Ljubljana - Edinburgh City of Literature 17.12.2015

8/20/2019 Ljubljana - Edinburgh City of Literature 17.12.2015

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City of Literature: Ljubljana

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Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana became the sixteenth UNESCO City of Literature in December 2015, on the same day as Ulyanovsk (Russia), Baghdad (Iraq), Tartu (Estonia), L’viv (Ukraine), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Barcelona (Spain),Nottingham (UK), Óbidos (Portugal) and Montevideo (Uruguay) joined the Creative Cities Network.

These all join the eleven existing UNESCO Cities of Literature – Edinburgh (UK), Melbourne (Australia), IowaCity (USA), Dublin (Ireland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Norwich (UK), Krakow (Poland), Dunedin (New Zealand),Prague (Czech Republic), Heidelberg (Germany) and Granada (Spain) – to bring the total amount of Cities of Literature in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to twenty.

The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana is home to a population of 283,000 and to a culture of music and arts. The

city hosts over 10,000 cultural events, from prestigious musical, theatre and art events to alternative andavant-garde events, notably including 14 international festivals.

The largest city in Slovenia, Ljubljana is known for its university culture, its green spaces, particularly TivoliPark and many museums, including the National Museum of Slovenia, displaying historic exhibitions, and theMuseum of Modern Art, home to 20th-century Slovene paintings and sculptures.

10 Things to Know about Ljubljana

1. Literary Ljubljana in Numbers


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Ljubljana is home to 14 theatres, 35 public libraries, 142 specialised libraries, and 2,628,810 books in the National

and University Library of Slovenia (http://www.nuk.uni-lj.si/nukeng.asp). 284 associations, institutions and

organisations promoting literature have their seat in Ljubljana, including the Slovenian Book Agency, the Slovene

Publishers Society and the Slovenian Association of Literary Translators.

2. 504,000 Residents Can’t Be Wrong…

Over a quarter of Ljubljana’s population are members of the city’s public library network. Ljubljana City Library

(http://eng.mklj.si/) has over 81,000 members, giving it the biggest membership of all the libraries in Slovenia. On

average, every inhabitant visits the City Library 5 times per year.

Ljubljana’s largest collection of books, the National and University Library of Slovenia, was designed by architect

Joze Plecnik (http://www.slovenia.si/culture/arts/painting-and-architecture/plecniks-ljubljana/) and holds a

collection of works by some of the most important Slovenian poets and writers.

3. A Literary City Since 1112

Ljubljana was "rst mentioned in writing in April 1112 and since then it has become the centre of administrative

and cultural life of Slovenia. Primoz Trubar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo%C5%BE_Trubar) wrote the "rst

Slovene language printed book in Ljubljana in the 16th century. The Slovenska Matica (’Slovene Society’) is the

oldest still-operating publishing house in Ljubljana, having celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2014. Likewise, the

city’s newspaper history dates back over 200 years, when the "rst Ljubljana paper, Ljubljanske Novice(http://www.ljnovice.com/), was published in 1797.

4. Living Literature Festival

http://www.ljnovice.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo%C5%BE_Trubarhttp://www.slovenia.si/culture/arts/painting-and-architecture/plecniks-ljubljana/http://eng.mklj.si/http://www.nuk.uni-lj.si/nukeng.asp


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Like Edinburgh, Ljubljana prides itself on its festivals. Over 10,000 cultural events take place in the city every year,

among which there are 10 international festivals. The Living Literature Festival

(http://www.culture.si/en/Living_Literature_Festival) has taken place annually since 1994, and remains a free

festival centred on popularising literature and music.

The Slovenian Book Fair (http://www.culture.si/en/Slovene_Book_Fair) takes place in Ljubljana every autumn and

on Midsummer’s Eve (23 June), a bon"re is built on Roznik Hill close to where Slovenian author Ivan Cankar lived

on the outskirts of Ljubljana. The bon"re is then lit by the winner of the Kresnik Award

(http://www.culture.si/en/Kresnik_Award), Slovenia’s most prominent award for novelists.

5. Linhart in Ljubljana

18th century playwright, author and historian Anton Tomaz Linhart lived and worked in Ljubljana, penning the "rst

comedy and indeed the "rst play ever written in Slovene, Slovenia’s national tongue. He also helped to set up what

became the National and University Library of Slovenia.

6. Preseren: Ljubljana’s poet

19th century poet France Preseren (1800 – 1849) wrote the "rst epic poem in Slovene, elevating the country’s

literature to the level of its European peers. As with Robert Burns and William Wordsworth in Britain and Goethe in

Germany, Preseren was a key "gure in the Romantic literary movement in Slovenia. On 8 February the anniversary

of Preseren’s death is marked by a Slovenian cultural holiday(http://www.o#ceholidays.com/countries/slovenia/preseren_day.php), and on 3 December the anniversary of

Preseren’s birthday is also feted with a Culture Celebration Day (http://www.sloveniatimes.com/birthday-of-

slovenia-s-greatest-poet-celebrated-with-free-events), when all the cultural institutions offer free admission. Next

to Plecnik’s Triple Bridge in central Ljubljana stands a monument dedicated to Preseren.

http://www.sloveniatimes.com/birthday-of-slovenia-s-greatest-poet-celebrated-with-free-eventshttp://www.officeholidays.com/countries/slovenia/preseren_day.phphttp://www.culture.si/en/Kresnik_Awardhttp://www.culture.si/en/Slovene_Book_Fairhttp://www.culture.si/en/Living_Literature_Festival


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Ljubljana was named the 10th UNESCO World Book Capital (http://www.slovenia.si/culture/arts/books-and-

literature/ljubljanas-year-of-the-book/) in 2010 for one year.

