15–17 November 2023
Vilnius, Lithuania

CREATOR
ISLAND

Children's Literature
Industry Days

Children's
Literature
Industry
Days

15–17 November
2023

Attention all children’s authors and illustrators, agents and publishers, students and professionals! CREATOR ISLAND: Children’s Literature Industry Days return to Vilnius UNESCO City of Literature on 15–17 November 2023.

CREATOR ISLAND offers three days of lectures, training sessions and networking opportunities for those working or interested in the children’s book industry.

THIS YEAR’S FOCUS

CREATOR ISLAND’23 will focus on urban culture and city narratives in children’s literature. The event is dedicated to the 700th anniversary of Vilnius and this year’s slogan is Cities that nurture kids and books. CREATOR ISLAND’23 is organized in partnership with the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, IBBY Latvia and the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdansk, Poland.

VENUES

  • Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library

  • Vilnius Literary House

  • Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts

  • Vilnius University

  • Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

Speakers

Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka

Poland
Illustrator, poster artist, assistant professor at the Studio of Publishing Illustration at the University of Arts in Poznań.

Luīze Pastore

Latvia
Writer, author of more than 10 books for young readers.

Anti Saar

Estonia
Writer and translator. Graduated from the University of Tartu in semiotics. Translated over 30 works from French into Estonian. Author of 10 highly popular children’s books.

Maciej Byliniak

Poland
Editor-in-chief at Dwie Siostry Publishing. Since 2008 Maciej has worked with many authors and illustrators whose creations are shaping children's book art in Poland today.

Greta Alice

Lithuania
Illustrat
or, comic book lover and creator. Illustrated over 40 children's books.
Avid backpacker.

Nerijus Čivilis

Lithuania / Spain
Concept artist, creator of visual worlds for games and animation.

David Schilter

Latvia
Founder of kuš! comics in Latvia. 16 years of publishing alternative comics from all around the world.

Ilona Martson

Estonia
Editor-in-chief of Täheke children’s magazine for 20 years. Translated or edited nearly 30 children’s books and 20 novels for adults.

Alvar Jaakson

Estonia
Creative director, copywriter, illustrator and founder of Utopia creative agency

Lina Itagaki

Lithuania
Illustrator, comics artist,
publisher (Misteris Pinkmanas)

Sigita Pūkienė

Lithuania
Founder and managing director of Aukso Žuvys Publishing. Over the last 13 years Sigita has worked with many acclaimed Lithuanian authors and illustrators and developed numerous publishing projects.

Virgis Šidlauskas

Lithuania
Lithuanian children’s author and editor-in-chief of Laimiukas children’s literary magazine. Virgis ir a board member of IBBY Lithuania, an educator for the reading initiative A Year With A Book.

Programme

Wednesday,
November 15

UNIVERSITY
DAY

Public lectures by guest speakers (all events will be in English)

Venue: Vilnius Academy of Arts, Building C1, Department of Doctoral Studies, Auditorium 102 (Malūnų str. 3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Public lecture with illustrator Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka (PL)
A Balloon Filled with Air: How Constraints Can Help Improve Illustration and Poster Design
Free entry but registration required >>


Venue: Vilnius University, Faculty of Philology, Vincas Krėvė auditorium (Universiteto Str. 5)
Time: 11.30 a.m.
Public lecture with children’s & YA author Luīze Pastore (LV)
Inventing Stories Based on Real Events

Free entry but registration required >>

Venue: Vilnius Literary House (Vilniaus literatų namai, šv. Jono str. 11)

Time: 6 p.m.

Free entry

Discussion "The Future of Children's Literature Magazines: Necessity or Extinction?"

With Ilona Martson (Täheke, EE), Noémie Monier (Baïka, FR), Virgis Šidlauskas (Laimiukas, LT). Moderator: Eglė Baliutavičiūtė.

Thursday,
November 16

KNOW–HOW
DAY

Lectures, Q&A sessions, skill-sharing activities
(all lectures will be in English)
Venue: Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library (Trakų str. 10),
the Great Hall
Ticketed event >>


10 a.m.
Maciej Byliniak (Dwie Siostry, PL), Sigita Pūkienė (Aukso žuvys, LT)

Book Publishing: What Happens Behind the Scenes

11.30 a.m. Greta Alice (illustrator, LT) and surprise guest appearances

Discomfort as Opportunity: Backpacking Around Art Residences

12.30 p.m. Break

1.30 p.m. Anti Saar (writer, EE) ir Alvar Jaakson (illustrator, EE)

Some Know-How on Making a Know-How Book

3 p.m. Nerijus Čivilis (concept artist, LT/ES)

Exploring the Future: Embracing Artificial Intelligence
(title generated by AI)

Exhibition launch at Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

Venue: Martynas Mažvydas National Library (Gediminas Av. 51)
Time: 7 p.m.
Free entry


Telling the City will showcase works by Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and Polish illustrators.

Friday,
November 17

INSPIRATION
DAY

Portfolio reviews

with Maciej Byliniak ("Dwie Siostry", PL), David Schilter ("kuš! comics", LV),
Sigita Pūkienė ("Aukso žuvys", LT)
Venue: Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library (Trakų str. 10),
the Great Hall
Time: 11 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Free entry, registrtion required >>

CREATOR EVENING
(all talks will be in English)
Venue: Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library (Trakų str. 10),
the Great Hall
Ticketed event >>


4 p.m. Lina Itagaki (Misteris Pinkmanas, LT)
Can Cities Spark Imagination? The Experience of a Traveler-Illustrator-Publisher

4.45 p.m. Luīze Pastore (writer, LV)
One Degraded Neighbourhood, Some Stray Dogs and a Child: From Inspiration to Success Story

5.30 p.m. Sip 'n' gossip

6 p.m. Dominika Czerniak–Chojnacka (illustrator, PL)
Taming the Fear: How to Benefit from Various Challenges

6.45 p.m. David Schilter (kuš! comics, LV)
The Small Press Comics Experience

8 p.m. Closing Party and Birthday Bash at Vilnius Literary House!
(Šv. Jono str. 11)

Organizers

Kotryna Zylė

Writer, Illustrator,
Founder of Creator Island

Justinas Vancevičius

Head of literature promotion program
"Vaikų žemė (Children's World)",
Founder of Creator Island

Greta Alice

Illustrator, Comics artist,
Coordinator of Creator Island

Rūta Lazauskaitė

Educator,
Coordinator of Creator Island

Illustration: Simona Jurčiukonytė
Design: Miglė Vasiliauskaitė, Iveta Sendžiukaitė, Kotryna Zylė Communication: Andželika Rimkuvienė, Jurga Tumasonytė
Translation: Audronė Kvietkutė
Event organised by

Centre for School Improvement,
Reading promotion programme Children’s World

Partners

Lithuanian Culture Institute
Estonian Children’s Literature Centre,
IBBY Latvia,
Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdansk, Poland,

IBBY Lithuania,
Lithuanian Publishers Association,
Vilnius UNESCO City of Literature,
Vilniaus Academy of Arts,
Vilnius University Philology Faculty,
MRU Institute of Humanities,
Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library,
Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania,
Lithuanian Writers’ Union,
Literatūra ir menas, 370 magazine,

"Būkčia" kombucha, "Mulate" chocolate.

Financially supported by

Lithuanian Council for Culture,
Vilnius Municipality,
Polish Institute Vilnius.