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Fifth International Poetry Festival of Granada 2009

ViaNica.com | Feb 13, 2009

Escene of the poetic carnival, during Granada's International Poetry Festival (2008).
The fifth edition of the International Poetry Festival of Granada (2009) will take place at this Nicaraguan colonial city from February, Monday 16 to Saturday 21. The event will have the presence of more than 150 poets from all over the world. Activities for the public will be developed during five days: speeches, concerts, books sales, lectures, recitals and a Nicaraguan folkloric carnival.

This year, the festival will be in honor of the national poet Alfonso Cortés (1893 – 1969) and its slogan is "La poesía es la conciencia de la Tierra". Moreover, a photographic exposition, manuscripts and other objects that belonged to Cortés will be shown at Convento San Francisco Museum, at the same city.

From Monday 16 (inauguration day) the book and crafts fair is going to be opened to attendees at Plaza de los Leones, next to the Central Park. More than 120 national and Central American artisans, and publishers, will be at this event. Also, a new edition of the Chilean "Trilce" magazine which is dedicated to Nicaraguan poetry will be presented at the books fair.

On Wednesday 18, at 3:00 pm, a colorful Poetic Carnival in which poets will declaim in each street of the city joined by folkloric dancers is going to start from La Merced church and will finish at the city's boardwalk.

Recitals are going to be made every day of this special week and poets will also visit a variety of municipalities from the Pacific region of the country, such as Nandaime, Masaya, Niquinohomo, Diriomo, Masatepe, San Marcos, Diriamba, Jinotepe, Rivas, León and Managua. Other events of interest like concerts, recitals and cultural presentations will also be part of the festival. To know more about the event, read our Events Calendar or the complete program listed bellow our article.

Francisco Asis Fernández, president of the festival, said to ViaNica that, each year, participants of the event will promote the application that was sent to UNESCO, in order to declare Granada city and Cocibolca lake as world heritage. Fernández explained that the festival was already declared municipal heritage by the Granada's local government .

Here you can read the festival's program:

MONDAY: February 16 2009

• 10.00 a.m. a 10.30 a.m.
OPENING CEREMONY: BOOKS AND CRAFTS FAIR
Donation of books to the Festival and the Municipal Library of Granada by Spanish poet José Luis Reyna Palazón and Guatemalan poet Ana María Rodas
Opening Speech by: Francisco de Asis Fernandez - President of the Festival
Location: Parque Central y Parque de los Leones
Coordination: Book Fair, Luz Marina Acosta (on behalf of CNE), Isolda Hurtado (on behalf of ANIDE), Silvia Torrez (Director of Grupo Raìces) and Roberto Marenco

• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a. m.
BOOK LAUNCH: “CHILDREN OF THE MINOTAUR” (ANTHOLOGY)
50 years of Nicaraguan poetry
TRILCE Magazine homage to Nicaraguan poetry
Introduction: Edwin Yllescas, Omar Lara (Director of TRILCE Magazine)
Location: Convento San Francisco
Coordinators: Pedro Xavier Solís and Salomón Alarcón

• 11.30 a.m. a 12.30 a.m.:
BOOK LAUNCH: NICARAGUAN POETRY (BILINGUAL ANTHOLOGY),
Compiled by Italian poets Roberto Pasquali and Enzo Minarelli and Published in Italy
Location: Convento San Francisco
Coordination: Fernando López.
Translation: Helen Sopper.


