The conference will involve literature scholars, poets, prose writers, movie directors, musicians, and other cultural figures. The program will be supplemented with greetings from Velta Sniķere’s family, friends and government officials. Presentations and readings will reveal three aspects of Velta Sniķere’s life – poetry, yoga and public work.
Velta Sniķere, a Latvian poet, translator, and yoga teacher, was born on December 25, 1920 and grew up in independent Latvia. Since 1946 she has lived in London, England.
Velta Sniķere studied philosophy and history at the University of Latvia and comparative religion at King’s College London. She was part of the Rama Gopala Indian dance troupe, an active participant in the International PEN and PEN in Exile (she still chairs the Writers in Exile, London Centre), and equally active in the British League of European Freedom.
Velta Sniķere is a founding member of the British Wheel of Yoga and has released several collections of poetry and translated Latvian folk songs and the work of other poets into English.
In 2004, Velta Sniķere received an award from the Cultural Fund of the World Federations of Free Latvians (PBLA), and in 2007 she received the Order of Three Stars. In 2019, Velta Sniķere was granted the Annual Latvian Literature Lifetime Achievement award, and this autumn she received a certificate of commendation from the Cabinet of Ministers for upholding the idea of independence among Latvian emigres and making such an outstanding contribution to the world of Latvian literature.
Organisers of the conference are the Institute of Literature, Folklore, and Art (University of Latvia) in co-operation with the National Library of Latvia and the Museum of Literature and Music.
The event will be in Latvian and can be followed live at the Facebook and YouTube pages of the Institute of Literature, Folklore, and Art, where you can also find more details of the event.