International center for literary translators was founded in the year 2001 in Novi Sad. The activities of the Center are taking place in Sremski Karlovci (10 kilometers from Novi Sad and 60 kilometers from Belgrade). The Center has a regional character and focuses on translating works from one Balkan literature to the languages of other Balkan literatures as well as translating literary and scientific works from any of Balkan languages (Serbian, Croatian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Albanian, Greek), to other languages. The Center provides accomodation and activities for up to 2 translators at the same time from all over the world all year through. Because of the lack of support from the state institutions The Center has, ever since the openning, operated with limited strength. We have had three translators visiting the Center, one from Austria, one from Scotland and one from Germany and they all stayed for one month and worked on their translations. Also The Center hosted fifth regular half-year meeting of Halma network in april 2008. We have also been involved in local events in Serbia. For instance, we were the co-organizers of the announcment of translators prize „Branko Jelic“ together with French Cultural Centre in Belgrade.

Recently, the Ministry of Culture in Serbia and local administration showed interest in our work and we have just moved to the newly decorated space downtown Sremski Karlovci, prepared just for the work of the Center. This will allow us to work with full capacity in the forecoming period of time.

International Centre for Literary translators in the project "Meeting cultures between the lines"


The MCBL project
“Meeting Cultures between the Lines” is a project implemented under the umbrella and in the context of the purposes of European Culture Programme 2007-2013. It supports the transnational mobility of people in the cultural sector as well as the circulation of cultural works and products. The project encourages intercultural dialogue and aims at helping people realise the benefits which derive from the interaction of cultures in peaceful environments. Moreover, the project meets the intentions of Culture programme against social exclusion and discrimination between the lines, by addressing minority groups and people from all social levels.

Implementing the core idea of MCBL
The general idea is to connect the European–Mediterranean countries through literature, translation and cultural activities.  In this framework, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Palestine, Romania and Serbia cooperate on two main axes:
1) “Mobility & visibility of writers & translators”: Six ‘cultural couples’ are formed to work in close cooperation. Extracts of the work of four European writers will be translated in Arabic. In reverse, part of the work of one Arab writer will be translated in two European languages. The results will be presented to the local community of Palestine by organizing a public event or/and visits to educational institutions.
2) International student contest “Young people in motion”: Students will write an essay about a commonly shared value. Designated committees will compose the subject, promote the contest and evaluate the essays.
The concrete results of both the above parts will be published in a multi-lingual edition.
A cycle of events like a maypole in motion will run through November 2010 until October 2011. European and Arabic cultures will interweave during the following events.
  • A Meeting on the topic “Cultural & Language Diversity” will be organised in Sofia to bring representatives from each partner country in a public dialogue.
  • Closing the project:
A Symposium titled “In-Value-Able Cultural Crossroads” will bring the top winners of the youth contest together at a round table to meet and discuss. An open dialogue will follow the symposium, inviting the local student community to participate and share experiences. Moderation of the discussion will be done by members of the international student contest committees.
During a Public Event in Rhodes, the multilingual edition, which will merge the results of the MCBL project, will be presented. The top winning contestants and the national committees of the student competition will actively participate in the Event and the closing festivities -however keeping the passages of communication open!