Literary Translation Faces Irreversible Loss Risk

The future of Prevajalnica, a vital multi-day workshop for literary translation organized by the Slovenian Book Agency (JSKD), is in jeopardy. The program, which has been running for nearly 30 years, faces potential discontinuation due to critical staff and funding shortages.

This year's workshop, scheduled to take place in Piran, was almost canceled. It was only made possible through a successful grant application to the Public Agency for Books' "Reading Culture" program, which provided partial funding for mentors. The workshop brings together dozens of participants from various European countries to translate excerpts from selected literary works under the guidance of experienced mentors.

The potential cessation of Prevajalnica represents a significant threat to the development of literary translators in Slovenia. It is considered one of the few informal educational platforms dedicated to this specialized field. The loss of such a program could have long-term, irreversible consequences for the cultivation of new talent in literary translation within the country.