The International Poetry Festival of Medellín (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

:''Festival Internacional de Poesía de Medellín'') is an annual festival held in

Medellín Medellín ( ; or ), officially the Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Medellín (), is the List of cities in Colombia, second-largest city in Colombia after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia Departme ...

, the second-largest city of

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

. It was founded in 1991. __NOTOC__

Background and history

Medellín has a reputation for violence, and from its beginning in 1991, the festival has attempted to offer an alternative. In 2011 the World Poetry Movement was founded in the context of the World Gathering of Directors from 37 International Poetry Festivals, held in Medellín.

Recognition and awards

In 2006 the festival was one of the recipients of the

Right Livelihood Award The Right Livelihood Award is an international award to "honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today." The prize was established in 1980 by German-Swedish philanthropist Jakob vo ...

."2006 Right Livelihood Awards honour pioneers for peace"
CCPA Monitor.

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is an independent think tank in Canada. It has been described as "left leaning". The CCPA concentrates on economic policy, international trade, environmental justice and social policy. It is es ...

. 2007. . The citation for the award explained that it was given "…for showing how creativity, beauty, free expression and community can flourish amongst and overcome even deeply entrenched fear and violence." The festival has also won a Spanish literary award for its contribution to peace among other things.

Appearances by poets

In 2015,

Indigenous Australian Indigenous Australians are people with familial heritage from, or recognised membership of, the various ethnic groups living within the territory of contemporary Australia prior to History of Australia (1788–1850), British colonisation. The ...

poet Samuel Wagan Watson represented Australia at the festival.

References

External links

* * Poetry festivals in Colombia Culture in Medellín Festivals established in 1991 1991 establishments in Colombia {{lit-festival-stub