenomenon, Kultur | lx has developed a new video format that will be released on 15 March on Instagram only.

There is a lot of literary news this spring, with the nomination of Jeff Schinker for the European Prize for Literature, but also with the prospects of exchanges after a field trip at the Bologna Book Fair and during our national participation at the upcoming Brussels Book Fair.

Field trip at the Children Bologna Book Fair
Kultur | lx organised a field trip to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair from 6th until 8th of March with two Luxembourgish publishing houses specialised in children’s and young adult literature, Kremart Edition and Editions Guy Binsfeld.

The field trip allowed the editors to broaden their network and strengthen already existing ties made through various book projects, thus evaluating the interest of a potential presence of their publishing house in the coming years at this major event. The editors also took advantage of the BCBF to discover the newest trends and perspectives in children’s and young adults literature as well as the different exhibitions of illustrators. Overall, the visit at the BCBF has given the participating editors new ideas and perspectives for interesting new publishing projects.

“It was important for Editions Guy Binsfeld to further develop relationships with other publishers and service providers, to buy licences and sell them in parallel. The next few weeks will show whether and to what extent we have succeeded in this. At the same time, we have deepened already existing relationships with publishers, authors and illustrators and can look forward to joint projects in the future. The sea of outstanding illustrations and concepts as well as the abundance of ideas and nice people ensured that we returned with new books, good contacts to international experts and, above all, a lot of inspiration”, explains Marie Mathieu

Jeff Schinker – Nominee for the European Union Prize for Literature 2023
At the Bologna Book Fair, the nominees for the European Union Prize for Literature 2023 were revealed. Among the 13 authors from 14 countries on the shortlist is Jeff Schinker’s My Life in the Tents.

The nominating organisation for Luxembourg composed by Anne Diderich (Fédération luxembourgeoise des Libraires), Jeanne Glesener (University of Luxembourg), Nathalie Jacoby (Centre national de littérature), Béatrice Kneip (journalist) and Florent Toniello (A:LL Schrëftsteller*innen), has selected Ma vie sous les tentes by Jeff Schinker for its unflinchingly honest look at a way of life in which the fear of mediocrity and solitude drives every move and every sentence in search for connections that transcend the seemingly unremarkable and for its insightful exploration of the sociology of festival life.

The winner of the EUPL 2023 and the five special mentions will be announced on 28 April at a ceremony at the Leipzig Book Fair (where Kultur | lx will be present for the first time with six publishers on a national stand).

First national presence at the Brussels Book Fair

This will be Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg’s first time exhibiting at the Luxembourg booth at this major event.

Four Luxembourg publishers – Capybarabooks, Hydre Editions, Kiwi E.L.G. and PassaParola Editions – have opted to take advantage of this opportunity to exhibit their latest French-language releases in literature, non-fiction and children’s books at the Brussels Book Fair (30 March to 2 April 2023).

In addition to the stand where Antoine Pohu will sign his new novel Parfois la nuit se tait (Capybarabooks, 2023) on Saturday 1st April from 02:00p.m. to 03p.m., on Sunday 2 April at 10.00 a.m., a meeting and reading will be organised around the theme: ‘Transgressions et perspectives féministes’ with Tullio Forgiarini and Nathalie Ronvaux.

Kultur | lx invites you to discover authors and publishers on Instagram from Wednesday 15 March before meeting them at stand no. 209 at the Brussels Book Fair.

Ma vie sous les tentes by Jeff Schinker has been nominated for the European Union Prize for Literature 2023. The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) recognises emerging fiction writers from the European Union and beyond. Engaging the 41 countries participating in the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, the Prize celebrates 41 outstanding new literary talents across a cycle of three years. Spotlighting the creativity and the immense and diverse wealth of Europe’s contemporary literature in the field of fiction, EUPL aims to promote the circulation of literature within Europe and encourage greater interest in non-national literary works. Thirtheen authors from fourteen countries participate in the 2023 edition and have been nominated:

The nominating organisation for Luxembourg composed by Florent Toniello (A:LL Schrëftsteller*innen), Nathalie Jacoby (Centre national de littérature), Jeanne Glesener (University of Luxembourg) Béatrice Kneip (journalist) and Anne Diderich (Federation of Luxembourgish Librarians), has selected Ma vie sous les tentes by Jeff Schinker for its unflinchingly honest look at a way of life in which the fear of mediocrity and solitude drives every move and every sentence in search for connections that transcend the seemingly unremarkable and for its insightful exploration of the sociology of festival life.

