Speakers:

Mykola Riabchuk - programme director of 83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv, President of Ukrainian Centre of PEN International

Kаtlin Kaldmaa – International Secretary of PEN, President of Estonian PEN (via Skype)

Olha Mukha – Board Coordinator of 83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv, director of “Lviv - UNESCO City of Literature” office

Andriy Moskalenko – Deputy Mayor for Development

Bogdana Brylynska – Partnership Coordinator of 83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv, main specialist of cultural industries section of the office for culture of the department of development of Lviv city council

Moderator:

Olha Honchar – PR and Communication Coordinator of 83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv

On September 17-24, the city of Lviv will host the 83rd Congress of the PEN International. For a few days Ukrainian Capital of Culture will become a world centre of literary and intellectual discussions. The official theme of 83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv is “Reclaiming Truth in Times of Propaganda”.

More than 200 delegates – prominent writers, poets, translators, journalists, historians, publicists and editors from 100 countries will speak in four languages about literature, creativity and freedom of expression. The Congress motto “When truth comes true” will headline both the official plenary sessions of PEN members and series of open events, panel discussions, literary readings, presentations and meeting.

The famous guests of 83rd PEN International Congress will include Nobel Prize winners Svetlana Alexievich (Belarus) and Herta Müller (Romania-Germany), Nobel Prize nominee  Adam Zagajewski (Poland), Peter Pomerantsev (United Kingdom), Lyudmila Ulitskaya (Russia), Paul Auster (USA), popular Ukrainian writers Yurii Andrukhovych, Andriy Kurkov, Serhiy Zhadan, Olena Styazhkina and many more renowned authors from all over the world.

PEN International is a reputable international non-governmental organization that unites, since 1921, professional writers, editors and translators committed to the protection of freedom of expression and celebration of literature. The membership of PEN International exceeds 25 000 persons from over 150 PEN Centres across the world. PEN International has consultative status with UNESCO and Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It is one of the oldest human rights organizations and international writers organizations. Such famous authors as Joseph Conrad, Bernard Shaw, Herbert Wells were members of PEN Club, while John Galsworthy, Heinrich Böll and Mario Vargas Llosa were its Presidents.

The Ukrainian PEN Centre, founded in 1990, was headed subsequently by poet Mykola Vinhranovsky, human rights activist and publicist Yevhen Sverstiuk, and philosopher Myroslav Marynovych. Nowadays publicist, writer and scholar Mykola Riabchuk leads the organization.

Organizers of 83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv:

International PEN

Ukrainian PEN Centre

Office “Lviv - UNESCO City of Literature”

Lviv City Council

83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv is already supported by:  

Foundations: Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Ukrainian Jewish Encounter Initiative, International Renaissance Foundation,  Polish Institute in Kyiv

Ukrainian partners: “KredoBank”, “KrymSOS”, Ministry of informational policy, Ukraine crisis media centre, Chytomo, Radio Skovoroda, Lviv Media Forum, Ukrainian Literary Center

Local partners: Ukrainian Catholic University,  Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, “Kumpel’ Group”, Holding of Emotions "!FEST"

Co-organizers: NGO “Publishers’ Forum”, NGO “City of Literature”, Lviv Film Center, City's Hotkevych Palace of Culture

We invite to the press conference media representatives and everyone interested in theme and cooperation.

Follow the news about 83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv on the official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LvivPENCongress/ 

Event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/315583432228600 

For additional information, please contact Olha Honchar, PR and Communication Coordinator of 83rd PEN International Congress in Lviv, +38 093 339 76 46, pressPENLvivCongress@gmail.com