Gothenburg Poetry Festival 2023

The arts reflect, if we are to believe Kandinsky, 'the great darkness where at first nothing can be discerned'. To find our way out of it, we have to search, we have to investigate and hear the 'sound'.
If we allow ourselves to try, if we give it a try, to see if parts of his peculiar modernism still hold up?
... and Citykyrkan is beautiful because everyone sings, both those who can and those who can't, because one person's tone picks up where another's leaves off, because one person's voice intersects with its neighbor, because they sound disagreeable even though they are not, and because one tenor's will emerges from the many.

- From Klangspel, an early summer day 1999, by Houssin Vennberg Sninate & Bereket Hailemariam.

The Gothenburg Poetry Festival takes place this year at Kulturhuset Oceanen at Stigbergstorget. With readings from current books, talks, music & performance, we explore the place of religion in contemporary poetry. Has something divine found its way in there?

Two poets were commissioned to write a work especially for this year's festival and created Klangspel, on an early summer day in 1999. In addition, new voices are encouraged to take place on the festival's literary stage; therefore, we have invited a number of not yet published poets to read during the evening.

Welcome to the Gothenburg Poetry Festival!

Program:

18.00 - Doors open

Performance lecture, Klangspel, an early summer day 1999, with Houssin Vennberg Sninate & Bereket Hailemariam.

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Readings with Ylva Gripfelt (digital), young poet tba & young poet tba.

Conversation with Elise Ingvarsson & Sara Hallström, in collaboration with Since You Asked.

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Readings with Mimounah Alma Ljung, young poet tba, Channa Riedel & young poet tba

22.00 - Music with Sebastian Ljung, Harald Jansson, Anton Andersson & Jacob Stahre Valfridsson

Gothenburg Poetry Festival 2023 is curated by poet Mimounah Alma Ljung.

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Accessibility

The Cultural Center Oceanen is a Q-marked culturally historical building, which is challenging when it comes to accessibility. We do our best to have as many people as possible visit us. When visiting us with mobility aids the best-suited entrance is through the stage. This entrance is accessed via Gathenhielmska trädgården. The entrance is locked, please email us the day before your visit or the latest Friday at 16:00 if you are visiting us during the weekend. We have a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. Please note that flashing lights may occur during concerts and events. For questions regarding accessibility email Mia Herman at mia@oceanen.com.