• 12.30 a.m. a 2.00 p.m.:
LUNCH
Location: Casa de los Leones
Coordination: María Augusta Montealegre (Protocol) and UAM

• 4:30 p.m. a 5.30 p.m.
EXHIBITION – HOMAGE TO NICARAGUAN PAINTER LEONCIO SÁENZ “IN MEMORIAN”
Location: Convento San Francisco
Coordination: Aura Marina Espinoza (Director EPIKENTRO Galley) and Salomón Alarcón

• 5.30.p.m. to 6.30 p.m
EXHIBITION OF ALFONSO CORTES PHOTOGRAPHS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS
Opening: Mr. René González , Instituto Nicaragüense de Cultura Hispánica (INCH)
Location: Convento San Francisco
Coordination: Mr. René González (President INCH), Leòn Borge Cortés (representative of the Cortès family) and Fernando Lòpez

• 7.00 p.m. a 7.15 p.m.
WELCOMING SPEECH:
Gioconda Belli, Vice- President of the Festival’s Board of Directors

• 7.30 p.m. a 9.30 p.m.
YOUNG POETRY READING
Location: Plaza de los Leones
Coordination: Francisco Ruíz and Dieter Stadler, Director Casa de los 3 Mundos .

• 9.30 p.m. a 10.30 p.m.
RONAL ABUD VIVAS FOLKLORIC BALLET, El Güegüence and Traditional Nicaraguan Dances
Location: Plaza de los Leones
Coordination: Salomón Alarcón and Roberto Marenco

• 10.00 pm a 12.00 p.m.
DINNER
Location: Casa de los Leones
Coordination: Protocol UAM
TUESDAY, February 17 2009

9.00 a.m. a 10.00 a.m.
BOOK LAUNCH: “LIQUIDO” BY MARÍA AMANDA RIVAS
Introduction: Luis Rocha, President of the CNE, Kurt Fleker, Vice-Governor of Estiria- Austria and Marusa Krese. Poetry Reading
Location: Book Fair
Coordination: Fernando López and Victor Chavarría

• 10.0 0 a.m. a 12:30 a.m.
INFORMAL MEETING BETWEEN LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
Introduction of the International Poetry Festival Board of Directors
Chaired by: Francisco de Asis Fernández, President, Gioconda Belli, Nicasio Urbina and Blanca Castellón, Vice-presidents, Luis Rocha, President of the CNE, Isolda Hurtado, President of the CNE
Location: Casa de los Leones
Coordination: Pedro Xavier Solís and Fernando López. Poetry reading

• 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m
POETRY READING.
Open microphone
Location: Book and Craft Fair
Coordination: Víctor Chavarría

• 12.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
LUNCH
Location: Casa de los Leones
Coordination: María Augusta Montealegre -UAM

• 3:30 p.m. a 5:30 p.m.
Unveiling of a sculpture of Alfonso Cortés, Unveiling of a sculpture of Francisco Pérez Estrada, donated by the Nicaraguan Institute of Culture. Reading by women poets
Words by: Blanca Castellón. (Vice-president of the Festival Board of Directors)
Location: Parque de la Poesìa
Coordination: Blanca Castellón, Fernando López, Irving Cordero , and Granada Mayor’s Office


• 6:30 p.m. a 7.30 p.m.
V INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL OFFICIAL OPENING
Presiding: Honorable Mr. Jaime Morales Carazo (Vice-President of the Republic) and Mrs. Amparo de Morales
Eulogio Mejìa, Mayor, City of Granada
Francisco de Asìs Fernàndez, President of the Festival
Gioconda Belli, Blanca Castellón , Nicasio Urbina, Vice-Presidents of the Festival and Dieter Stadler (Director Casa de los Tres Mundos)
Introduction: Francisco de Asís Fernández, President of the Festival
Opening Speech: Honorable Mr. Jaime Morales Carazo, Vice-president of the Republic
Location: Plaza de la Independencia
Coordination: Fernando López, Roberto Marenco, María Augusta Montealegre, Salomón Alarcón

• 7:30 p.m. a 9.30 p.m.
POETRY READING
Coordination: Gloria Gabuardi and Luz Marina Acosta

• 9.30 p.m. at 10.30 p.m. :
CONCERT BY CARLOS MEJÍA GODOY.
Coordination: Fernando López, Bayardo Martínez

