The Literary Encounters on Kozara will take place from September 2 to 20, announced Aleksandar Milješić, acting head of the Department for Culture, International Cooperation, Sports, and NGOs of the City of Prijedor.
Milješić explained that the 53rd edition of the Encounters will consist of eight events.
“This year’s novelty is that the final session of the organizing committee, where the jury’s decision on the Skender Kulenović – Kozara Literary Garland award will be verified, will be held at the villa on Mrakovica, so the name of this year’s laureate will be announced directly from Kozara,” Milješić said at a press conference in Prijedor.
The jury consists of Goran Maksimović, Duško Pevulja, and Andrea Marić.
“The City of Prijedor is proud to host the Encounters, which have become a recognizable part of the cultural calendar of Republika Srpska and beyond. These meetings are not only an opportunity for literary dialogue, but also for reaffirming our lasting commitment to nurturing art and giving culture the place it deserves,” Milješić added.
The program will open on Tuesday, September 2, with an organizing committee session at 10:00 a.m. and a wreath-laying at the bust of Skender Kulenović at 11:00 a.m.
On Wednesday, September 3, at 11:00 a.m., the Kozara Museum will host the opening of an exhibition of books dedicated to Kozara, the Encounters, and the event’s editions from the local collection of the “Ćirilo i Metodije” National Library.
On Friday, September 5, at 7:00 p.m., the Kozara Museum will hold a poetry evening with local poets, followed the next evening at 7:00 p.m. by an event in the “Sreten Stojanović” Gallery dedicated to Miroslav Antić.
A promotion of the literary work of Vasilije Karan dedicated to Kozara will be held on September 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Reading Room, while the next day at 7:00 p.m. the “Sreten Stojanović” Gallery will host an evening dedicated to Ljubomir Simović.
On September 18, at 6:00 p.m., the City Reading Room will feature a lecture by Professor Goran Maksimović on the ideal of freedom in the works of Petar Kočić. The central and final event will be a formal academy on September 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Prijedor Theater.
On September 20, a poetry hour is scheduled at noon by the Kozara monument, followed by the laureate’s evening at 7:00 p.m. in the “Sreten Stojanović” Gallery.
Prominent poets from Serbia and Republika Srpska will participate, including Milovan Marčetić, Enes Halilović, Željka Avrić, Nevena Vitošević, Spasoje Joksimović, Boro Kapetanović, Aleksandra Čvorović, Predrag Bjelošević, and Valentina Milačić.
On September 19, poets will visit primary and secondary schools to hold poetry classes, both in Prijedor and in neighboring towns and municipalities co-organizers of the event—Banja Luka, Gradiška, Laktaši, Srbac, Novi Grad, Kostajnica, and Kozarska Dubica.
Milješić emphasized that the traditional sponsor of the award is “ArcelorMittal Prijedor.”
Source: RTRS
