Prague’s Indie Writing Scene at DiverCity Week and Prague Microfestival ****************************************************************************************** * Prague’s Indie Writing Scene at DiverCity Week and Prague Microfestival ****************************************************************************************** From April 10th to April 13th, Týden Diverzity, or DiverCity Week, will be taking place in renovated building at 4 Hybernská Street, Prague 1. This free four-day festival, run by Ch University’s Faculty of Arts, is themed on ‘City and Emotions’, connecting Prague with exh lectures, discussions and workshops. Events begin at 10 am and continue into the evening e festival. DiverCity Week’s goal is to connect students, academics, artists and members of Prague communities. One way to bring people from different backgrounds together is through literature. Littera Books and Equus Press, two literary publishers here in Prague that operate out of the Angl Literatures department at Charles University, are both affiliated with DiverCity Week and bookstand set up for the entire week. Although both presses occupy a unique place in the l community in Prague, they represent two different ends of the literary spectrum. Equus Pre independent publishing house that describes itself as a product of the post-communist ‘Pra Equus’ ambition is to publish new writing that is both innovative and broadly cosmopolitan academically oriented Litteraria Pragensia publishes mainly critical theory, and is also r the international poetry and art magazine VLAK. David Vichnar, editor-in-chief of both imprints, comments that, “given our English-languag obviously need international audiences to present our books to.” “Both Diversity Week and the upcoming Prague Microfestival are great events that enable us Equus and Litteraria Pragensia share the intention to incorporate both Czech and internati climates into their publishing activities in Prague. However, according to Vichnar, there in their approach: “Litteraria Pragensia seeks to promote the many traditions of literary present them to Anglophone readerships”, whereas Equus Press publishes creative writing in a Prague connection, as well as English translations of significant existing works. Public Litteraria Pragensia include From a Terrace in Prague, Abolishing Prague and The Return of an anthology of ‘Prague renaissance’ writers. Translations by Equus are often ground-break explains that it has recently published “a first-ever English translation of Prague-based Melchior Vischer and his ‘dada novel’, Second Through Brain”. The presses will have a bookstand at DiverCity Week, where enthusiastic volunteers will be am – 6 pm every day. As part of DiverCity Week, Litteraria Pragensia and Equus Press will also host a bilingual published authors, in both English and Czech, this Wednesday at 6 pm, Hybernska 4. Live performance, Vichnar says, is something both Litteraria Pragensia and Equus Press are in: “Live performance helps us to forge a public identity for both presses, reach out towa publics and get more people interested.” The presses also organise a launch for every new with all authors/editors and other contributors present. “It’s always a great chance for u find new readers!” And what about the reading this Wednesday? “People can expect four Prague anglophone autho their Prague-based works, in Czech translation”, Vichnar says. The selection of authors pr Louis Armand, Thor Garcia, Ken Nash and Phil Shoenfelt. Vichnar will read an English trans poetry. Those enthused by this DiverCity Week preview can rest assured that the best is yet to com Microfestival, featuring 26 authors in total including the four featured at DiverCity Week film, visual art, music, an art gallery, an experimental conference, and more, will take p May 21, with programme and updates posted at www.praguemicrofestival.com [ URL "http://"] Follow us on: facebook.com/PrazskyMicrofestival [ URL "http://"] twitter.com/praguemicrofest [ URL "http://"] instagram.com/thepraguemicrofestival [ URL "http://"] Litteraria Pragensia and Equus Press readings will take place on Wednesday 12 April, Hyber small conference room from 18:00 to 19:30. Prague Microfestival runs 18-21 May. Check www.praguemicrofestival.com [ URL "http:// www.praguemicrofestival.com"] for news.