Venice International University is organizing a Residency for Translators from Italian from 26 July to 23 August 2026.

The project, carried out in collaboration with the Centro per il Libro e la Lettura of the Italian Ministry of Culture, will host eight foreign translators (working in German, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic), selected through an open call disseminated via the network of Italian Cultural Institutes and Italian Embassies abroad.

During the first week of the residency, on 31 July, Venice International University will host the conference "Translation, Culture and AI: New Frontiers for the Promotion of Italy Abroad."

Registration form - Available soon

Download the Conference Program

The Aim of the Conference

The conference "Translation, Culture and AI: New Frontiers for the Promotion of Italy Abroad" aims to explore the evolving role of translation as a strategic instrument for the international promotion of Italian culture, literature, and publishing.

Bringing together representatives of Italian institutions, academia, the publishing industry, and professional translators, the conference will examine current initiatives supporting the dissemination of Italian literature abroad, with particular attention to public policies, translation funding programmes, and international cultural cooperation.

A second focus of the conference will address the impact of artificial intelligence on literary translation and the publishing sector. Discussions will explore the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, its implications for translators' professional practice and training, and the new perspectives it opens for authors, publishers, readers, and cultural institutions.

The conference inaugurates the Residency for Translators from Italian, organized by Venice International University in collaboration with the Centre for Books and Reading of the Italian Ministry of Culture, fostering dialogue among translators, scholars, policymakers, and cultural professionals on the future of translation in an increasingly interconnected and technologically evolving world.

Scientific Committee

Prof. Carmelo Marabello, Dean VIU
dott. Antonio Schina, Centro per il LIbro e la Lettura
Dott. Giovanni Sciola, former Director of various Italian Cultural Institutes

Contacts

For any information about the conference please contact viu@univiu.org
For information about logistics please contact silvia.casalini@univiu.org