Skopje, 20 January 2023 (MIA) – The 100th anniversary from the birth of Macedonian poet Aco Shopov will be held under the auspices of President Stevo Pendarovski, marked through series of events throughout the year.

The observance of this milestone will be done in cooperation with UNESCO, which has shown support for the year honoring Aco Shopov, at the initiative of North Macedonia, and will get involved in the celebratory activities, President’s Office said in a press release on Friday.

The program stipulates numerous cultural and education events throughout the year – a multimedia art exhibit, an homage to Shopov within the Flipbook Film Festival, lectures dedicated to Shopov’s works, an international homage at the Struga Poetry Nights, a gala show, promotion of his books, publications, as well as academic gatherings in his honor.

The beginning of the celebrations of Shopov, founder of Macedonian contemporary literature, will be marked in January with poems translated into English and published in the international literature journal Asymptote. The poems are also published in Macedonian, with actor Nikola Ristanovski to read one aloud.

The Third Winter School of the International Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture Seminar at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje will be held on January 23, fully dedicated to the milestone celebration.

An international symposium, poetry performance and an exhibit in honor of Aco Shopov will also take place at the UNESCO HQ in Paris on March 21-World Poetry Day. dk/ik/