CELA

Connecting Emerging Literary Artists (CELA) is a talent development project for the new generation of European literary voices across 11 different countries.

CELA brings together 165 literary artists across 11 European countries, bridging the gaps between emerging talent, the publishing industry, and European audiences.

Upcoming

6 June 2026

Conversations #9: On audience

In this ninth edition of Conversations, moderated by CELA director Frank Tazelaar and CELA project manager Simina Popa, a panel of international literary experts will discuss literary audiences. What is the purpose of literary events, and what kind of audiences should they try to reach? What changes do we see in audiences for literary festivals? Are there differences within Europe? What is the role of organisers in this? And how might they innovate towards the future?

Published 7 Apr 2026

Notes from Wintertuinfestival

CELA Job shadowing: Nijmegen – by Maria Świątkowska (KBF)

Published 17 Mar 2026

Certainty is always suspicious

Introduction lecture by Georgi Gospodinov

Published 11 Feb 2026

Notes from Svět Knihy

CELA Job shadowing: Prague – by Marcelina Karcz (KBF)

Published 18 Dec 2025

The Translator is Present

CELA at Wintertuin Festival Nijmegen – by Lena van Tijen (translator SB – NL)

Dive into our portals

Discover the work of our translators and writers via eight dynamic portals, each offering a journey into a curated selection of translated stories. These portals offer various interesting themes—identity, migration, belonging, language, magic, and resistance—creating a space for cross-cultural dialogue. By bridging linguistic and national boundaries, CELA’s publications celebrate the richness of European storytelling, offering new perspectives that connect us all today.