The Young Baltic Translator's Workshop

Litorina Folk High School, Karlskrona (Sweden) · second week of October 2026 — exact dates to be announced shortly.
The Baltic Sea Library (Forum Mare Balticum e.V., Berlin) and Litorina Folk High School invite emerging literary translators from the Baltic Sea region to a four-day translation workshop in Karlskrona. In small groups, participants will translate literary texts of the region together, accompanied by experienced translators as mentors, and exchange views on the aesthetic and ethical questions of literary translation. A thematic focus lies on texts engaging with the region's historical experience, in particular the Cold War era. Participants are equally free to propose texts of their own.
The workshop concludes with a public reading at the physical Baltic Sea Library in Karlskrona. All translations produced will be published, credited by name, in the digital Baltic Sea Library an open, freely accessible archive of the literatures of the Baltic Sea region, which this workshop sets out to expand.

Who can apply

Emerging literary translators working between languages of the Baltic Sea region: any language of the region, in any combination, is welcome.
Preference will be given to applicants under 35. More experienced translators are also encouraged to apply and may be invited to take part in a mentoring or advisory capacity.
The working languages of the workshop are German and English; applicants should be able to follow discussions in at least one of them.

How to apply

Please apply by email to berg@snoe.in-berlin.de no later than 15th August, including:

• a short CV or bio, including your language combination(s) and contact details;
• a sample translation of approx. 5 pages, based on either (a) a text from the Baltic Sea Library not yet available in your target language, or (b) a text not yet in the Library that you believe belongs there — in this case, please briefly explain why the text fits the Library and confirm that the translation rights are available or have been secured;
• a few lines on your motivation for taking part.

Possible Translation Oppertunities:

• Gefilte Fisch. Eine Jugend in Königsberg by Max Fürst (Translation needed in all Baltic languages)
• Erinnerungen eines Überlebenden by Josef Katz (Translation needed in Latvian, Lithuanian, Danish, Estonian, Finnish)

Conditions

Participation is free of charge. Travel costs and meals during the workshop will be covered for accepted participants; we aim to confirm support for accommodation together with the letters of acceptance. Participants residing in the Nordic or Baltic countries may additionally apply for a mobility grant from Nordic Culture Point — we will gladly provide the required letter of invitation.
The Young Baltic Translator's Workshop is organised by the Baltic Sea Library / Forum Mare Balticum e.V. (Berlin) in cooperation with Litorina Folk High School (Karlskrona), as part of the transnational framework Baltic Literature: Senses of Belonging. The workshop is funded by the Deutscher Übersetzerfonds.