Poets from 13 countries will gather in Santo Domingo for the International Poetry Week, the event's Executive Committee announced, revealing the full list of international guests set to take part in the cultural gathering.
The event will open on October 19 at the Paraninfo Ricardo Michel, part of the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), starting at 5 p.m.
Committee members said they were pleased to invite the entire national community to the opening ceremony of the cultural and literary event, which will run for a week and close with a poetry gala involving 25 educational centers from various levels along with other cultural institutions. Organizers said all activities would be open to anyone interested in attending.
International guests confirmed
The confirmed international lineup includes Gabriel Chávez Casazola of Bolivia, William Ospina of Colombia, Rodrigo Carrillo of Guatemala, María Baranda of Mexico, Sonia Betancort of Spain, Nancy Morejón of Cuba, Carmen Rojas Larrazábal of Venezuela and Danilo Manera of Italy.
Also taking part will be Paolo de Lima of Peru, Tanya Yavasgecheva and Daniela Aleksandrova of Bulgaria, Roxana Miranda of Chile, Nicolás Meusnier of France and Samuel Gregoire of Haiti. More than 100 Dominican poets spanning different generations and regions of the country will join them.
Morejón, one of Cuba's most prominent contemporary poets, is among the best-known names on the roster, having built a decades-long career exploring Afro-Cuban identity and history through verse.
Who organizes the festival
The Organizing Committee of the International Poetry Week is made up of writers Mateo Morrison, president of the Fundación Espacios Culturales, Inc.; José Mármol, president of the festival; and Soledad Álvarez, Ángela Hernández, Plinio Chaín, Basilio Belliard and Jochy Herrera.
Other members of the Executive Committee include Denisse Español, José Enrique Delmonte, Ibeth Guzmán, Bileysi Reyes and Galia Ascencio, who serves as general coordinator.
UASD, founded in the colonial era, is regarded as the oldest university in the Americas and regularly hosts cultural programming open to the public in Santo Domingo.
What comes next
Organizers said they were already anticipating public attendance at the October 19 opening ceremony, with the week of readings, conferences and school participation to follow before the closing poetry gala.
