The second prize–winning painting featuring Swedish characters Pettson and Findus by Nguyễn Quỳnh Anh from Hà Thành High School. Photo courtesy of the organisation board

HÀ NỘI — An exhibition featuring the best works from the European Characters in Việt Nam Contest opened yesterday to kick off European Literature Days 2019 in Hà Nội.

The exhibition displays more than 50 drawings selected from the contest run by European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) and Hà Nội-based Nguyễn Tất Thành School.

The contest aimed to inspire junior and high school students to draw and write about nine characters of European literature, including Puss in Boots, Don Quixote, Harry Potter and Le Petit Nicolas.

Four of the works were the winners of an online vote on Facebook. Đường Lê Tuệ Minh, from Nguyễn Tất Thành School won the first prize for his drawing entitled Conversation between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, while Nguyễn Quỳnh Anh from Hà Thành High School grabbed second prize for her work featuring Swedish characters Pettson and Findus.

Chu Văn An School’s Nguyễn Đức Đại and Lê Khánh Ly from Nguyễn Tất Thành School took third prize.

The contest organisers received about 1,500 entries and selected the 108 best drawings to exhibit at the French Cultural Centre and Goethe Institute in Hà Nội.

The 9th European Literature Days runs in Hà Nội, HCM City and the first time in Đà Nẵng until May 25. The event includes book presentation and reading, workshop, exhibition and film screenings.

“This vivid literature festival with contribution from ten European countries will be full of activities for book lovers,” said Emmanueal Labrande, President of EUNIC.

“The festival will bring you more books, more activities and more opportunities to take a closer look at the literature, lifestyle and cultures of Europe”.

This annual festival has been held in Hà Nội since 2011 by EUNIC, with support from the EU delegation.

Different groups of readers, from kids to adults, and with a variety of reading tastes will be able to find novels as they explore literature and social science books from Britain, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Wallonie-Bruxelles (Belgium).

This year, the festival promises something for every reader. Audiences will be able to browse books in conference rooms, exhibitions and in book streets.

There will also be a chance to meet authors, listen to talks and readings or participate in interactive activities.

In Hà Nội, all events will take place at Casa Italia, Goethe-Institut, L’Espace, Hà Nội University and Bluebirds’ nest Café while events in HCM City will be at the British Council, IDECAF, the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Café Salon Saturday and Book Street in District 1.

In Đà Nẵng, all the events will be held at the Đà Nẵng General Science Library and the French Institute. — VNS