The EUPL 2023 Prize winner and the five special mentions will be revealed on 28 April, during the announcement ceremony at the Leipzig Book Fair. All nominated authors will be continuously promoted on a European stage, aiming to reach a wider and international audience, as well as connect with readers beyond their national and linguistic borders.

The EUPL is organised by a Consortium of associations comprising the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) and the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), with the support of the European Commission.

Several Luxembourgish writers have already won the European Union Prize for Literature :
– Jean Back in 2010 for his short novel Amateur, ultimomondo, Luxembourg, 2009.
– Tullio Forgiarini in 2013 for Amok. Eng Lëtzebuerger Liebeschronik, Editions Guy Binsfeld, Luxembourg, 2011.
– Gast Groeber in 2016 for All Dag verstoppt en aneren, Op der Lay, Luxembourg, 2013.
– Francis Kirps in 2020 for Die Mutationen, Hydre Editions, Luxembourg, 2019.


Author biography
After a childhood full of fun and games he barely remembers, Jeff Schinker (1985) spent his awkward teenagers devouring a ton of books, thereby causing a certain amount of damage to his digestive system. He then moved to Paris where he began a never-ending course of studies at university that could one day be crowned with a doctorate in comparative literature should he ever decide to pick them up again. He frittered away his time in the French capital, a clear sign that he was preparing for a career as a writer. He just needed his first texts, which he duly wrote in his studio apartment, and which were so bad that he couldn’t even find himself a Max Brod he could ask to burn them on his behalf. The writer persevered, however, as evidenced by his contribution to Fragments 3973, published by Hydre Éditions in 2013. After Retrouvailles, which came out in 2015 with the same publisher, things really took off. Unable to live off his writing despite the incredible success of his first book (in 2022 alone, the publisher reportedly sold one or two copies), he turned to journalism and became the editor of the Tageblatt culture section. After being included in several anthologies published in English and French, Schinker made a comeback with Sabotage, a megalomaniac project written in four languages. It was destined to be a flop, but was in fact shortlisted for the Servais Prize, the Lëtzebuerger Buchpräis, and the European Prize for Literature. In addition to these two trades, Schinker also organises readings which are much like his books, namely a little off the wall. After submitting the manuscript for Ma Vie sous les tentes to his publisher – a book that would also be shortlisted for the Servais Prize- he disappeared into thin air, disillusioned by the world in general and the literary microcosm in particular. According to a few juicy rumours doing the rounds on the Luxembourg cultural circuit, he’s apparently working on a fourth novel, but no one knows much about it, beyond the fact it’ll be full of sentences that are far too long.

From 6th until 8th of March, Kultur | lx organises a field trip to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair with Kremart Edition and Editions Guy Binsfeld, one of the most important meetings for the children’s publishing industry.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the fair attracts over 1400 exhibitors and around 30000 professional visitors like publishers, illustrators, graphic designers, literary agents, authors, translators, booksellers, distributors and many more. This field trip allows the Luxembourgish editors specialised in children’s and young adults literature to present their publishing programme, dialogue as well as make new contacts with international professionals from the children’s publishing industry. With a diverse programme and the famous Illustrators Exhibition and industry, the BCBF also gives an overview of new trends in children’s literature.

Whether in French, German or Luxembourgish, literature or other genres, here is a small overview of what you will discover in bookshops at the beginning of the year!

Jean Portante, Une dernière fois, la Méditerranée
Editions Phi, January 2023, Fiction, French
Une dernière fois, la Méditerranée closes the trilogy opened in 2015 with L’architecture des temps instables and extended in 2019 with Leonardo. The Nardelli of Mrs Haroy ou la mémoire de la baleine , who became Rossi in the course of writing, will thus be found, as well as Jean Portante’s favourite themes: migration, war, generational mixing, secrets buried in the layers of time, the skilful amalgam of fiction and autobiography. And this time, a diversion through the founding myths of travel and exile.

Tom Reisen, Discours sur la littérature 09
CNL, October 2022, Essay, French
Tom Reisen’s work questions, among other things, the relationship to time and reality by relying on the mechanisms and possibilities of narration. Articulated in two stages, his discourse first focuses on the personal practice of writing, its memorial, intertextual and autobiographical aspects. The reflection then extends to the Luxembourg literary field in order to raise questions and propose theoretical paths in the context of a literary history that has yet to be written.

