Children's
Literature
Industry
Days
15–17 November
2023
Attention all children’s authors and illustrators, agents and publishers, students and professionals! CREATOR ISLAND: Children’s Literature Industry Days return to Vilnius UNESCO City of Literature on 15–17 November 2023.
CREATOR ISLAND offers three days of lectures, training sessions and networking opportunities for those working or interested in the children’s book industry.
THIS YEAR’S FOCUS
CREATOR ISLAND’23 will focus on urban culture and city narratives in children’s literature. The event is dedicated to the 700th anniversary of Vilnius and this year’s slogan is Cities that nurture kids and books. CREATOR ISLAND’23 is organized in partnership with the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, IBBY Latvia and the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdansk, Poland.
VENUES
Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library
Vilnius Literary House
Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts
Vilnius University
Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Speakers
Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka
Poland
Illustrator, poster artist, assistant professor at the Studio of Publishing Illustration at the University of Arts in Poznań.
Luīze Pastore
Latvia
Writer, author of more than 10 books for young readers.
Anti Saar
Estonia
Writer and translator. Graduated from the University of Tartu in semiotics. Translated over 30 works from French into Estonian. Author of 10 highly popular children’s books.
Maciej Byliniak
Poland
Editor-in-chief at Dwie Siostry Publishing. Since 2008 Maciej has worked with many authors and illustrators whose creations are shaping children's book art in Poland today.
Greta Alice
Lithuania
Illustrator, comic book lover and creator. Illustrated over 40 children's books.
Avid backpacker.
Nerijus Čivilis
Lithuania / Spain
Concept artist, creator of visual worlds for games and animation.
David Schilter
Latvia
Founder of kuš! comics in Latvia. 16 years of publishing alternative comics from all around the world.
Ilona Martson
Estonia
Editor-in-chief of Täheke children’s magazine for 20 years. Translated or edited nearly 30 children’s books and 20 novels for adults.
Alvar Jaakson
Estonia
Creative director, copywriter, illustrator and founder of Utopia creative agency
Lina Itagaki
Lithuania
Illustrator, comics artist,
publisher (Misteris Pinkmanas)
Sigita Pūkienė
Lithuania
Founder and managing director of Aukso Žuvys Publishing. Over the last 13 years Sigita has worked with many acclaimed Lithuanian authors and illustrators and developed numerous publishing projects.
Virgis Šidlauskas
Lithuania
Lithuanian children’s author and editor-in-chief of Laimiukas children’s literary magazine. Virgis ir a board member of IBBY Lithuania, an educator for the reading initiative A Year With A Book.
Programme
Wednesday,
November 15
UNIVERSITY
DAY
Public lectures by guest speakers (all events will be in English)
Venue: Vilnius Academy of Arts, Building C1, Department of Doctoral Studies, Auditorium 102 (Malūnų str. 3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Public lecture with illustrator Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka (PL)
A Balloon Filled with Air: How Constraints Can Help Improve Illustration and Poster Design
Free entry but registration required >>
Venue: Vilnius University, Faculty of Philology, Vincas Krėvė auditorium (Universiteto Str. 5)
Time: 11.30 a.m.
Public lecture with children’s & YA author Luīze Pastore (LV)
Inventing Stories Based on Real Events
Free entry but registration required >>
Venue: Vilnius Literary House (Vilniaus literatų namai, šv. Jono str. 11)
Time: 6 p.m.
Free entry
Discussion "The Future of Children's Literature Magazines: Necessity or Extinction?"
With Ilona Martson (Täheke, EE), Noémie Monier (Baïka, FR), Virgis Šidlauskas (Laimiukas, LT). Moderator: Eglė Baliutavičiūtė.
Thursday,
November 16
KNOW–HOW
DAY
Lectures, Q&A sessions, skill-sharing activities
(all lectures will be in English)
Venue: Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library (Trakų str. 10),
the Great Hall
Ticketed event >>
10 a.m. Maciej Byliniak (Dwie Siostry, PL), Sigita Pūkienė (Aukso žuvys, LT)
Book Publishing: What Happens Behind the Scenes
11.30 a.m. Greta Alice (illustrator, LT) and surprise guest appearances
Discomfort as Opportunity: Backpacking Around Art Residences
12.30 p.m. Break
1.30 p.m. Anti Saar (writer, EE) ir Alvar Jaakson (illustrator, EE)
Some Know-How on Making a Know-How Book
3 p.m. Nerijus Čivilis (concept artist, LT/ES)
Exploring the Future: Embracing Artificial Intelligence
(title generated by AI)
Exhibition launch at Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Venue: Martynas Mažvydas National Library (Gediminas Av. 51)
Time: 7 p.m.
Free entry
Telling the City will showcase works by Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and Polish illustrators.
Friday,
November 17
INSPIRATION
DAY
Portfolio reviews
with Maciej Byliniak ("Dwie Siostry", PL), David Schilter ("kuš! comics", LV),
Sigita Pūkienė ("Aukso žuvys", LT)
Venue: Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library (Trakų str. 10),
the Great Hall
Time: 11 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Free entry, registrtion required >>
CREATOR EVENING
(all talks will be in English)
Venue: Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library (Trakų str. 10),
the Great Hall
Ticketed event >>
4 p.m. Lina Itagaki (Misteris Pinkmanas, LT)
Can Cities Spark Imagination? The Experience of a Traveler-Illustrator-Publisher
4.45 p.m. Luīze Pastore (writer, LV)
One Degraded Neighbourhood, Some Stray Dogs and a Child: From Inspiration to Success Story
5.30 p.m. Sip 'n' gossip
6 p.m. Dominika Czerniak–Chojnacka (illustrator, PL)
Taming the Fear: How to Benefit from Various Challenges
6.45 p.m. David Schilter (kuš! comics, LV)
The Small Press Comics Experience
8 p.m. Closing Party and Birthday Bash at Vilnius Literary House!
(Šv. Jono str. 11)
Organizers
Kotryna Zylė
Writer, Illustrator,
Founder of Creator Island
Justinas Vancevičius
Head of literature promotion program
"Vaikų žemė (Children's World)",
Founder of Creator Island
Greta Alice
Illustrator, Comics artist,
Coordinator of Creator Island
Rūta Lazauskaitė
Educator,
Coordinator of Creator Island
Illustration: Simona Jurčiukonytė
Design: Miglė Vasiliauskaitė, Iveta Sendžiukaitė, Kotryna Zylė Communication: Andželika Rimkuvienė, Jurga Tumasonytė
Translation: Audronė Kvietkutė
Event organised by
Centre for School Improvement,
Reading promotion programme Children’s World
Partners
Lithuanian Culture Institute
Estonian Children’s Literature Centre,
IBBY Latvia,
Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdansk, Poland,
IBBY Lithuania,
Lithuanian Publishers Association,
Vilnius UNESCO City of Literature,
Vilniaus Academy of Arts,
Vilnius University Philology Faculty,
MRU Institute of Humanities,
Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library,
Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania,
Lithuanian Writers’ Union,
Literatūra ir menas, 370 magazine,
"Būkčia" kombucha, "Mulate" chocolate.
Financially supported by
Lithuanian Council for Culture,
Vilnius Municipality,
Polish Institute Vilnius.