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Workshop: Literary Translation as a Creative-Critical Practice

21 May 2026, 10:00 am–2:00 pm

cartoon hands writing titles on books in different languages

Attendees will be able to undertake practical tasks to get a taste of how creative and critical approaches meet when translating works of literature.

Event Information

Open to

All

Availability

Yes

Organiser

Institute of Advanced Studies

Location

612 Marshgate
UCL East, 7 Sidings St
London
E20 2AE

In this talk and workshop, we'll be exploring the ways we can understand literary translation to be a creative-critical practice. The session will start with a short talk by Jen Calleja about her practice as a literary translator, author, and publisher to provide contextual framework and case studies, before the group undertakes practical tasks that she has designed to give a taste of how creative and critical approaches meet when translating works of literature.

The workshop is for anyone writing in English. Knowledge of other languages isn’t a requirement to attend. 

Places are limited to 15. Please register: https://ariel-translation.eventbrite.co.uk

This event is prganised by ARIEL: UCL’s Centre for Creative Practice Research. ARIEL is a hub for intellectual exploration and exchange between academics of all disciplines and artists of all genres in the creative and cultural industries. ARIEL is a collaboration between UCL Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) and UCL School of Creative and Cultural Industries (SCCI).

About the Speaker

Jen Calleja

Jen Calleja is the author of Fair: The Life-Art of Translation, Goblinhood: Goblin as a Mode, Vehicle: a verse novel and the long poem Dust Sucker. She has translated over twenty works of German-language literature into English, been shortlisted for multiple translation prizes including the Man Booker International Prize, and was Translator in Residence at the British Library and the British Centre for Literary Translation. Jen is also co-publisher at Praspar Press, which supports Maltese literature written in English and English translation. She holds a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from UEA.