The Slovene Writers’ Association has established the VlLENICA lnternational Literary Award. The Award is another fresh initiative from the Alpine-Adriatic region, though extending beyond this geographical delineation. Every year it will draw attention to exceptional artistic achievements in poetry, fiction, drama and essay originating in this Middle European cultural environment. Slovene literature has been an integral part of this cultural space right from its own beginnings in the 9th century, linked through it and with it to the wider culture of Europe. European culture is an open, pluralistic concept, the vital meaning and content of which lie in the uniting of differences – most richly expressed in the Middle European cultural sphere. The particular distinction and cultural message of the Vilenica Award would underline the intellectual wealth and assert the vital force of the principle of integration of diversity within the European cultural community that has been formed and is still taking shape in the arts of this Middle European cultural region.

The Slovene Writers’ Association has appointed a five member jury which will be assisted by consultants from among the most emminent literary experts of these countries in making an artistically unquestionable selection of a prizewinner of international standard of individual national literatures. Aided by their expertise, the jury members, themselves experts in individual national literatures will autonomously select the winner.

The VILENICA lnternational Literary Award will be presented by the Slovene Writers’ Association every year in the third week of September, in the unique Karst cave of Vilenica, from which the award takes its name. Vilenica is not only the oldest tourist attraction of this type in Slovenia, but in the world, having been opened for visitors in 1821. Legends are linked to its exceptional poetic beauty, indicated by its name, connected with mythological fairies. Let this place become symbolic of the interweaving of Slovene and Middle European cultures with those of the rest of Europe. Vilenica lies just a few kilometres from Lipica. The Slovene Writers’ Association will be granting the Award through the support of Slovene enterprises and the organizational and material assistance of the Sežana municipality.

Concurrent to the Award, a multilingual publication VILENICA will be issued. This will not only contain the prizewinning texts but also excerpts from the works of   those authors placed in the final selection. This year the event will be from 18th- 20th September in Sežana, Lipica and the Vilenica Cave. The ceremony of the presentation of the VILENICA Award will be on Saturday 20th September 1986 in the unique environment of the Karst cave that has bestowed the Award its name.

Source: Vilenica Almanac 86