15 - 17 November 2023
Vilnius, Lithuania
CREATOR
ISLAND
Children's Literature
Industry Days
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.
More to be announced soon!
Alvar Jaakson
Estonia
Creative director, copywriter, illustrator and founder of Utopia creative agency
Lina Itagaki
Lithuania
Illustrator, comics artist,
publisher (Misteris Pinkmanas)
Programme
Wednesday,
November 15
UNIVERSITY
DAY
Public lectures by guest speakers at Vilnius University and Vilnius Academy of Arts
Public lecture with Latvian children’s & YA author Luīze Pastore
Venue: Vilnius University, Faculty of Philology
Public lecture and creative workshop with Polish illustrator
Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka
Venue: Vilnius Academy of Arts, Department of Graphic Art
Free entry but registration required (to be announced late October)
Discussion about children’s literature magazines
Venue: Vilnius Literary House (Vilniaus literatų namai)
Sharing their success stories and challenges will be Ilona Martson,
editor-in-chief at Täheke magazine (EE) and Virgis Šidlauskas,
editor-in-chief at Laimiukas magazine (LT). The event will be moderated by children’s literature expert Eglė Baliutavičiūtė.
Free entry
Thursday,
November 16
KNOW–HOW
DAY
Lectures, Q&A sessions, skill-sharing activities
Author Anti Saar (EE) will talk about finding original ideas for children’s books, publishers Maciej Byliniak (Dwie Siostry, PL) and Sigita Pūkienė (Aukso žuvys, LT) will give some practical advice, illustrator Greta Alice (LT) will share her experiences at artist residencies and their benefits, while concept artist Nerijus Čivilis (LT/ESP) will discuss the role of AI in the world of visual and text.
Venue: Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library
Tickets available early October
Exhibition launch at Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Telling the City will showcase works by Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and Polish illustrators.
Venue: Martynas Mažvydas National Library
Free entry
Friday,
November 17
INSPIRATION
DAY
Illustrator portfolio reviews and CREATOR EVENING
CREATOR EVENING will be filled with inspirational stories from illustrator and publisher Lina Itagaki (Misteris Pinkmanas, LT), children’s author Luīze Pastore (LV), illustrator Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka (PL) as well as David Schilter (LV), publisher of kuš! comics.
Venue: Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library
Tickets available early October.
The event will conclude with a joint party!
Time and venue to be confirmed
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 •
Communication: Andželika Rimkuvienė,
Jurga Tumasonytė • Translation: Audronė Kvietkutė
Event organised by
Centre for School Improvement,
Reading promotion programme Children’s World,
Lithuanian Culture Institute.
Partners
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.
Financially supported by
Lithuanian Council for Culture,
Vilnius Municipality,
Polish Institute Vilnius.