European Literature Days 2012
20 to 23 September 2012 in Spitz an der Donau

At the close of the successful European Literature Days 2011, participants from 16 different countries put next year‟s event date firmly in their diaries – the European Literature Days are established as a „think tank‟ of literary production. Over the next few weeks and months, a film retrospective, a new edition of “Draußen in der Wachau”/“Out and About in Wachau” (including Dana Grigorcea‟s diary) and an e-book about the 2011 Donauforum will record the results of the European Literature Days 2011. We are brainstorming new questions and themes for 2012 to continue and consolidate the current debate.

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Literary Think Tank in the Heart of Lower Austria

Spitz is well known as a long-standing tourist attraction. However, the European Literature Days has succeeded in transcending the idyllic scenes of tourist venues here at the heartland of Wachau’s world cultural heritage and has established the location as the annual venue for Europe’s literary landscape.

But free thinking and artistic creativity do not necessarily depend on urban centres. Everywhere in politics – be it in a city or small local community – it is important to establish a cultural-political climate where artists’ and cultural event organizers’ activities integrate fully into local community life. In Wachau alone, alongside thriving folklore traditions, including the Art Mile in Krems, there are plenty of renowned international festivals such as the Danube Festival, Glatt & Verkehrt or the “Internationale Barocktagen Stift Melk”. Such highly diverse activities show how we in Lower Austria have a long-standing affinity for bringing cultural and political initiatives to life.

I wish the European Literature Days 2012 engaging and rewarding dialogue. I hope, too, that the European literary scene will draw again this year on more fascinating inspirations from Spitz and Wachau.

Governor of Lower Austria, Dr. Erwin Pröll