Claudine Muno, Dëst ass net däi Liewen
Op der lay, November 2022, Children’s literature, Luxembourgish
Dëst ass net däi Liewen follows a young narrator who meets Jan on the bus and decides to follow him, even though he is not her style. She approaches him on the bus, close enough to determine that he smells of soap, but not close enough to hear the music playing in his headphones.

Susanne Jaspers & Denis Scuto (HG.), This Hard Minett Land
capybarabooks, November 2022, Short stories, German, english, french and luxembourgish
This Hard Minett Land is an invitation to a very special journey through southern Luxembourg: some forty writers and historians have been inspired by the songs of Bruce Springsteen to write about the Luxembourg-Lorraine mining area, about those who live there and have lived there, who were born there or immigrated there, who worked there, loved there, dreamed there, hoped there, struggled there, succeeded – or failed.

With stories from : Jean Back, Ulrike Bail  Jean Back, Ulrike Bail, Serge Basso de March, Romain Butti, Michel Clees, Anja Di Bartolomeo, Andreas Fickers, Tullio Forgiarini, Claude Frisoni, Piero Galloro, Gast Groeber, Julia Harnoncourt, Guy Helminger, Nico Helminger, Tom Hengen, Jhemp Hoscheit, Susanne Jaspers, Jean-Marc Lantz Marc Limpach, Charel Meder, Roland Meyer, Claudine Muno, Gérard Noiriel, Gilles Ortlieb, Luciano Pagliarini, Antoine Pohu, Jean Portante, Irene Portas, Jérôme Quiqueret, Anne-Marie Reuter, Daniel Richter, Nathalie Ronvaux, Fatima Rougi, Jeff Schinker, Denis Scuto, Jens van de Maele, Nora Wagener

EHTL, Mmmmh – Des recettes végétales gourmandes pour bien manger
EHTL – École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme du Luxembourg, Diekirch, December 2022, cookbook, french and english
Two chefs and teachers, Steve Lentz covering savoury dishes and Carole Goerend covering sweet dishes, have devised and produced 59 recipes that are entirely plant-based and almost 100% vegan. Gourmet dishes and desserts, inspired by their experiences, discoveries and travels, accessible to all.

Luxembourg was the guest country at this year’s Bridge Festival in Athens from 16 to 18 December. Over three days, Luxembourg authors Elise Schmit, Tullio Forgiarini and Tom Reisen read and spoke about their translated books into Greek, their œuvre and writing practice, the diversity of Luxembourgish literature and multilingualism, together with the curators of the festival programme, the writer Christos Chryssopoulos and Pascal Seil (curator, CNL), as well as the translators of the books. Elise Schmit’s „Stürze aus unterschiedlichen Fallhöhen“, Tullio Forgiarini’s „Amok“, both of which got translated by Vakxikon Publications, and Tom Reisen’s „Les Bulles“, translated by World Books, were presented.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg (@kulturlx)


The Luxembourg Embassy in Athens organised a reception in a convivial atmosphere which allowed for further exchanges with the Greek literary and cultural scene.

Kultur | lx’s translation support and such exchanges contribute to and stimulate the circulation and visibility of Luxembourg literary works.

Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg, in partnership with Lëtzebuerger Bicherfrënn – Les Amis du Livre a.s.b.l., and in collaboration with the National Centre for Literature, launched a call for a two-month writer’s residency at the Literarisches Colloquium (LCB) in Berlin, including a supporting grant. A space for reflection, a workshop for experimentation, and an incubator for talent, this prestigious international literary institution organises readings, seminars and other literary events.

Jury members Christiane Krier (Lëtzebuerger Bicherfrënn), Frank Hansen (Lëtzebuerger Bicherfrënn), Ludivine Jehin (National Centre for Literature), Sébastian Thiltges (University of Luxembourg) and Nora Wagener (author & Luxembourg laureate) assessed the applications received and forwarded their recommendations to the LCB. At the end of the selection process, Jeff Schinker‘s application was selected.


Jury Statement
Jeff Schinker is a very active and prolific writer. His work is an integral part of Luxembourg’s literary and cultural scene. Through a large body of published works, the author has demonstrated a flair for experimentation and innovation. Supported by a start-up grant from l’Œuvre de la Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, the author completed a writer’s residency at the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin in 2016. During that period, he was able to develop important new contacts and explore Berlin’s literary scene and sector.

The jury unanimously agreed on the quality of the research proposed and the reasoning behind the text the author plans to write. The author will address a subject that is still relatively unexplored in Luxembourg’s literature: emigration stories. A residency at the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin is not only highly relevant to Jeff Schinker’s research, but also a key stage in his career and development as a writer.

