Klandestini launched to exploit the talent of writers in the Med.

Emerging writers have the perfect springboard to show off their skills as Klandestini, an 18-month multilateral creative writing project in Mediterranean countries, was launched yesterday.

The project is intended for emerging writers and secondary school students in five countries: Malta, Turkey, Italy, Cyprus and Greece.

Established writers based in the UK will lead a series of workshops in the participating countries in which the writers will write in the native language and have their poems or short stories translated into English.

Klandestini will reach a climax with the publication of the best works produced throughout the project with a festival of emerging Mediterranean writers to be held at St James Cavalier in November, 2004.

The project was created by the cultural group Inizjamed and the British Council, with the support of St James Cavalier.

The aim is to give unestablished artists the opportunity to develop their skills and to focus on the Mediterranean region, among others.

The project also intends to give the message that while resources are not distributed evenly, there will always be klandestini - people who risk their lives to search for a better life elsewhere.

Between February and March, a series of workshops will be held in the participating countries for up to 20 emerging writers, mentored by established writers based in the UK, and similar workshops in secondary schools for 14- and 15-year-old students. A workshop on literary translation with Maurice Riordan will also be held. Workshops for communication and sustained development of writing will be done via the interactive website.

Three individuals have already expressed interest in the project.

Speaking at a news conference during the launch, British Council director Ronnie Micallef said that young emerging voices were often not given the platform to show off their skills.

On the other hand those writing about Mediterranean culture hardly ever ventured beyond Tuscan villas, the countryside and palm trees.

Klandestini would therefore exploit the vast talent of writers in the region, he said.

Celebrated British rap artiste Benjamin Zephaniah, who is in Malta for a series of public performances and workshops, spoke of the way he connected with others through his poetry.

Mr Zephaniah has managed to popularise poetry by reaching people who do not read books and by challenging the dead image that academia and the establishment have given poetry.

More information about the project may be obtained from Karsten Xuereb on tel. 2131 5562 or 7946 7952.

http://klandestini.britishcouncil.org/