The IDA Program Opens New Paths for Uruguayan Literature in Six Languages

Works by Uruguayan authors Circe Maia, Lalo Barrubia, Daniel Mella, Pablo Casacuberta, Felipe Polleri, Cristina Peri Rossi, and Hugo Burel will reach new readers through the eight translation projects selected for the eighth edition of the IDA Program. The projects span contemporary fiction and poetry and include translations into Slovenian, Italian, Danish, Greek, French, and Serbian.

The initiative, a collaboration between Uruguay XXI and the National Institute of Letters (Ministry of Education and Culture/National Directorate of Culture), received 18 applications from international publishers this year. The selection made by the evaluation committee reflects the variety of voices and genres in Uruguayan literature that are finding publishing opportunities in other markets.

The diversity of languages and regions represented in the call for submissions demonstrates the international interest in these works.

Since its creation in 2019, the IDA Program has supported the translation of 74 works into 12 languages, in addition to funding 11 translations of excerpts into English and 8 audiobooks. This track record has provided continuity to a policy of supporting the internationalization of the publishing sector, with tools to expand the circulation of national literary production.

The program, named after the poet, translator, and Cervantes Prize winner Ida Vitale, is aimed at both foreign publishers interested in translating Uruguayan authors and domestic publishers and writers seeking to promote their works internationally or produce audiobooks. Through these support initiatives, it facilitates the encounter between Uruguayan literature and readers of different languages and cultures.

Learn more about the IDA Program here.