The jury is therefore pleased to award this residency which will contribute to the promotion and development of Luxembourg’s authors and literature.


Author biography
After a childhood full of fun and games he barely remembers, Jeff Schinker (1985) spent his awkward teenagers devouring a ton of books, thereby causing a certain amount of damage to his digestive system. He then moved to Paris where he began a never-ending course of studies at university that could one day be crowned with a doctorate in comparative literature should he ever decide to pick them up again. He frittered away his time in the French capital, a clear sign that he was preparing for a career as a writer. He just needed his first texts, which he duly wrote in his studio apartment, and which were so bad that he couldn’t even find himself a Max Brod he could ask to burn them on his behalf. The writer persevered, however, as evidenced by his contribution to Fragments 3973, published by Hydre Éditions in 2013. After Retrouvailles, which came out in 2015 with the same publisher, things really took off. Unable to live off his writing despite the incredible success of his first book (in 2022 alone, the publisher reportedly sold one or two copies), he turned to journalism and became the editor of the Tageblatt culture section. After being included in several anthologies published in English and French, Schinker made a comeback with Sabotage, a megalomaniac project written in four languages. It was destined to be a flop, but was in fact shortlisted for the Servais Prize, the Lëtzebuerger Buchpräis, and the European Prize for Literature. In addition to these two trades, Schinker also organises readings which are much like his books, namely a little off the wall. After submitting the manuscript for Ma Vie sous les tentes to his publisher – a book that would also be shortlisted for the Servais Prize- he disappeared into thin air, disillusioned by the world in general and the literary microcosm in particular. According to a few juicy rumours doing the rounds on the Luxembourg cultural circuit, he’s apparently working on a fourth novel, but no one knows much about it, beyond the fact it’ll be full of sentences that are far too long.

 

The LCB residency is made possible due to an endowment from the Lëtzebuerger Bicherfrënn – Les Amis du Livre a.s.b.l. who support the book sector by donating part of the proceeds from sales of second-hand books by Lëtzebuerger Bicherfrënn volunteers to promote the production of literary works in Luxembourg.

Authors receiving the grant also undertake to write a Bourglënster Ried which will be published as a limited-edition pamphlet funded and co-published by the National Centre for Literature.

 

From 16 to 18 December, Luxembourg will be the guest of honour at the Bridge Festival in Athens (Greece).

This festival aims to build a cultural bridge between the honoured country and Greece by inviting artists from the honoured country and by establishing strong and lasting links with institutions, artists and audiences. The curators of the programme are writer Christos Chrysopoulos (Meteo) and Pascal Seil (Curator, National Centre for Literature).

It was the numerous translations into Greek that enabled Kultur | lx to respond to the invitation of the CNL and the Kairos Foundation.

Elise Schmit (16 December at 7 pm), Tullio Forgiarini (17 December at 7 pm) and Tom Reisen (18 December at 8 pm) will be present with their respective books “Stürze aus unterschiedlichen Fallhöhen”, “Amok” and “Les Bulles” and will take part in readings and professional meetings during the festival.

From 19 to 23 October, Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg attended the 74th edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair with a national booth “Books from Luxembourg”. This booth hosted 10 publishers  (Black Fountain Press, capybarabooks, Editions Guy Binsfeld, Editions Schortgen, Ernster Editions, Hydre Éditions, KIWI E.L.G., Kremart Edition, PassaParola Editions, PersPektiv Editions) and showcased 37 fiction, non-fiction and children’s titles in five languages: English, French, German, Italian and Luxemburgish.

“Translate, Transfer, Transform”

On 20 October, the Luxembourg Minister of Culture, Ms Sam Tanson, visited the Frankfurt Book Fair and the “Books From Luxembourg” booth.
A networking event was organised inviting interaction between the Luxembourg scene and international professionals.

On the occasion of this networking event, Sam Tanson commented on the theme of the 2022 edition of the fair: “the contours of the Luxembourg literary landscape could be defined by the following words: dynamic, diverse, multilingual. And this is how Luxembourg fits in with the theme of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2022. In Luxembourg, too, translations and the mediation of Luxembourg authors abroad are the focus of attention.”

The booth, designed by Studio Polenta and featuring a artwork by illustrator Marc Angel, was a meeting point for Luxembourg publishers to make new contacts, exchange ideas and dialogue with international book professionals, present their publishing programme and authors and plan new projects.

