Yolanda Castaño

“I am working on the infrequent convergence of poetry and economy. My aim is to provide not only an analysis of all the prejudices that come out of how poetry practice is implemented in the current economic scenario, but also to bring new ideas, policies and strategies to both programers and writers, specially those exposed to so many inherited romantic burdens as poets are.

Regarding Saari I have the expectation of finding a calm inspiring place where I can concentrate myself in such a creatively and intellectually ambitious project away from my daily duties and distractions. I am mostly looking for an introspective period to devote to my demanding working plan as much as possible, but, also, to get in contact with other European artists to know more about how does the literary scenes and culture policies in their countries work.

My literary project will combine report, politics, creative writing and some economic analysis. I am using some personal notes that I brought to Saari, taken over two years. I would like to relate some personal experiences, try to take some conclusions or ideas out of them, reveal what kind of values and agenda is behind and apply a critic perspective on it. Opening this kind of debate and trying to contribute to strengthening our profession, its possibilities and its social projection would be a goal too. Further than this, I just need to think and write, think and write, think and write.”

Poet, essayist, editor and curator Yolanda Castaño is director of the International Writer’s residence Residencia Literaria 1863 in A Coruña, Galicia. The most international name in Galician contemporary poetry, she has published six poetry collections in Galician and Spanish (Depth of field and Second Tongue among the last ones), she also has poems translated into more than 30 different languages, but also poetry volumes in English, Italian, French, Macedonian, Serbian and Armenian.

She has participated in festivals and literary manifestations all over 40 countries of Europe, America, Asia and the north of Africa. A finalist of the National Poetry Prize, she is the Winner of the National Critics Award, the Espiral Maior Poetry Award, the Fundación Novacaixagalicia Prize, the Ojo Crítico (best poetry book by a young author in Spain), the Estandarte Award (best poetry collection in Spain in 2020) and the ‘Author of the Year’ by the Galician Booksellers’ Association. She has been awarded International fellowships including the IWTCR in Rhodes, Villa Waldberta (Munich), the HIP-Beijing (China), Hawthornden Castle (Scotland) and Valparaíso Foundation (Andalusia).

She is also the author of translations, literary editions, biographies, history of Galician Poetry and poetry books for children. She is a relevant cultural activist too, regularly organizing festivals, literary and translation workshops and the only international monthly readings series in all Spain, all of them hosting local to international poets since 2009. She has mixed poetry with music, visual arts, video, architecture, film in 360º, comic, dance and even cookery, being awarded for that too.