Latvia — European Poetry Festival

Latvian Poetry Celebration 2021
Nov 29th : Goethe Institut, London

A brilliant live celebration of both literary and experimental poetry in collaboration, four Latvian poets - Krišjānis Zeļģis, Lote Vilma Vītiņa, Inga Pizāne, Jelena Glazova - centred a night of memorable live works, made-for-the-festival, at the Goethe Institut, on Exhibition Road, in London. Supported by British based poets also sharing collaborations, this was an energised, innovative and memorable second to last event of the winter 2021 festival. with pictures below by Madeleine Rose Elliott.

with Lote Vilma Vītiņa and Bettina Fung / Jelena Glazova and Mischa Foster Poole / Krišjānis Zeļģis and SJ Fowler / Inga Pizāne and Mary Paterson / Michał Piotrowski / Calliope Michail and Tomasz Mielcarek / Prudence Chamberlain-Bussey and Serena Braida / Haris Psarras and Ghareeb Iskander Supported by Latvian Literature.

EPF Digital 2020 : Four Latvian Poets
Video Interviews

EPF Digital 2020 presents presents new long-form video-interviews with poets from Latvia, featuring Inga Pizāne, Krišjānis Zeļģis, Marija Luīze Meļķe and Lote Vilma Vītiņa. View the full EPF 2020 online program here europeanpoetryfestival.com/2020

Supported by Platform Latvian Literature and featured as part of the Maintenant series at 3am magazine.

Inga Pizāne (1986) is a poet based in Riga, Latvia. Her second poetry collection was awarded Ojars Vacietis Literary Prize (2020). Her work has been translated into several languages. Her translated poetry collection "Having Never Met" was published by A Midsummer Night's Press in 2018, NYC, translated by Jayde Will. A poetry book in Italian coming soon. She has performed at the European Poetry festival, The America’s Poetry festival of New York and other international festivals and workshops. / Here is a ;ink to Inga’s Latvian Literature profile: https://latvianliterature.lv/en/writers/98 and some further links to Inga’s work in English: At the Sea and other poems by Inga Pizane at apofenie magazine: https://www.apofenie.com/poetry/2019/12/13/at-the-sea-and-other-poems

Krišjānis Zeļģis (1985) is not only a brilliant poet, but also has worked in vineyards in France, worked in Mexico, has been a locksmith, baker, librarian, translator, theatre lighting technician and a brewer. He received bachelor and master degrees in Geography and Earth Sciences at Latvian University. This diversity in experiencing the tangible world has allowed a wide and rich view of life to inform his writing.https://www.versopolis-poetry.com/poet/188/krisjanis-zelgis

Marija Luīze Meļķe (1997) is a poet, actively participating in the new literature scene in Latvia. Her texts have been translated to Russian, English and Finnish, published in various literature magazines on the internet, printed periodicals and poetry anthologies. Besides that she’s been doing some post-dramatical theatre performances and just finished filming in her debut feature film “Neon Spring” (dir. Matīss Kaža) that also being her first experience co-writing a screenplay. When she has the chance, Marija Luīze studies painting in the Art Academy of Latvia for her bachelor’s degree, doing also some analogue photography and multimedia art, slowly putting together a manuscript for her first poetry book.

Lote works as an illustrator and writes poems. Last year her first children's book was published in which she worked on both the text and the illustrations. Her debut book of poetry is coming out this year. This is her web page: lotevilma.com

European Poetry Festival : Latvia Burley Fisher Books : April 11th 2019

In the 6th event of the 2019 EPF, a celebration of contemporary of Latvian poetry saw four of Latvia’s most inventive and eminent contemporary poets came to London to present brand new collaborations with Britain-based counterparts in one of the cities most vibrant bookshops. With standing room only, a full house witnessed new live works for a memorable, remarkable and intimate event.