Translating as Activism Workshop

About the event

Led by Kasia Szymanska, this participatory conversation will ask: how can we use our languages to make the change we want? Should all activists want to translate? Should all translators want to be activist? And are we talking about different things when we talk about translation as activism and translation as art?

This workshop is aimed at individuals interested in translation, just starting out, or early into their practice. Participants are encouraged to bring something they would like to ask or share, such as a story about their experience with languages that they think is relevant to the theme.

This event is presented in partnership with English PEN, Comma Press and Manchester Translation Series, and is part of English PEN’s programme for International Translation Day 2025. It is part of Manchester Literature Festival 2025. 

About English Pen

English PEN is one of the world's oldest human rights organisations, championing the freedom to write and read. We are the founding centre of PEN International, a worldwide writers’ association with 130 centres in more than 90 countries. With the support of our members – a community of readers, writers, and activists – we protect freedom of expression whenever it is under attack, support writers facing persecution around the world, and celebrate contemporary international writing with literary prizes, grants, events, and our online magazine PEN Transmissions. https://www.englishpen.org/