In Focus: Cosmopolitan Intellectuals on the New Cultural Route
In the framework of the Council of Europe’s new cultural route project the International Foundation Forum of Slavic Cultures organised an international conference on women writers at the beginning of the 20th century. The conference was attended by nine women scientists and professionals from seven countries.
The international conference entitled New Cultural Route: 20th Century Women Writers is part of the project of the new Council of Europe’s cultural route initiated and led by the Forum of Slavic Cultures. “The goal of the project is to establish a cultural route that will showcase the life and work of women writers through dynamic and inspiring activities while facilitating the professional, cultural and tourist exploration of women’s writing, locations and life stories that had largely contributed to the shaping of European values and societies as we know them today,” explained Andreja Rihter, Director of the Forum of Slavic Cultures.
The conference was attended by nine women scientists and professionals from seven countries. They were welcomed by academician Alenka Šelih, one of the initiators of the book The Forgotten Half (Pozabljena polovica), dedicated to important, but often overlooked Slovenian women. The participants in the scientific consultation came to the conclusion that women writers at the beginning of the 20th century had a lot in common, and many of them also knew each other. They were more than just good writers. These were cosmopolitan intellectuals who spoke several languages, travelled extensively, moved around and lived very unconventional lives, pushing the boundaries of social conventions of the time. One of these cosmopolitan women was Zofka Kveder. ““She was a forerunner of the modern woman. Hers was the horizon of a successful feminist who wanted to have it all: family and a successful career to begin with,” said Katja Mihurko Poniž.
The international conference accompanied the first meeting of women members of the scientific committee of the new cultural route that represent seven Slavic countries participating in the project.
International Conference on Women Writers at the Beginning of the 20th Century