During that year books and reading were the central theme of events and media attention across Slovenia. In that

same year, the city gained a new house of literature named after Primoz Trubar where special events dedicated tothe book, literature and journalism take place every day of the year.

By becoming part of the Creative Cities Network, Ljubljana has now been assigned a permanent City of Literature

designation by UNESCO.

10. Published in Ljubljana

In 2014, 5,300 books were published in Slovenia. Of these, 1,315 were "ction titles and 66% of these came from

Ljubljana. This makes Slovenia one of the most proli"c nations in terms of the number of published books per

capita.

External Links

Visit the City of Literature section on the city’s website. (http://www.ljubljana.si/en/living-in-ljubljana/focus/75961/detail.html)

UNESCO City of Literature Criteria(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/creativity/creative-cities-network/application-

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/creativity/creative-cities-network/application-faq/http://www.ljubljana.si/en/living-in-ljubljana/focus/75961/detail.htmlhttp://www.slovenia.si/culture/arts/books-and-literature/ljubljanas-year-of-the-book/


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faq/)

Read More About

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-

literature/creative-city-network/)

The City of Literature designation explained (http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/the-designation/)

Overview of all Cities of Literature (http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/)

The "rst step to join the City of Literature Network (http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-

literature/join-us/)

The UNESCO Cities of Design, Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts, Music, Film and Gastronomy(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/creative-city-network/)

http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/creative-city-network/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/join-us/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/the-designation/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/creative-city-network/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/creativity/creative-cities-network/application-faq/


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Part of the UNESCO

Creative Cities Network

Cities of Literature

Edinburgh Scotland, UK(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/edinburgh/)

Melbourne Australia(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/melbourne/)

Iowa City USA(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/iowa/)

Dublin Ireland(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/dublin/)

http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/dublin/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/iowa/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/melbourne/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/edinburgh/


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Reykjavik Iceland(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/reykjavik/)

Norwich England, UK(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-

of-literature/cities-of-literature/norwich/)

Krakow Poland(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/krakow/)

Dunedin New Zealand

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/dunedin/)

Prague Czech Republic(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/prague/)

Heidelberg Germany(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/heidelberg/)

Grenada Spain(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/grenada/)

Ulyanovsk Russia(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/ulyanovsk/)

Baghdad Iraq

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/baghdad/)

Tartu Estonia

http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/tartu/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/baghdad/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/ulyanovsk/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/grenada/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/heidelberg/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/prague/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/dunedin/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/krakow/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/norwich/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/reykjavik/


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(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/tartu/)

Lviv Ukraine(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/lviv/)

Ljubljana Slovenia(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/ljubljana/)

Barcelona Spain(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-

of-literature/cities-of-literature/barcelona/)

Nottingham England, UK(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/nottingham/)

Óbidos Portugal

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/obidos/)

Montevideo Uruguay(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/montevideo/)

http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/montevideo/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/obidos/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/nottingham/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/barcelona/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/ljubljana/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/lviv/http://www.cityofliterature.com/cities-of-literature/cities-of-literature/tartu/


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international news highlights

UNESCO announces9 new Cities of Literature!

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/whats-on/news/edinburgh-welcomes-9-new-unesco-cities-of-literature/)

Poetry Projections in Krakow

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/poetry-projections-in-krakow/)

Kanazawa Calling

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/kanazawa-calling/)

Neu! Reekie! Take Japan

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/neu-reekie-take-japan/)

read all news stories >

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/whats-

on/news/)

(http://www.cityo!iterature.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/PDF-CityOfLiterature-Barcelona.pdf)

Download fact sheet

10 Things to Know About

Ljubljana[ PDF, 2 pages, 5.8MB ]

http://www.cityofliterature.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/PDF-CityOfLiterature-Barcelona.pdfhttp://www.cityofliterature.com/whats-on/news/http://www.cityofliterature.com/neu-reekie-take-japan/http://www.cityofliterature.com/kanazawa-calling/http://www.cityofliterature.com/poetry-projections-in-krakow/http://www.cityofliterature.com/whats-on/news/edinburgh-welcomes-9-new-unesco-cities-of-literature/


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(http://www.ljubljana.si/en/living-in-ljubljana/focus/75961/detail.html)

Visit the Ljubljana website

in English

What’s OnWhat’s On

ttp://www.cityo!iterature.com/whats-on/)

ooking for a literary "x? (http://www.cityo!iterature.com/whats-on/events/)

anning an event? (http://www.cityo!iterature.com/whats-on/literary-programmers-network/)

hat’s new? (http://www.cityo!iterature.com/whats-on/news/)

hat’s on all year round? (http://www.cityo!iterature.com/whats-on/events/)

he Literary Cityhe Literary City

http://www.cityofliterature.com/the-literary-city/http://www.cityofliterature.com/whats-on/events/http://www.cityofliterature.com/whats-on/news/http://www.cityofliterature.com/whats-on/literary-programmers-network/http://www.cityofliterature.com/whats-on/events/http://www.cityofliterature.com/whats-on/http://www.ljubljana.si/en/living-in-ljubljana/focus/75961/detail.html


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Ljubljana - Edinburgh City of Literature 17.12.2015

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