• 10.30 p.m. at 12.30 p.m.
WELCOMING RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE VICE - PRESIDENT OF NICARAGUA,
Music: Javner Alampana
Location: Casa de los Leones
Coordination: Department of Protocol, Universidad Americana (UAM)

WEDNESDAY, February 18 2009

• 9.00 a.m. at 10.00 a.m.
BOOK LAUNCHING: “QUIERO QUE SEPAS” BY SONJA HARTER BILINGUAL EDITION (GERMAN/SPANISH)
Introduction: Dieter Stadler, Director Casa de los 3 Mundos.
Location: Book and Craft Fair
Coordination: Luz Marina Acosta and Dieter Stadler



• 10.00 a.m. at 12:30 a.m.
ROUND-TABLE ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF ALFONSO CORTÉS
Participants: Jorge Eduardo Arellano, Julio Valle Castillo, Steven White, Isolda Rodríguez, Carlos Tünnerman, Dra. Addis Sparta Díaz.
Location: Convent of San Francisco
Coordination: Nicasio Urbina

• 11.00 a.m. at 12.30 a.m.
POETRY READING (OPEN MICROPHONE)
Location: Book and Craft Fair
Coordination: Victor Chavarría

• 12.30 p.m. to 2.00 p.m
LUNCH
Location: Casa de los Leones
Coordination: Protocol-UAM

• 3.00 p.m at 6:00 p.m.
SYMBOLIC “BURIAL OF LIES AND DECEIT” CARNAVALESQUE FUNERAL PROCESSION
Poetry reading on each street corner of the journey
Parade of various expressions of Nicaraguan Traditions and Folklore
Departure: Atrium La Merced
Opening speech: Gloria Gabuardi, beginning of the Carnival
Coordination: Fernando López, Roberto Marenco, Bayardo Martínez, Luz Marina Acosta, Victor Chavarría, Salomón Alarcón

• 7:00 p.m. at 8:30 p.m.
POETRY READING IN CELEBRATION OF THE NICARAGUAN CARIBBEAN COAST
Introduction: Alvaro Rivas (Director Wani Magazine) and Bayardo Martínez
Location: Atrium Convento San Francisco

• 8:30 p.m. at 9:30 p.m.
CONCERT BY PHILIP MONTALVÁN
Coordination: Nicaraguan Institute of Culture, Alvaro Rivas, Fernando López, Bayardo Martínez

• 9.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m
DINNER.
Location: Casa de los Leones

THURSDAY February 19 2009

• 9:30 a.m. at 12.00 a.m.
ROUND-TABLE: LITERATURE, COMMERCE AND INTELECTUAL PROPERTY
Location: Convento San Francisco
Coordination: Representatives of SIECA/ADAPCA, Melvin Wallace (editor) and Fernando López (Cultural Director of Casa de los Tres Mundos)
Cocktail Reception

• 11.30 a.m. at 12.30 a.m.
GROUP PHOTOGRAPH GATHERING
Location: Convento San Francisco
Coordination: Benjamin Lugo and Fernando Somarriba

• 11. 30 a.m. at 12.30 a.m.
POETRY READING (OPEN MICROPHONE)
Location: Books and Crafts Fair
Coordinators: Poet Victor Chavarría

• 12.30 p.m. at 2.00 p.m.
LUNCH
Location: Casa de los Leones
Coordination: Department of Protocol, Universidad Americana (UAM)

• 3.00 p.m. at 5.00 p.m.
BOOK PRESENTATION: “WALKING ON THE ROOF” by Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Poetry Reading, Translation by Javier Campos
Introduction: Francisco de Asìs Fernández
Location: Convento San Francisco
Coordination: Fernando López, Dr. Melvin Wallace, Bayardo Martínez, Salomón Alarcón.

• 6:00 p.m. at 8:00 p.m.
POETRY READING
Location: Fortaleza La Polvora
Coordination: Blanca Castellón and Pedro Xavier Solís with the Institute of Tourism.

