First launched in 2007, when the Catalan Culture was Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the project was conceived to foster the translation of Catalan works into other markets and languages. Since then, over 155 professionals from 32 countries have participated in this fellowship.
The program aims to provide the participants with a more in-depth perspective on the Catalan literature as well as to build networks among Catalan and international publishing houses and literary agencies.
The fellowship runs along with the Books in Catalan Week in Barcelona. During these days, the publishers, bookstores and librarians take the streets and the city beats with literature as many talks, workshops and activities are scheduled to celebrate books in Catalan in the heart of the Old Town.
The fellowship offers a customized schedule of professional 30’ meetings with Catalan publishers and agents selected in accordance with the participant’s catalogues and interests. The program also features introductory sessions on Catalan literature; an overview of the Catalan literary publishing world; informal meetings with writers, illustrators and translators; visits to emblematic bookstores and to other outstanding cultural sites.
This year, the IRL invites 10 Fiction publishers/agents and 8 children’s and YA’s books publishers/agents. In order to optimize their experience, the program includes both common activities and specific initiatives related to each focus of interest.
