Connecting Emerging Literary Artists

2026-07-22

Connecting Emerging Literary Artists (CELA) is a European cooperation project for literary talent development, transnational creation, promotion and circulation of literary works and literary artists in small language markets across Europe. The project brings together a diverse network of 12 literary organisations from 11 countries to collaborate at an international level on providing a total of 165 literary talents with skills, tools and network for a sustainable professional practice, serving the European audience with a rich diversity of quality prose. The project has value for capacity building and training activities, and related skills development activities such as mentoring, peer learning and networking. CELA fosters talents and enhances the entrepreneurial capacities of literary artists, and of the concerned sectors to adapt to new business models and market developments, and to embrace the digital and green transitions. CELA aims to: - Continue and grow the European network of professionals and organisations: providing emerging literary artists with access to the publishing industry and a relevant network in the European book and publishing sector. - Increase the professional capability of tomorrow's internationally acknowledged writers and translators to operate work in a self-sustainable way on an international level, for the European public. - Build the capacity to cooperate at the international level within the diverse and strong CELA partnership. - Provide for transnational mobility and connection within the European literary market: connect, share and exchange expertise and knowledge throughout Europe and help the new generation of European literary artists to meet and work together. - Raise the international circulation of literary works from emerging literary artists from smaller language regions to the European public, investing in the professionalisation of translators, and in the ability for literary work to reach new audiences.

Netherlands

2025-10-15