The creation of the forum of poetry festivals

18 januari 2006 Following the initiative of the founding members, and having as objective the construction of a plural poetic Mediterranean in search of its roots and open onto the world, a meeting took place on the occasion of the 3rd International Festival of Poetry in Casablanca, October 9-12 2002, which brought together the directors and person in charge of the following festivals:
The festivals of Lisbon, Porto Santo, and Faro (Portugal), les voix de la Méditerranée, Lodève (France), the festivals of poetry of Gênova, Bruges (Italy ) and Helsinki (Finland ), Poetry international of Dormbirn (Austria), and the international festival of poetry in Casablanca. The persons in charge of the festivals of Malmö (Sweden), Velenica (Slovania), Maastricht ( the Netherlands) have apologized for their absence. The poet Ghassane zaqtan in charge of the house of poetry in Palestine was prevented by the Israeli occupation from leaving his country and was thus unable to attend the meeting.

This meeting which represents the outcome of a long process of reflexion, makes concrete the birth of the forum of festivals called: “la Mediterranée dont nous parlons” (Speaking the Mediterranean)

The directors and persons in charge of festivals present at the meeting consider that throughout the Mediterranean there are poetries and poetics, different and plural, which have been translated, transposed, or sometimes mixed up, and that have to be supported so a to help the flourishing of this singular plural.

The forum will particularly have as a primary task to stand up to this challenge by advancing the idea of a Mediterranean knowable and identifiable but in permanent construction.

The participants are conscious that the question is not to re-activate the myth of a happy Mediterranean, but aspire to make of this forum a space of freedom to delineate another figure of the Mediterranean which takes as origin the absence of the idea of every origin.

To this figure we have to grant a passage in language and poetry, with the same passion for the infinite common to all the inhabitants of the Mediterranean. This means that Mediterranean culture is not given once and for all, but that has yet to be invented in solidarity, and the respect of plurality and differences.

In the face of all forms of integrism and intolerance, we think that it is high time to compose the singular plural poem of our own sea. The time has come in fact get rid of a history of mis-recognition and mutual rejection. The Mediterranean we speak about goes beyond the tension of antagonisms, towards reciprocal attention, and the recognition of all Mediterranean poetries.

The founders of this Forum: Mohammed bennis, casimiro de brito, Frantz-Paul hamling, Claudio pazzoni et Mailhé vallés-bled, thus announcent :

1- The organization of the next three meetings: in 2003 in Funchol ( Portugal), in 2004 in Genova (Italy), in 2005 in Lodève (France)
2- The annual designation of two coordinators whose mission is the supervision of the Forum activities
3- The coordinators for the year 2003 will be Mohammed Bennis, and Casimiro de Brito
4- The publication in three languages (Arabic, French, and English) of the proceedings of the meeting

For more information please contact:
Mohammed bennis, President of the house of poetry in Morocco, or Casimiro de brito.