Let's recall: Voices × Ears ÷ People² = Resonance

What is Europe? And what is the European Literature Festival Cologne-Kalk? It is resonance, polyphony, a space of sound and possibility—a utopia detached from political, cultural, linguistic, or geographical borders. This year, for the third time.

Once again, the ELK Formula comes into effect. Once again, we hear voices. Once again, art and literature are our chosen means. And once again, the utopia of ELK stands in stark contrast to Europe's political realities and to the current state of the world.

How do we respond? Do we exchange perfectly tailored velvet evening wear for camouflage? Do we replace spaces of polyphonic resonance with monotonous loudspeaker choruses? Do we swap utopia for dystopia? We do not have to—because all of that is already happening.

Last year, while people working from home argued across supposedly social media about whose lives, professions, and sectors of society were worth more money, about who was being neglected, where, when, and to what extent, we used our means to open public space and offer poets a stage. This year, the debates revolve around who may travel, where and when they may go on holiday or fly, and whether it is justified to lift mask mandates first in clubs and only later in schools. We continue to offer poets a stage—because voices exist to be heard.

Europe's relationship status: It's complicated.

Our task is simple to state, though not to accomplish:
With Europe against Europe—for Europe.

There is no less complex way to introduce the 2021 European Literature Festival Cologne-Kalk. Yet we insist that complexity is not grounds for exclusion.

We insist on preserving hope in the face of pain, anger, and isolation.

We insist on the dream of Europe.