ICORN international cities of refuge network

Literary and human rights prizes announced

The Polish Prize of Sergio Vieira de Mello, awarded to individuals and organizations from all over the world with the aim to promote human rights, democracy and tolerance, announces the call for applications. And The Manchester Writing School at MMU launches the international literary competition Manchester Poetry and Fiction Prizes to celebrate excellence in creative writing.

An open letter to Ahmadinejad – my green vote was not your black name

Illustration: Saadia Hussain

As the Iranian election is rapidly closing up, The Dissident Blog has dedicated their latest special issue to Iran. It includes an honest open letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by ICORN guest writer in Malmö, Naeimeh Doostdar Sanaye.

Masresha Mammo is new ICORN guest writer in Amsterdam

At the invitation of the City of Amsterdam and the Dutch Foundation for Literature, Ethiopian journalist and writer Masresha Mammo arrived in Amsterdam in May 2013 to take residence as the city’s new ICORN guest writer. During the next 12 months, Mammo will live and work in the apartment where Anne Frank and her family lived for nine years, which today functions as a residency for refuged writers.

Jönköping joins ICORN

Rune Backlund - Executive Member of Regional Committee Ola Lundmark - Executive Chief of Regional Development

We are happy to announce that on 5 June 2013, Jönköping County Council signs the membership agreement with ICORN and becomes Sweden’s seventh city and second region to join the network.

ICORN writers at the Norwegian Festival of Literature 2013

ICORN guest writers and coordinators from the twelve Norwegian cities of refuge gathered at green and flowering Lillehammer during the Norwegian Festival of Literature during the last days of May. The theme of the festival was Responsibility. What responsibilities does a writer have? What responsibilities do we all have?

On the Move – improving mobility for cultural professionals

Creativity has no borders, but states do. Therefore, visas never ceases to be a hot topic for cultural professionals working internationally – and that includes the many ICORN guest writers residing all over the world. ICORN has recently signed a report issued by On the Move that advocates for better conditions for the international mobility of artists and cultural professionals.

Paris welcomes Syrian writer and editor Najati Tayara as new ICORN guest writer

The Syrian writer and editor Najati Tayara, renowned for his numerous books and articles on human rights in Syria, arrived in his new safe haven Paris in April, to take residence as the city’s ICORN guest writer.

WRITING FREEDOM: Report from a succesful network meeting in Krakow

An assembly of around 200 writers, human rights defenders and member city representatives, a professional festival office and the City of Krakow made the 2013 ICORN biannual Network Meeting an immense success in the literary city of Krakow on 14-17 May 2013.

ICORN strengthens its headquarters in Stavanger

ICORN is growing! With support and funds from among others Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) ICORN has strengthened its headquarters in Stavanger with a new administration coordinator and a communication coordinator.

Not yet time to return home

Chenjerai Hove will participate in the upcoming Milosz poetry festival and the ICORN Network Meeting

For over a decade, previous ICORN guest writer Chenjerai Hove has lived a nomadic life in exile in Europe and the Americas in fear of the consequences of returning to his beloved homeland Zimbabwe. A poet, author, playwright and lecturer, Hove has made it his life’s work to write and educate about his country and bring to light the corruption and abuse of the government of his country. Returning home would be a dangerous move for Mr. Hove.