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The PEN American Center named Orsós director of the th World Voices Festival, to take place in New York and half a dozen other cities around the United States between April 25 and May 1, 2011, on September 21.
?I think it?s very important that the writers who come here from all over the world spend a certain amount of time with each other -- without an audience, in a more closed, professional work space ? in discussion groups based on different themes,? said Orsós. ?The stress is not so much on professionalism as on work. I would like to see the event turned, at least in part, into a working festival,? he added.
Orsós places great importance on traditional forums, such as readings and roundtable or workshop talks, in his efforts to get the festival?s participants to work together.
Orsós declined to reveal the size of the festival?s budget or the themes on which it would focus. He was also mum on the writers that would be invited to speak at the event.
Orsós did say that the festival organisers wanted to involve ?strong, recognisable names? as well as offering a chance to writers who may have escaped the public?s attention in spite of their talents.
?We have big plans and are emboldened,? said Orsós, who met with festival chairman Salman Rushdie on Thursday to discuss plans for next year.
More Hungarian writers participated at last this year?s festival than last year?s, and they are expected to maintain their presence at next year?s festival as well.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
