SUPPORT GREEK POETS Paros Symposium 2018

Dear friends

We are asking for money to help 8 Greek poets attend the Paros Poetry & Translation Symposium this summer, June 21 – 28 2018.

The Paros Symposium was started in 2004 by poets Susan Gevirtz and Siarita Kouka. Poets, translators and theorists meet for one week once a year in different locations in Greece to work on translating each other. Participants from Greece, the US, the UK, and other countries meet each other through living together, sharing meals, writing, discussions, talks, poetry readings, and more.

This summer the Symposium will take place on the island of Tinos. 250 Euros ($300) will cover one poet’s room and board for the week plus round-trip ferry ticket from Athens. With this grant one Greek writer who could not afford to attend would be able to join us. We are hoping to offer this amount to 8 writers.

The Symposium has been happening for 14 years with no official affiliation and no funding, through unpaid work of the organizers and tremendous good will of participants. Participants in the US & UK have access to travel grants from universities or other private or public institutions. Since 2009 the situation in Greece for writers has been very bad. The few jobs existing previously in areas such as teaching, translating, editing and journalism have fallen to almost zero along with drastic cuts in salaries. Those still employed in schools and universities have no access to travel grants and there are virtually no other sources of private or public funding. This is why we are focusing this year on raising money for Greek writers. We also realize that potential participants coming from the US, UK and other countries, whether affiliated with a university or not, may find it exceedingly difficult to attend the Symposium. We have this keenly in mind as far as future Symposiums.

We know this is a very tight time money-wise for almost everyone. What ‘they say’ is actually true: every $10 goes a long way. We thank you hugely for whatever you are able to give.

A word about myself: I have been co-organizing the Symposium since 2014. I love the Symposium and what it is able to do in just one week of shared living and working. Donations will go into my PayPal account and I will then dispense them to Greek poets – all money raised will be given to Greek poets attending the 2018 Symposium. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with any questions.

With many thanks

Helen Dimos