Pranger Festival

21th gathering of poets, critics and translators of poetry

2 July – 6 July 2024

Rogaška Slatina, Ljubljana

The program of the Pranger Festival 2024 includes reflections on nine poetry collections from 2023, a conceptual discussion on Poetry & Humor, an international discussion called Lyrikbook, the awarding of the Stritar Prize for critics, and a children’s program called ELA – Little Pranger. The direction of the festival focuses on the dignity of art and the reception of art, inclusiveness, and trans-clan openness. The aim is to express opinions kindly and directly while also fearlessly considering the heard criticism, which should be well-founded and polite. Pranger selects three critics, who each choose three poets, authors of new poetry collections. 

All critical debates will be hosted by Diana Pungeršič.

Saturday, May 25, 2024, Cultural Center, Rogaška Slatina, 11:00 AM

Ceremonial awarding of the ELA – Little Pranger competition prizes. In partnership with the Rogaška Slatina Library. Program director: Nataša Koražija,

Tuesday, July 2, 2024, Vodnik Homestead Center, 7:00 PM
Conceptual discussion: Poetry & Humor

Guests: Andreja Štepec and Blaž Iršič. Moderator: Ajda Bračič.

Is it worthwhile to take humorous poetry seriously? How seriously can we take witty poets? How deep do the mechanisms of humor reach between verses, is absurdity even funny, and with what power does satire wield its critical edge today?

Humor is a convincing yet delicate literary tool that, like in life, not everyone masters completely. In times of global and personal crises, it can be the last line of defense against despair or a strategy for guerrilla testing of optimistic alternatives.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Vodnik Homestead Center, 7:00 PM
Pranger Poetry Evening

Poetry by: Lara Božak, Tonja Jelen, Denis Škofič, Ana Pepelnik, Vesna Liponik, Matjaž Zorec, Primož Repar. Primož Repar’s poetry will be interpreted by actor Niko Goršič. Hosted by: Sara Špelec.

Thursday, 4 JUly 2024

Cultural Centre Rogaška Slatina, 2PM (until 5:50PM)

Critical debate

Friday, 5 July 2024

Cultural Centre Rogaška Slatina, 9:30AM (until 1:20PM)

Critical debate

Anin Dvor, Rogaška Slatina, 8:00 PM
The Stritar Award for Critics 2024

Speeches will be given by the Mayor of Rogaška Slatina, Branko Kidrič, and the festival director, Urška P. Černe. The Stritar Prize will be presented by Dušan Merc, President of the Slovenian Writers’ Association.

Saturday, 6 July 2024

Cultural Centre Rogaška Slatina, 9:30AM (until 1:20PM)

Critical debate

Foreign language in focus: Italian

No one reads as meticulously as avid readers. Poetry allows for its rewritings and new conceptualizations of the world. In the year 2024, Pranger is focusing on discussing the relationship of Italian language towards Slovenian poetry and deepening the relevant, and transformative connections between the languages.

The Stritar Award for Critics 2024

For the eleventh year in a row, we will be hosting the Slovene Writers’ Association, which will present this year’s Stritar Award for Critics at the concluding festival event on Friday, 5 July 2024 in Rogaška Slatina’s Cultural Centre.

Critique studio

Young Critique and Translation Critique are two mentored workshops for beginner critics (non-beginners also welcome) that will be held at the festival in autumn.

ELA- Little Pranger

ELA-Little Pranger workshop is dedicated to our youngest readers who will be able to participate in a children’s poetry competition. Like last year, the workshop is part of a collaboration with Cultural Centre Rogaška Slatina and is held separately from the critical part of the festival.

Books in Clothing

Pranger’s chosen books will be treated to an artistic book cover transformation with the help of the Books in Clothing project, a collaboration of our festival with MKC Maribor and Maribor’s Slovenian Book Days Festival.

Join us, the entrance is free!

This event is part of the reading culture programme co-financed by the Slovenian Book Agency.