I am now writing a book based on the wanderings of Ulysses. The (Homer) Odyssey, that is to say, serves me as a ground plan… It is an epic of two races and at the same time the cycle of the human body as well as a little story of a day… It is also a sort of encyclopedia.
JAMES JOYCE on Ulysses
ULYSSES European Odyssey (UEO) is an epic project from 2022-2024 across 18 cities in 16 countries, producing artistic responses in public spaces to social and cultural themes identified in the 18 episodes of James Joyce’s Ulysses. At the same time, a cycle of 18 public symposia will be held in each city to produce 309 questions (Ulysses, Episode 17) towards creating a new arts and society charter for Europe. The project also has 30 artist residencies which will contribute to a new book, Europe-Ulysses (working title), alongside 18 new writing commissions, one writer from each city.
Conceived by ARTS OVER BORDERS, Ireland’s acclaimed presenting body for cross-border arts festivals, ULYSSES European Odyssey (UEO) is an epic project from 2022-2024 across 18 cities in 16 countries, producing artistic responses in public spaces to social and cultural themes identified in the 18 episodes of James Joyce’s Ulysses. The project was developed with the Creative Europe Lead Partner, Claudia Woolgar, Director of Brave New World Producties.
The programme highlights the contemporary relevance of James Joyce’s pivotal novel, with themes including citizenship and democracy; migration; youth; Europe’s ageing population; social media; food production and sustainability; education; religion and social co-existence; sexual identity; the environment; mental health; and neighbourhoods and community.
A cycle of 18 public symposia will be held, one in each city, to produce 309 questions (Ulysses, Episode 17) towards creating a new arts and society charter for Europe. The project also has 30 emerging-artist residencies which will contribute to a new book, Europe-Ulysses (working title), alongside 18 new writing commissions, one writer from each city.
ULYSSES European Odyssey is a transnational and multi-disciplinary programme with a variety of events and interventions taking place in the 18 cities in 16 countries: Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Cluj, Copenhagen, Derry/Donegal, Dublin, Eleusis, Istanbul, Leeuwarden, Lisbon, Lugo, Marseille, Oulu, Paris, Trieste, Vilnius and Zurich.
ULYSSES European Odyssey is funded through an award from the European Commission’s Creative Europe Fund.
“Ulysses and Odyssey are two of the greatest works of literature, each having something to say about people, society and our relationships with one another. Like those two inspiration points, ULYSSES European Odyssey is a journey that involves people and ideas, which moves across Europe at a pivotal time in its history. As James Joyce did, it celebrates the modern city and through public performance and lively debate we hope it will shine a light on human complexity, develop new international partnerships, offer cross-border solutions and stimulate new active citizenship between the arts and society.”
Séan Doran and Liam Browne from ARTS OVER BORDERS, Lead Partner
