Association of Writers
Photo: Osborn Bladini
ABOUT THE UNION
Chairman: Hans A. Lynge, e-post hal@greennet.gl telephone +299 32 45 53
Vice chairman: Aqqaluk Lynge
Secretary: Riikki Gronvold
Treasurer: Ane Marie B. Pedersen, T.P. Poulsen
Board member: Juana Petrussen
HISTORY
Kalaallit Atuakkiortut (KA) – Greenland’s Association of Writers was established provisionally in 1975 by a group of Greenland’s foremost writers of the day. They immediately decided that the Union should join The Nordic Council of Writers and Translators. This decision came as a result of Ole Brandt’s, Han Lynge’s and Otto Sandgren’s participation in The Nordic Author Unions’ seminar in Sweden where author’s rights and conditions were discussed.
The Union’s first chairman was the legendary writer Ole Brandt who, directly upon his appointment, together with the other board members, immediately set out to organize the Union’s charter assembly, which would take place at Knud Rasmussen’s College in Sisimiut. Since the Union had no funds, the meeting was organized in conjunction with a university course for teachers, which attracted the participation of a large number of prospective members, published authors. This saved the fledgling Union the burden of paying the cost of travel and lodging. Participants not attending the course paid their costs themselves.
Though the number of participants was scant, the meeting was a success and an agenda for the Union was drawn up. Royalty payment from lending libraries to Greenlandic authors was high up on the list. The Union was also to a great degree responsible for publishing Greenlandic fiction including “Suluit”, a collection of anthologies written and published by KA members in cooperation with the publishing house Kalaallit Nunaanni Naqiterisitsisarfik, now called Atuakkiorfik.
It would be fair to say that the undertakings prioritized by the first board guided KA’s subsequent boards, these would be work to protect members copyright and the members individual development as writers. Work was also invested in the development of relationships to and cooperation with other Nordic writers. In several instances KA has hosted seminars for Nordic, Laplander (Sami) and Faeroe Island writers.
The Union has throughout sin existence had well known persons or active writers as Chairman of the Board. Aqigssiaq Møller succeeded Ole Brandt as chairman and held the position between 1978 and 1980., an important time in Greenland’s history marking the transition to self – government. He was at the same time the Vice chief of the department of Culture and Education. When he was promoted to the head of the department he retired from active work in the Union’s board.
It fell to Hans A. Lynge, one of Greenland’s most respected and prolific writers, to take over the position of Chairman, a position he has held for two periods; first in the 1980’s and then for a period during the 1990’s. Lynge has thus been the one who has imprinted the Union with its public image over a long period. Ullorianmguaq Kristiansen, a journalist known for his many productions on Greenlandic Radio, was Chairman between 1984 and 1987.
Aqqaluk Lynge took over chairmanship of Greenland’s Writers Association in 1995 and held the position for a full decade. In 2005 the position was taken over by Hans Anthon Lynge. There are approximately 80 members in the Union of which 15 live in Denmark and the remainder spread along the coast of Greenland. The present board, aside from work concerning the protection of copyright interests, has focused specially on the development of young writing talents on Greenland. Several writing workshops have been held, mostly for young people and resulting in several publications. In 2004 a successful and much appreciated poetry festival was held contributing to an increased interest among youth for this art. The Union’s next project will be an international writers conference, which will give Greenlandic writers and poets the opportunity to meet colleagues from other countries. It is the board’s contention that these meetings are important for the development of the National identity and for the Greenlandic language, as Greenland is part of an international community.
Translation subsidies
Kalaallit Atuakkiortut administrates the awarding of translation grants on Greenland.