Day 5: The International Academy on Literary Management and Translation Promotion

After five days of intensive and inspiring work, the Translations Collider Academy is a wrap.

The focus of the last session was fundraising in the context of cultural management. 

Yana Genova, director of the Next Page Foundation and of the Sofia Literature and Translation House shared with the participants tips and tricks about writing successful project applications.

The next panel named 'Monetization of your creativity: finances in the Balkan context' was mentored by Aneida Bajraktari Bicja, founder and managing partner of the Tirana-based consulting company Balkans Capital.

Photos: Endri Muaj

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The Academy is part of the Balkan Translations Collider project, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union.

#CreativeEurope4Books

#BalkanTranslationsCollider

Day 4: The International Academy on Literary Management and Translation Promotion

The fourth day of the Academy was all about digital marketing. 

The participants were immersed in the world of digital marketing by the digital communication expert Vassilena Valchanova. The journey touched upon topics such as content planning, communication channels, newsletter opportunities, content formats, and metrics. 

The inspirational talk by Galin Popov also took place. He shared his long-standing experience in cultural management and a few rather hilarious stories. 

The day ended with an Open Mic event where the Academy participants read poetry and prose from different Western Balkan authors in original and in translation. 

Photos: Endri Muaj

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The Academy is part of the Balkan Translations Collider project, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union.

#CreativeEurope4Books

#BalkanTranslationsCollider

Day 3: The International Academy on Literary Management and Translation Promotion

🏰 The Translations Collider Academy meets Shkodra 🏰

The program of the third Academy Day took place in Shkodra, Albania's capital of culture and hometown to many notable writers, philosophers, translators, and artists. 

The participants were introduced to local cultural organizations, their managing teams, core activities, and business models. 

We visited and exchanged with representatives from:

• Shkodra Art House, a cultural foundation, created by the visual artist Adrian Paci who promotes art and young artists in Shkodra

• Arka Youth Center is a youth and cultural center that develops programs for young people in support of building their skills in different fields with a wide range of activities

• The National Photography Museum 'Marubi', whose collection includes the first-ever photograph taken in Albania by Pjetër Marubi in 1858

• The Venetian Mask Factory, a unique cultural business of international reputation 

Photos: Endri Muaj

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The Academy is part of the Balkan Translations Collider project, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union.

#CreativeEurope4Books

#BalkanTranslationsCollider

Day 2: The International Academy on Literary Management and Translation Promotion

❝ Audience development like building a temple ❞

The second day of the Translations Collider Academy was focused on the topic of audience development. 

Under the mentorship of Agata Etmanowicz from the Impact Foundation and her creative approach, the participants were introduced to the specifics of the field of audience development. They learned how 'to connect the dots' in the creation of a clear-cut audience development strategy for their organizations.

The relevance of crafting a strategy for the purpose of identifying, understanding, and expanding audiences, defining the vision, and sketching a roadmap for achieving the mission of the organization based on SMART goals were some of the highlights in the panel. 

Agata Etmanowicz underlined the importance of research to grasp the needs of target audiences in order to build efficient audience development policies. During the training, the participants were also involved in working groups where they were analyzing the current state of their audiences and identified tools and approaches to widen them.

The day concluded with an inspiring talk by Josha Hekele who presented Litprom - a German-based association of professionals in the fields of publishing, journalism, literary studies, and criticism that serves as a literary agency. The focus of the Litprom work is the promotion of literature from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Arab world in Germany. 

Photos: Endri Muaj

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The Academy is part of the Balkan Translations Collider project, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union.

#CreativeEurope4Books

#BalkanTranslationsCollider

1st Day: The International Academy on Literary Management and Translation Promotion

'Making it Happen' is the slogan of the second edition of the International Academy on Literary Management and Translation Promotion which has just started with great enthusiasm from all participants!

More than 30 book professionals are gathered in Durres, Albania for extensive training and capacity building. The Academy program for the upcoming days includes panels on audience development, digital marketing, and monetization of creativity. 

The participants will also meet and interact with Albania-based cultural organizations during their visit to the cultural city of Shkodra. Open sessions and experience exchange in view of strengthening the collaboration among cultural organizations in the Western Balkans and the EU are other highlights of the Academy program. 

Photos: Endri Muaj

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The Academy is part of the Balkan Translations Collider project, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union.
#CreativeEurope4Books
#BalkanTranslationsCollider

Translations Collider Academy - Introducing speakers

ANNOUNCEMENT 7

Introducing ANEIDA BAJRAKTARI BICJA - one of the Translations Collider Academy speakers.

 

Aneida Bajraktari Bicja is the founder and managing partner of Balkans Capital - a financial consulting company based in Tirana that helps companies in Albania and the US Market unleash the transformative power of their finances.

 

Aneida has also established the Startup Albania Foundation with the vision to boost the innovation and entrepreneurial skills of youth in the country. She is appointed as the Senator of Albania in the World Business Angels Investment Forum, an international organization aiming to ease access to finance for businesses from start-up to scale-up to exit.

 

Aneida has organized numerous events with the desire to aid the development of the local entrepreneurial system. She has been invited as a keynote speaker, mentor, and jury member to different events. Her entrepreneurial spirit and pursuits not only engage and inspire but have also contributed to fostering innovation in Albania. 

 

During the Translations Collider Academy, Aneida will be moderating the session 'Monetization of your creativity: finances in the Balkans Context'.

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The Academy is part of the Balkan Translations Collider project, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. 

#CreativeEurope4Books 

#BalkanTranslationsCollider

 

Translations Collider Academy - Introducing speakers

ANNOUNCEMENT 6 - Only two days left until we open the Translations Collider Academy 

YANA GENOVA

Introducing Yana Genova - one of the Translations Collider Academy speakers.

Yana Genova is the director of the Next Page Foundation - an international NGO active in fostering intercultural dialogue, literary translations, and independent publishing. She is the founder of the Sofia Literature and Translation House, co-founder of the educational online platform for children www.knigovishte.bg, and president of the European network RECIT. 

 

Genova has experience in multi-partner cultural cooperation projects at the European level and in neighborhood countries. Consultant and researcher in cultural management and cultural policies, particularly in books and literature. 

 

Co-author - with Georgi Gospodinov - of 'Inventory Book of Socialism' (Prosveta, 2006), author of articles and research studies on cultural policies and of the 'Diversity Report' series, together with Rüdiger Wischenbart and Miha Kovać.

 

During the Translations Collider Academy, Yana will be moderating the Fundraising panel. 

 

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The Academy is part of the Balkan Translations Collider project, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. 

#CreativeEurope4Books

#BalkanTranslationsCollider

#BalkanTranslationsCollider

Translations Collider Academy - Introducing speakers

ANNOUNCEMENT 5 - Introducing DIANA WATERS - one of the Translations Collider Academy speakers.

Introducing Diana Walters - one of the Translations Collider Academy speakers.

Diana Walters is a facilitator, researcher, writer, and practitioner in the fields of arts, culture, heritage, community, and peacebuilding. 

She has worked in over 30 countries, including many in the Balkan region, supporting change and growth through culture and democracy. She holds a Ph.D. from Newcastle University, UK, and is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter.

During the Translations Collider Academy, Diana will be our programmer and facilitator.

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The Academy is part of the Balkan Translations Collider project, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. 
#CreativeEurope4Books 
#BalkanTranslationsCollider