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A series of networking events in 4 cities over 3 years
Four EPESEP symposia are going to be held in the cities of the partnering groups: Munich, Amsterdam, Yerevan and Vienna. Feminist and literary organisations will be promoted, aiming to establish a transnational collaboration amongst writers. The symposia will include expert lectures, meetings of the writing and networking group, readings of female authors, exchange and discussions on the results of the project. It will be the opportunity to present the results of the survey, but also to provide female authors with a platform to present their works in front of an international audience and to exchange writers, stakeholders and experts from other European countries. The first symposium is happening this year, in Munich.
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25. to 27. Oct 2024,
Werksviertel-Mitte Kunst Munich
Where did the symposium happen?
The first symposium happened under the framework of the Schamrock Festival - Conference of the Birds in Munich at Werksviertel-Mitte Kunst.
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When did it happen?
From the 25th to 27th October 2024
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How was it conducted?
As an onsite event with multidisciplinary performances of poems, lyrics, fiction and music. A book purchase counter, an open bar and ample time to network with fellow readers and audience members was a prominent part of the three days.
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Who all joined?
Performers from over 20 nationalities including authors from PEN's Writers in Exile program, and an audience of over 120 people over three days.
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Why was EPESEP symposium a part of Schamrock Festival?
Schamrock Festival is still the only festival for female poets in the world, it is a success story from Munich. Schamrock was honoured with the Anita Augspurg Prize of the state capital of Munich in 2021, the Bavarian Culture Award 2022, and strengthened by the diverse response of poets, audiences, sponsors and press from all over the world.
Day 1: October 25, 2024
Gerlinde Hacker, Doro Pointner, Hannah Oppolzer, Yra van Dijk, Lilit Stepanyan, Arpi Voskanyan, Susanne Darabas
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Presentation of the ≠igfem Reading List by Hannah Oppolzer
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Discussion of the criteria for the website and generally the presentation on the website (suggestions made by ≠igfem)
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Presentation of the Schamrock Reading List by Susanne Darabas
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Presentation of the TAI Reading List by Lilt Stepanyan
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Presentation of the FixDit Reading List by Yra van Dijk
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Discussions of literary issues on which the Feminist Reading List is based such as the availability of titles on the list, criteria for the experts on the expert panels, genres and types of books that are listed…
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Discussions of the targets group of the different Feminist Reading Lists
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Discussions of timetable, responsible persons, and further meetings
Workshop Leaders
Gerlinde Hacker
Writer, literary activist, project manager, and president of ≠igfem. Selected publications: störfeuer, herzgeröll, blind spot, weiwamessa, meine wahrheit kennt deine wirklichkeit nicht.
www.gerlindehacker.com – www.hackerin.at – www.igfem.at
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Doro Pointner
Born in 1969, grew up in Styria, and has lived and worked in Vienna since 2000. Studied linguistics and philosophy. Published poetry and short prose in anthologies, literary magazines, and radio. In 2021: Poetry collection "Früchte des Schnees". Member of the Grazer Autorinnen Autorenversammlung (GAV) and co-founder of the Feminist Authors Interest Group (IG feministische Autorinnen).
https://doropointnerblog.wordpress.com/
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Verena Mermer
Author and literary scholar. Most recent works: die stimme über den dächern (2015) and Autobus Ultima Speranza (2018). Editor of Louise Werner’s ... aber mir hat der Marxismus besser gefallen! (Theodor Kramer Society Publishing House, 2018).
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Hannah Oppolzer
Born in 1999, studied German Studies in Vienna, currently pursuing a master's degree in Literary Writing and Editing at the University of Hildesheim. Her debut novel "Verpasst" was published by Braumüller Verlag in 2023. She has been a member of ≠igfem since 2023 and is working on the Feminist Reading List project.
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Eva Surma
Born in Graz, lives and writes in Leibnitz, Styria, but also enjoys writing by the sea. Member of ≠igfem since 2022 and co-founder of ≠igfem Bezirk Leibnitz with Anna Cech. Member of the international platform literatur*grenzenlos and a PEN member since 2023.
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Susanne Darabas
She has studied German and American Literature and Philosophy, and was a research assistant and an editorial officer. She is writing poetry, prose and essays and is working as a freelance editor, translator, and project manager.
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Dr. Yra van Dijk
Dr. Yra van Dijk (1970) is professor of Modern Literature and researcher at Leiden Hogeschool, and member of the feminist writers collective Fixdit. After publishing volumes and monographs on Late-postmodern literature (Reconsidering the postmodern. European Literature Beyond Relativism, 2011), on Intertextuality and on Shoah-Memory in the novel, she is now researching trauma, narrative and meaning for a next monograph: Structures of Signification in Dutch-Caribbean Literature. (with Thalia Ostendorf, 2025). Van Dijk also writes essays and reviews for Ducth newspapers and journals, like NRC Handelsblad and De Nederlandse Boekengids.
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Jannah Loontjens
Jannah Loontjens is a novelist, poet, and philosopher, who writes regularly for Dutch newspapers and magazines. Her novels include How Late Actually (2011, nominated for the Halewijn Literature Prize), But Then Again (2014, translated into Danish and Hungarian) and Who Knows (2018). Her poetry collections include Variants on Now (2002), The Incredible Shrinking (2006, nominated for the Eline van Haaren Prize), and It’s You (2013). Her non-fiction: My Life is More Beautiful Than Literature (2013), the autobiographical philosophy book Roaring Nineties (2016, nominated for Best Spiritual Book 2016) and When it Comes to Love (2019). Loontjens’ writing engages with topical issues, while drawing on her personal experiences and grounding in philosophy. Her latest non-fiction book, Guilty: An exploration of my conscience reflects in her own authentic voice on the role of guilt in western culture (2021, nominated for the ‘Socrates Wisselbeker’). Her newest novel: And Then He Was Gone (2023) was nominated for the Boon Literature Prize. www.jannahloontjens.nl
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Workshop language: English
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Co-financed by the European Union - Creative Europe Program and BMKÖS - Austrian Federal Ministry for Art, Culture, Public Service, and Sport.