The International Writers’ and Translators’ House in Latvia is a multifunctional international centre for writers and translators that promotes the development of literature and encourages intercultural dialogue. The residency programme aims to support Ukrainian authors and their families who are in danger or face circumstances that limit or make creative work impossible due to a lack of finances, peace, and proper accommodation. The residencies also help to develop cooperation between the Latvian and Ukrainian cultural scenes, improve knowledge of contemporary Ukrainian literature, and establish long-lasting relationships between Latvian and Ukrainian writers and translators.
The residency house accommodates 7-9 residents at a time and alongside the Ukrainian artists there is a wide representation from around the world. This makes it a great platform for exchanging views and information among residents. Most of the Ukrainian artists also meet with local Latvian writers and translators.
The International Writers’ and Translators’ House offered each writer and translator a residency of up to four weeks, with the possibility of extending it if necessary. Apart from professional experience and competence, the main criterion for selecting authors and translators to invite from Ukraine for this programme was their personal or family story, to support those who need shelter during the war, such as those who have been forced to leave the country, live in the most dangerous areas, have families with children, lack jobs and any means of livelihood, etc.
Among the residents of 2025 were:
- Lina Melnyk is a translator and journalist from the city of Vinnytsia in Ukraine. Melnyk speaks Ukrainian, English, Italian, Russian, Bulgarian, and Latvian. She is interested in Latvian history and culture, as well as the cultural connections between Latvia and Ukraine. During the residency at Ventspils House for Writers and Translators, she edited a Ukrainian translation of the book “Tētis un suns”. She also completed 1/3 (60 pages) of translation “Laimes bērni”. In July, Lina Melnyk participated in the three-language presentation about three of her translated books (“Mātes piens”, “Puika, kurš redzēja tumsā” and “Kalendārs mani sauc”).
- Tetiana Belimova is a Ukrainian writer and lecturer in literature at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, as well as a researcher of contemporary Ukrainian literature at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. During the residency, Belimova finished a biographical essay about the Ukrainian writer Iryna Wilde and also continued working on the novel “Polina and Others Waiting for Good News”. At the end of the residency, we organized a meeting with Tetiana Belimova and her husband, Volodymyr Belimov, who is currently a senior lieutenant in the Ukrainian military and a military interpreter mobilized in December 2023.
- Olena Tereshchenko writes for adults and teenagers, mainly in the fantasy genre. Tereshchenko lives in Chernihiv and works at the Central City Library, organizing literary projects for young people. She is the author of two collections of short stories and a collection of detective stories for young people. During the residency, where she was with her teenage daughter, she began to work on a teenage novel with the working title “Treasures of the Knight’s Castle”. The plot is based on the history and legends of the Livonian Order castle in Ventspils. Tereshchenko also participated in a reading, presenting her newest novels.
The outcome of the activities is to provide a safe platform for Ukrainian artists for work and for further professional development within Europe hoping that they will have the possibility to bring back to Ukraine all the competence when peace is regained.
Read more about the Additional round of funding to support Ukrainian artists and cultural creators!