An invitation from British-Slovene Society member Peter Davey :
Thursday 11th June 2026 at 4pm
Štanjel Castle, Slovenia
You are warmly invited to join a discussion about writing and translating in smaller languages and dialects featuring Slovenian and two minority Scottish languages: Scots and Scottish Gaelic, with music by Gaelic singer Beth Frieden.
Timed to coincide with the fifth Edwin Morgan Trust International Translation Exchange, this event will feature readings by the six poets — Ken Cockburn, Beth Frieden, Iva Jevtić, David Kinloch, Barbara Korun and Milan Šelj – as they reflect on the process of literary translation, offering insights into the creative and collaborative journey behind their work, and exploring the cultural and linguistic contexts that shape their writing.
The Edwin Morgan Trust International Translation Exchange is a biennial series that brings together leading international poets to collaborate with Scottish poets through workshops and public readings. This two-part exchange in Edinburgh (November 2025) and Dane-Sežana (June 2026) is organised with and supported by the Centre for Slovenian Literature and the Slovenian Book Agency.
This event will be in English and Slovenian and is proudly supported by the British Embassy Ljubljana.
Programme
16:00 – 16:45 Guided tour of the Museum of the Slovenian Language
17:00 – 18:15 Panel discussion and readings
18:15 – 18:30 Gaelic songs by Beth Frieden
18:30 – 19:30 Reception
Please RSVP to Peter Davey at ptrdavey@gmail.com
Ken Cockburn (1960) is a poet and translator based in Edinburgh, where he worked for many years at the Scottish Poetry Library. He was the first writer-in-residence at the John Murray Archive, National Library of Scotland, and was awarded the Arts Foundation Fellowship for Literary Translation 2008
Beth Frieden (1986) is an American poet who writes in English and Scottish Gaelic. Her debut pamphlet, Acair san talamh / Anchor in the land, was published by Stewed Rhubarb Press in 2023. She received a New Scottish Writer’s Award in 2021 from the Scottish Books Trust and was in the 2023-24 cohort of Genesis Emerging Writers.
David Kinloch (1959) is the author of six collections of poetry, most published by Carcanet Press, the latest being Greengown: New and Selected Poems. In 2022, David received a Cholmondeley Award from the Society of Authors in recognition of his contribution to poetry.
Barbara Korun (1963, Ljubljana) has published eight poetry collections and received several Slovenian and international awards and nominations. She also writes reviews and essays and actively promotes poetry written by women. Her all-round creativity has been recognised both at home (Mira Award, 2020) and abroad (Regina Coppola Award, 2016).
Iva Jevtić (1976) is a poet, translator, and literary theorist. Her first poetry collection Težnost [Gravity] was published by Apokalipsa in 2005. In 2023, KUD Zrakogled published her second poetry collection Milost [Grace], which won the 2023 Veronika Prize for best poetry collection.
Milan Šelj (1960) is an award-winning Slovenian poet and translator. He is the author of five poetry collections for adults: Darilo [Gift] (2006), Kristali soli [Crystals of Salt] (2010), Gradim gradove [Building Buildings] (2015), Slediti neizgovorjenemu [Tracing the Unspoken] (2018), and Jezik je ključ [Language Is the Key] (2023). He has also published two poetry books for children: Kosmatice (2020) and Rime na veter [Rhymes in the Wind] (2024).
Organised and supported by the Municipality of Komen, ORA Krasa in Brkinov, the British Embassy, the Edwin Morgan Trust, the Centre for Slovenian Literature and the Slovenian Book Agency.