• 8:30 p.m. at 9:30 p.m.
CONCERT BY CAMERATA BACH
Coordination: Bayardo Martínez, Fernando López, Salomón Alarcón and Gloria Fernández.
Reception offered by the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism
Music.
Location: Fortaleza La Polvora
Coordination: María Augusta Montealegre y protocolo (UAM)

FRIDAY February 20 the 2009

• 9.00 a.m at 2.30 p.m.
POETRY READING IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES: Nandaime, Masaya, Niquinohomo, Diriomo, Masatepe, San Marcos, Diriamba, Jinotepe, Nindirí, Catarina, Rivas, León and Managua.
Departure: Casa de los Leones
Coordinators: Fernando López, Bayardo Martínez, Benjamin Lugo, Irving Cordero, Francisco Ruíz, Hanzel Lacayo, Salomón Alarcón, Madeline Mendieta, Victor Ruíz, Ninozka Chacón, Anastasio Lovo, Vilma de la Rocha.

• 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m
POETRY READING. OPEN MICROPHONE
Location: Book and Craft Fair
Coordination: Victor Chavarría

• 12.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
LUNCH
Location: Casa de los Leones
Coordination: Department of Protocol, Universidad Americana (UAM)

• 3:00 p.m. at 4:30 p.m.
POETRY READING IN THE MUNICIPAL MARKET, POLICE AUDITORY AND THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM OF GRANADA.
Coordination: Alvaro Rivas, Benjamin Lugo, Municipal Market and Police of Granada.

3:00 p.m. at 5:00 p.m.
POETRY READING
Locations: Colleges, Universities, Technical Centers
Coordination: María Cecilia Bravo and Victor Chavarría

• 6:30 p.m. at 9:00 p.m.
POETRY READING
Location: Atrium La Merced
Coordination: Isolda Hurtado and Fernando López , Bayardo Martínez., Salomón Alarcón.

• 9.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m
CONCERT BY NORMA ELENA GADEA.
Coordination: Bayardo Martínez and Salomón Alarcón

• 10.00 p.m. at 12.00 p.m.
DINNER
Music: Los Hijos del Son
Coordination: María Augusta Montealegre y protocolo (UAM)

SATURDAY February 21 2009

• 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 a.m
YOUNG POETS SHOWCASE (OPEN MICROPHONE) Hanzel Lacayo,Victor Ruíz, Madeline Mendieta
Location: Central Park
Musical Group: Los Jaguares - UAM
Coordination: Mayor’s Office, Irving Cordero and Bayardo Martínez.

•10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m
VISIT TO THE ISLES OF LAKE GRANADA Lunch hosted by Mr. Roberto Zamora, President of BANCENTRO and the Mayor’s Office
Coordinators: Mayor’s Office, Bancentro and Fernando López
Departure: Casa de los Leones
• 6.00 p.m. at 7.30 p.m.
CLOSING CEREMONY
Reading of the Document in Support of the Nomination of Granada as Patrimony of Humanity
Reading of the Convocation to the VI Granada International Poetry Festival (2010)
Location: Plaza de la Independencia
Presided by: Honorable Mr. Jaime Morales Carazo, Vice - President of Nicaragua; Mrs. Amparo de Morales; Honorable Mr. Eulogio Mejía, Mayor of the City of Granada; Francisco de Asís Fernández, President of the Festival; Gioconda Belli, Blanca Castellón and Nicasio Urbina, Vice-Presidents of the Festival; Mr. Dieter Stadler, Director of Casa de los Tres Mundos

• 7.30 p.m to 9.00 p.m
POETRY READING
Location: Plaza de la Independencia
Coordination: Fernando López, Gloria Gabuardi, Roberto Marenco, Bayardo Martínez, Salomón Alarcón.

•9.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m
CONCERT BY LUIS ENRIQUE MEJÍA GODOY
Location: Plaza de la Independencia
Coordination: Bayardo Martínez , Alberto Maravilla y Hanzel Lacayo