Luxembourg literature was also present outside the stand: Tullio Forgiarini, winner of the European Union Prize for Literature in 2013, took part in a round table discussion on book promotion, as well as on the writing, illustration and translation of stories.
On the Leseinsel der unabhängigen Verlage, organised by the Kurt Wolff Stiftung, the Luxembourg author Bernd Marcel Gönner read poems from his latest book “Großes Rasenstück” published by KILLROY media Verlag with the support of Kultur | lx through a publishing support.

“Music, performing arts, literature and visual arts – in addition to cinema, which is strongly represented at this year’s Cinémania festival, Luxembourg has a rich and diverse culture, which I am happy to see exported this autumn in several venues in Montreal“, highlights Sam Tanson.

Within the framework of Luxembourg, the country of honour of the CINEMANIA festival, Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg invites to discover other aspects of Luxembourg’s creation between music, performance, dance and literature. Beyond the highlight at the PHI centre on November 3, Kultur | lx is expanding its programming and allowing artists to present themselves at major platforms and festivals on the Montreal scene. The establishment of a new partnership with the Centre des auteurs dramatiques de Montréal opens a three-week residency to two authors.

03.11.2022 | PHI Centre 

17h : Networking Event
Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg invites professionals from the Quebec cultural scene to come and exchange ideas about Luxembourg’s creation and to share their desire for cooperation.

6pm – 9.30pm: Performances
Free registration HERE

A/V performance (duration 33′)
MINERALS | Andrea Mancini (creation 2022)

Copyright – Yves Conrady

An exploration of the fascinating world of minerals in an audiovisual and sound performance.

Concert (duration 40′)
THIS IS KARMA

Copyright – Shade Cumini

Pop, folk or electro, the musician draws from a multitude of influences to build dense, soft and yet powerful pieces.

Dance performance (duration 30′)
ART. 13 RUNWAY / EDDI VAN TSUI COMPANY

Copyright – Eddi van Tsui

In “Art. 13 Runway” the theme of migration merges with that of fashion. A hybrid form created and adapted for the PHI centre that integrates its architecture, consciously playing with the audience’s perception to move and exceed the limits of the stage.

 

Continuing the discovery…

04.11 | 18h | Darling Foundry, Montreal
Open Studio With Suzan Noesen
As part of her residency at the Fonderie Darling (September-November 2022), Suzan Noesen opens the doors of her studio to discuss her project and her research.
fonderiedarling.org | suzannoesen.com

07.11 – 12.11 | Luxembourg delegation at the CINARS Biennial
Every two years since 1984, CINARS has organised one of the most important international meetings of the performing arts in Montreal with more than 1900 professionals from 54 countries, including 433 of the most important presenters in the world. This year, the artists invited to the PHI Centre and the Machine Room Festival will be accompanied by Kultur | lx to meet international professionals.
cinars.org

07.11 – 28.11 | Centre des auteurs dramatiques
Author in residence: Sophie Langevin and Ian De Toffoli
Founded in 1965 by six authors, the CEAD now has over 290 members. An association of authors serving authors, CEAD is a centre for the support, promotion and dissemination of French-language drama in Quebec and Canada. It occupies a unique place in the theatrical landscape, both in terms of the number of its members and the objectives of research and excellence that it pursues. The CEAD is involved in collaborations with other countries. Luxembourg is invited for the first time to benefit from these programmes.
www.cead.qc.ca

17.11 | 4pm | Quai des Brumes + 10.45pm | Casa del Popolo
C’est Karma – M for Montreal Festival
For the past 17 years, M pour Montréal has acted as an essential catalyst for the Quebec and Canadian music industry, both for emerging artists and those developing their careers outside of Quebec. The event offers a series of conferences where local and international music industry professionals gather. For this first Luxembourg participation, the artist C’est Karma will be honoured.
mpourmontreal.com

19.11 | 5pm | Centre du théâtre d’aujourd’hui
Perspectives d’auteur-rices: l’écriture en chantier. With Sophie Langevin and Ian De Toffoli
Festival la Salle des machines
La Salle des machines is a unique event organised by the Centre des auteurs dramatiques. As part of this festival, authors offer the public dramaturgical meetings around their texts in progress. Ian De Toffoli and Sophie Langevin, in residence at CEAD, will discuss writing in progress and their respective practices.
lasalledesmachines.net

Kultur | lx would like to thank its partners for the opportunity and the realisation of this programme: the Film Fund Luxembourg, the Cinemania Festival, the Phi Centre, the Fonderie Darling, the M for Montreal Festival and the Centre des auteurs dramatiques de Montréal.

In November, let’s spread our imaginations and meet around the artists and creations of Luxembourg!