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About SlovoNovo
SlovoNovo is a cultural platform that unites Russian-speaking creatives from across the globe. Founded to support uncensored creativity and foster meaningful dialogue, the forum brings together intellectuals who share universal human values.
Mission
To support and unite Russian-speaking creatives who embrace freedom of expression.
Goals
– Support young talented individuals in the Russian-speaking creative community;
– Develop Russian-speaking culture as part of the global cultural landscape;
– Explore cultural processes within the Russian-speaking world;
– Actively engage with local cultural environments.
The History of SlovoNovo
Since 2018, the SlovoNovo Forum of Free Culture in Europe has been held in Budva, Montenegro. For participants, gathering in Montenegro at the end of September has become a cherished tradition, and many guests dream of attending the forum’s events. Over the years, SlovoNovo has hosted renowned writers, poets, artists, musicians, politicians, business people, and directors.
The forum has become a major cultural event, unique in its stellar lineup of participants. Notable figures include Boris Akunin, Mikhail Shishkin, Vladimir Sorokin, Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Boris Grebenshchikov, Andrey Makarevich, Lev Rubinstein, Alexander Delfinov, Timur Kibirov, Bakhyt Kenjeev, Alexey Tsvetkov, Alexander Kabanov, Andrey Illarionov, Garry Kasparov, Seva Novgorodsev, Artemy Troitsky, Igor Tsukanov, Rustem Adagamov, Konstantin Eggert, Timur Olevsky, Vladimir Dubossarsky, Vitaly Komar, Alexey Plutser-Sarno, Dmitry Vrubel and Victoria Timofeeva, Arkady Troyanker, Vitaly Mansky, Dmitry Krymov, and many others.
The forum has featured presentations on the cultural life of Russian-speaking communities in London, Berlin, Riga, Prague, Tallinn, Cyprus, Ukraine, Montenegro, Paris, Venice, New York, Serbia, and Tel Aviv. Roundtables have covered topics such as Russian-language media in Europe, cultural centers, bookstores, issues of integrating Russian culture into European contexts, and interactions with local cultural environments. The forum has also included exhibitions, writer meetups, poetry readings, and musical performances.
Twice, in 2002 and 2023, SlovoNovo held its off-site forums in Tel Aviv.
The forum’s board of trustees includes Oleg Reps, Marat Gelman, and Valentin Zavadznikov. Marat Gelman initiated and directed the forum.
At SlovoNovo, a hub for free culture, practical questions are also discussed:
• How can we contribute to achieving peace and freedom in Ukraine and Russia?
• How can the forum support individuals in conflict zones?
• What actions can be taken to assist those in art, education, and media?
The forum continues to serve as a space for dialogue, reflection, and the promotion of free and creative thought.
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What’s Happening at the Forum?
The annual SlovoNovo Forum hosts a variety of cultural and educational events
Roundtables: Discussing contemporary cultural and social issues
Lectures: Insightful talks by renowned speakers
Exhibitions: Showcasing visual art from Russian-speaking talents
Concerts & Readings: Musical evenings and live literary readings
Series of Discussions and Workshops with leading voices in literature and art
Forum program 2024
Speakers
Participants include prominent writers like Boris Akunin, Lyudmila Ulitskaya, and Viktor Shenderovich, filmmakers like Vitaly Mansky, and iconic musicians like Boris Grebenshchikov and many other world-class artists.
Thomas Venclova
Thomas Venclova is a distinguished Lithuanian poet, translator, literary scholar, essayist, and human rights activist. A co-founder of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group, he emigrated to the USA in 1977 after being stripped of Soviet citizenship for his dissident activities. He taught at Yale University for over 30 years and returned to Lithuania in 2018.
Mikhail Shishkin
Mikhail Shishkin is one of the most acclaimed contemporary Russian authors, known for his sophisticated style and profound psychological insights. His works, exploring themes of history, memory, and love, have earned him prestigious awards such as the Big Book Prize and the Russian Booker Prize. Shishkin sees the SlovoNovo Forum as a vital space for dialogue and cultural independence.
Alexander Delfinov
Alexander Delfinov is a poet, spoken word artist, and journalist whose creative career spans over three decades. A winner of numerous international poetry slams, he is also the co-founder of multiple artistic projects, including the cultural center PANDA platform in Berlin. Delfinov has published seven poetry collections, highlighting his dynamic voice in contemporary literature.