WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PROJECT AND WHO IS THE TARGET GROUP?

This project celebrates literature that would not otherwise be told or shared in Europe because the writers do not enjoy freedom of expression in their homelands. It seeks to make their work accessible to a broader European public.

The International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) has been established to offer persecuted writers a safe haven where they can write and express themselves freely without fear of being censored or silenced. The project is closely linked to ICORN and cooperates with writers in the network. Core values include human rights, freedom of speech, diversity and solidarity.

It reaches out specifically to individuals and groups that are unfamiliar with traditional literary and cultural activities. It focuses especially on children and young people who, through educational programmes, creative workshops and digital story production, can experience both the receiving and production ends of the Stories for Life chain of communication.

Many of the writers who are persecuted and silenced in their own homelands are living as guest writers in a city of refuge. You can find a list of storytellers here.

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT INCLUDE?

Over the five years of the Shahrazad project, the narratives will be created and disseminated by poets, journalists, novelists, editors, cartoonists, translators and essayists throughout Europe and beyond. The stories created will supply the partners with lots of material for working with young immigrants.

There will be a cluster of events throughout the project period on a broad scale, operating at local, regional, national and international levels. The activities vary in scale, format and genre: from intimate readings to interactive digital school projects, to large-scale festival events, debates, exhibitions, publications etc. To find out what’s happening, check out the calendar and news.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PROJECT PARTNER/S?

It is a collaboration between six different organisations based in six European cities of refuge: Barcelona, Brussels, Frankfurt, Norwich, Stockholm and Stavanger. While each city offers different approaches and different strengths, all of them work for freedom of expression and for literature.

HOW IS THE PROJECT FINANCED?

The project is a European Union Culture 2007 multi-annual cooperation project.