Paula Golunska
is a young poet who won the first Young Campert Prize during the 2017 Winternachten festival. In the fall of 2016, she participated in Spot on Young Poets, the educational project of Writers Unlimited, poet Diann van Faassen and Meermanno Museum | House of the Book. This project constitutes poetry workshops at Hague high schools, where students are given lessons in poetry and recitation. Paula presented her poem during Winternachten 2017. One of the three finalists, she won the Young Campert Prize for best student poet during the Schrijversfeest (Writers' Feast). She was a pupil at Edith Stein College in The Hague, and now studies at Wageningen University & Research.
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Paula Golunska in Spot on Young Poets
With: Paula Golunska
Writers Unlimited asked eight young people to write a poem on the theme of the online Winternachten festival 2021: It's up to us. All of them previously participated in the Spot on Young Poets programme for secondary school pupils in The Hague and reached the finals of the Jonge Campert Prize.
Paula Golunska is a young poet who won the first Young Campert Prize during the Winternachten festival 2018. In Fall 2017, she took part in Spot on Young Poets, the education project of Writers Unlimited, poet and poetry teacher Diann van Faassen and Museum Meermanno | House of the Book.
During poetry workshops at secondary schools in The Hague, pupils are taught poetry writing and recitation. Paula recited her poem during Winternachten 2017. As one of the three finalists, she won the Young Campert Prize for best poet-scholar during the 'Schrijversfeest'. At the time she was a student at Edith Stein College in The Hague and is now studying at Wageningen University & Research.
This year it was not possible to organize the poetry workshops, but Diann van Faassen walked with eight former participants through the parks and streets of The Hague and explored the theme with them. The result is an extraordinary series of video poems created by the young poets themselves. It is a poignant testimony of a generation, full of desire to express their perspective and outlook on life, but hardly able to do so due to the Covid-19 measures. With their imagination, they give a voice to their contemporaries that is usually under-represented in the public debate.
About the walk with Paula, Diann wrote: "I think we need to stop pointing at each other and instead embrace each other; this is what happened, how do we tackle it together now." With Paula Golunska I walk through the Rijswijk forest. With 'It's up to us' she first thought of a love poem. "A bit cheesy perhaps," she laughs, "and I've never written a love poem before."
These days she writes mostly for her studies; writing poems didn't come up. But she was the first to respond to my emails for this project, because she saw in it an opportunity for poetry. Over seven years ago, Paula's family moved from Poland to the Netherlands to give her better opportunities in education. By now she settled, studying in Wageningen and seeing her future here. Her parents moved back in February: "I miss my mother, we were so close. We thought we could visit each other a lot but how different things turned out, even at Christmas we are not together. Fortunately we video call every day."
After The Hague she enjoys an active student life in the smaller town of Wageningen, "You cycle through it in no time." The environment of the Rhine with its floodplains is inspiring, she wants to specialize in water management. "Maybe when it comes to climate, we all put our heads in the sand, we knew it was coming but now act surprised at the bang." "Let's not blame each other but comfort each other and go for it together." If that's not love poetry....
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Writers Fest
With: Aad Meinderts, Alejandra Theus, Annet Schaap, Arie Storm, Carmien Michels, Cyrille Offermans, Ernst Reijseger, Hans Tentije, Hassnae Bouazza, Herman Van Goethem, Jeroen Olyslaegers, Joris Wijsmuller, Kay Sleking, Marije Langelaar, Paula Golunska, Uri Eugenio
A festive program moderated by Hassnae Bouazza and built around the presentation of the Jan Campert Prizes, the literary awards of the City of The Hague. We celebrate Dutch literature with a variety of performances by writers, poets and musicians.
Belgian author and poet Carmien Michels opened Writers Fest 2018 by reciting one of her poems. Then Arie Storm, novelist and critic, offered his take on 'The State of Dutch Literature'.
Before Joris Wijsmuller, alderman for civic development, living, sustainability and culture with the City of The Hague, handed out the prizes to the winners, the audience determined which of the three nominated high schoolers will win the Young Campert Prize for a young poet from The Hague. The students presented their own poems, written during poetry worshops at school.
Marije Langelaar (1978) received the Jan Campert Prize for her poetry collection Vonkt! (Sparks!) Her laudation was performed by dancer and choreographer Uri Eugenio, known for his appearances with Scapino and LeineRoebana and in So You Think You Can Dance.
Jeroen Olyslaegers (1967) received the F. Bordewijk Prize for his novel WIL. He was honoured by historian, jurist, lecturer and rector of the University of Antwerp Herman Van Goethem and noted actress Alejandra Theus, who performed an excerpt from WIL.
The Nienke van Hichtum Prize 2017 was awarded to Annet Schaap (1965) for Lampje (Little Lamp); she was serenated by tango guitarist and contrabassist Kay Sleking.
The afternoon culminated with the awarding of the Constantijn Huygens Prize to Hans Tentije for his entire poetic works. Tentije was musically honoured by cellist Ernst Reijseger and essayist Cyrille Offermans made a celebratory speech.
This event is a collaboration between Winternachten festival, the Jan Campert Foundation / Literatuurmuseum. Program in Dutch.
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Saturday Night Wintercafé: Spot on Young Poets
Francis Broekhuijsen presented students of The Hague high schools reading their own poetry, the result of workshops led by members of the Hague Poets' Guild. Poet and VSB Poëzieprijs 2018-nominee Charlotte Van den Broeck, young poetry slam-talent Sanam Sheriff from India and last year's participating student poet Paula Golunska - Young Campert Prize 2017 winner - kept them company and read from their works as well.
During each Spot on Young Poets event (Friday and Saturday), finalists for the Young Campert Prize 2018 were chosen. Both finalists read their poems during Sunday's Writers' Festival event, ahead of the award ceremony of the Jan Campert Foundation prizes. The public chose one of them as the winner of this prize for best Hague student poet. Come down and witness the literary future!
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Friday Night Wintercafé: Spot on Young Poets
Francis Broekhuijsen presents students of The Hague high schools reading their own poetry, the result of workshops led by members of the Hague Poets' Guild. Poet and VSB Poëzieprijs 2018-nominee Joost Baars, young poetry slam-talent Sanam Sheriff from India and last year's participating student poet Paula Golunska - Young Campert Prize 12017 winner - keep them company and read from their works as well.
During each Spot on Young Poets event (Friday and Saturday), one finalist for the Young Campert Prize 2018 was chosen. Both finalists read their poems during Sunday's Writers' Festival event, ahead of the award ceremony of the Jan Campert Foundation prizes. The public chose one of them as the winner of this prize for best Hague student poet. Come down and witness the literary future!