Bridging the Distance: Ukrainian-Irish Literary Project Launches

The project was initiated by the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Ireland, Irish PEN, and PEN Ukraine, and is implemented with the support of the "Culture Helps Solidarity" international collaboration grants programme.

PEN Ukraine, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Ireland and Irish PEN, announces the launch of an international literary project — Bridging the Distance: Ukrainian and Irish Literary Voices. The initiative was selected for co-financing through the Culture Helps Solidarity international collaboration grants programme.

The project will support integration of emerging Ukrainian writers into the Irish literary scene, and re-connecting with fellow Ukrainian writers in Ukraine. We also hope that the project's activities and outcomes will build a solid foundation for future collaborations and building Ukrainian-Irish cultural ties.

Bridging the Distance: Ukrainian and Irish Literary Voices will bring together three unique groups of authors:

• emerging Ukrainian writers currently living in Ireland (most of whom were forced to flee their homes due to the full-scale war);
• professional Ukrainian authors from Ukraine who are currently military personnel and veterans;
• professional Irish authors who actively support Ukraine and whose work explores decolonialism and peace issues.

The project will include a three-day literary workshop in Dublin, collaborative work on a collection of original essays exploring the challenges and threats facing Europe and the whole world, followed by the publication and promotion of the book in both Ireland and Ukraine.

The "Culture Helps Solidarity / Культура допомагає: Солідарність" is a project co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the European Cultural Foundation (Netherlands), Insha Osvita (Ukraine), zusa (Germany), and the VETERANKA Movement (Ukraine).