After a summer that drew film and music enthusiasts to Lopud, the island is set to debut a two-day literary event this September, uniting renowned writers and intellectuals
Next week, the island of Lopud will host the first-ever Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, a literary gathering that will take place on September 27 and 28. The event will bring together writers, academics, and university professors from Croatia, Ireland, and across Europe. Set against the inspiring, history-steeped backdrop of the Rector’s Palace, this unique literary gathering seeks to foster cultural exchange through the enduring power of the written word.
”We believe that literature possesses a singular ability to bring people together. With Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, we aim to ignite meaningful conversations that not only shed light on our shared human experiences but also inspire the creation of new and impactful works,“ said James Candon, one of the organizers.
Lopud Island
The event will open on Friday with welcome speeches by James Candon, linguist and author Ivana Lovrić Jović, and the Irish Ambassador to Croatia Wendy Dorman-Smith. The program offers a variety of engaging activities, including author presentations where writers will share insights into their creative processes through discussions with attendees. Particular focus will be placed on storytelling and creative workshops, where participants can delve into the importance of discovering their personal narrative or unlock their creative potential in a poetry workshop led by award-winning young author Katja Knežević. Additionally, Ivana Lovrić Jović will address the critical issue of sexism in contemporary literature. In addition to the literary focus, part of the program is dedicated to intellectual exchange: a particularly exciting highlight will be a discussion between renowned economist David McWilliams and unionist Adrian Kane, moderated by Dalibor Šimpraga. They will shed light on the relationship between capital and labour and its impact on society. A roundtable discussion, moderated by Staša Aras, will bring together Alison Langley, Paul Fagan, Cauvery Madhavan, and Wendy Erskine to explore how public opinion and political discourse influences literature.
Duke’s Palace at night
”Building on the success of our well-established film and jazz festivals, the Ponta Lopud Creative Platform is excited to open its doors to its first literary gathering. This inspiring event will welcome literature lovers of all kinds – from seasoned professionals to passionate enthusiasts. Every visitor will bring something special to Lopud, and in return, it will offer its natural beauty and unique charm. A heartfelt thanks to James Candon for this remarkable initiative, to all our distinguished guests, and to our incredible team who helped turn this wonderful vision into reality,“ said Tilda Grossel Bogdanović, founder of the Ponta Lopud Creative Platform.
Ponta Lopud Book Bridge is set to become an annual event and will undoubtedly become a staple of Croatia’s cultural calendar, offering a space for established authors and young talents to meet and create new cultural bridges. Admission is free for all visitors on both days.
Duke’s Palace
Ponta Lopud Creative Platform hosts and presents three summer cultural programs in 2024, welcoming all art lovers, especially those passionate about film, music, and literature. Ponta Lopud Summer Screenings, celebrating the art of film, was the first of three events held from June 27 to 29. The second event, which attracted music lovers to the island from August 29 to 31, is the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival. The third, new addition to the creative platform is the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, a festival running from September 27 to 29, rounding off the summer festivities and closing Lopud’s cultural-artistic season.
For more information visit pontalopud.hr and follow the Ponta Lopud Creative Platform on social media – Instagram and Facebook.
