Name of the centre
Vertalershuis/Translators House Antwerp
Address & contact
Address Translators House:
Cultureel Congrescentrum Elzenveld
Lange Gasthuisstraat 45
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium
Contact Translators House:
Flemish Literature Fund
Generaal Van Merlenstraat 30
2600 Berchem (Antwerpen)
Belgium
T: +32 3 270 31 61
F: +32 3 270 31 60
E-mail: translatorshouse@REMOVE.flemishliterature.be or vertalershuis@REMOVE.vfl.be
Website: www.vfl.be/vertalershuis (in Dutch) or www.flemishliterature.be/translatorshouse (in English)
How to find us
Staff
Elise Vanoosthuyse
Karen Thys
Date of creation
In January 2009, the Flemish Translators House moved from Leuven to Antwerp to be managed by the Flemish Literature Fund (FLF). The FLF is an autonomous government institution created to implement Flanders’ literary policy. It supports Dutch-language literature in Flanders, as well as translations from Dutch into foreign languages and vice versa. Its mission is to enable the creation, the production and the presentation of literary works by means of granting subventions and supplying information and documentation. The FLF also promotes Flemish literature abroad. The FLF organizes and finances projects and collaborations in Flanders as elsewhere.
Legal status
Part of the foreign policy of the FLF
Description of the centre
The Translators House is located in the heart of the literary city of Antwerp, at walking distance from most cultural places of interest. It is situated in ’t Elzenveld, a historic site that accommodates a hotel and a congress centre. Secluded from the lively city centre, ’t Elzenveld forms a unique oasis of peace and quiet in a green and historic setting.
The Translators House consists of two duplex apartments, each with their own bathroom and kitchen. The apartments are equipped with computer, printer, free wireless internet, air-conditioning, television and telephone. There is a selection of recent Flemish books in each room, and a modest shared library with a collection of Flemish literature (prose, classics, poetry, children’s literature, graphic novels, nonfiction and theatre), dictionaries, as well as other reference works. Guests can use the terraces of the hotel.
The translators’ stay is free of charge and visitors will be eligible for a fixed living allowance of 1.000 euro per month (pro rata). The length of a stay can vary from two weeks to two months.
Activities
The FLF puts translators in contact with authors, publishers, dramatists, literary organisations in Flanders. It informs about literary manifestations and is the contact point during the translator’s stay in the Translators House in Antwerp.
When open
The apartments are available all year round.
Financial sources
The Ministry of Culture of the Flemish Community and Antwerpen Boekenstad donate yearly an amount to the FLF to run the Translators’ House.
Cooperation with other institutions
The Translators House can count on the cooperation of a number of literary partners with which the FLF has made agreements.
The educational establishments in the city (Lessius Hogeschool Antwerp department of applied linguistics, Artesis Hogeschool Antwerp department of Translators and Interpreters and the literary faculty of the University of Antwerp) grant translators free access to their specialised libraries where they can also consult reference books. An exchange of expertise is also possible with lecturers, students and so forth. Lessius Hogeschool Antwerp also supplies translators from the Translators House with a student card. Finally, in consultation with the educational establishments, translators can give readings, guest lecturers and workshops at Lessius, HIVT or UA, depending on the language and programmes.
The Translators House is also imbedded in the literary fabric of the city, through agreements between the FLF and museums (AMVC Literature House and the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library), Antwerp Book City, the professional organisation of the Flemish book sector ‘boek.be’ and the public municipal library to which translators also have free access.
The Literary Translation Expertise Centre (ELV) is a regular partner with which we continually collaborate on workshops, tutorships, knowledge transfer, courses and suchlike.
Admission requirements
In order to qualify for a stay and a grant, literary translators must comply with all the conditions. First of all, they must be able to produce proof of the necessary expertise for translating Dutch language literature. They also have to be in possession of a contract with a publisher for the translation of a Flemish or Dutch author. Finally, the title to be translated must be relevant for the export of Dutch-language literature.