• Home

150 Special Events to Mark 20th Abu Dhabi Book Fair

“It includes approximately 150 cultural events, such as book talks, poetry forums, seminars, workshops, discussion sessions, book signing, professional programmes and educational conferences,” said Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, director-general of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).

And, of course, there will be books. Taking place at the National Exhibition Centre here during March 2-7, the fair has attracted 800 exhibitors from 63 countries this year.

Blaming the financial crisis, many Western publishers had to stay home last year, but this is no longer the case.

“Interestingly, we have a 15 per cent increase in the Western publishers, which proves the serious interest they show in the Arab book market,” Jumaa Al Qubaisi, director of ADIBF and of ADACH’s National Library, told Khaleej Times.

He has high hopes that this interest will translate into some of the major publishing houses setting up business in Abu Dhabi.

A pan-Arab distribution company and a Literature and Publishers Club will be set up for sure in the coming months. The details will be revealed during the book fair.

“Designed” after Frankfurt Book Fair, one of the world’s largest, ADIBF is unique in the sense that it dedicates equal time, space and interest to the professionals of the book industry, to the public’s hunger for books, reading and debates, and to the young and even to the “marginalised” markets by creating clever educational programmes.

The professional programme will include a range of seminars and matchmaking sessions between publishers, distributors and generally those involved in the book market on “hot” topics such as digital publishing.

In fact, a brand new eZone will be set up at the fair, featuring digital services for the publishing professionals and showcasing the print on demand trend.

Following its success in 2009, Spotlight on Rights is back this year. Offering financial subsidy for rights deals signed during the fair, the initiative encourages publishers to engage and do business with each other, especially in the acquisition of translation rights. This is a great opportunity for Arab writers to be translated and published in English or other major international language and vice-versa.

From copyright to reaching major publishers and best distribution systems, ADIBF’s professional programme will be bigger than ever this year as, for the first time, the International Publishers’ Association annual conference will happen in Abu Dhabi, alongside the fair.

“Very, very important is to offer the public interesting programmes and we have more than 50 cultural programmes for the public alone,” said Monika Krauss, general manager of Kitab, ADACH’s initiative that organises the book fair.

Among those 50 programmes, there is one that happens for the first time at ADIBF — a market focus day, which will spotlight one country.

“This year, the honour goes to Algeria,” she announced.

“Why? Because Algeria has a big, huge, very active book market.”

Part of the Algerian market day, three of the country’s acclaimed authors — Ahlam Mosteghanemi, Amara Lakhous and Anouar Benmalek — will be joining ADIBF answering questions about anything Algerian.

As for the education chapter this year, this has already started with a mobile library bus, which has already toured the emirate, as well as smaller annual book fairs, one already started in Al Ain and second one planned for Al Gharbia (the emirate’s western region).

A school reading competition is also underway, with the finals and awards ceremony planned during ADIBF.

The usual Children Corner will turn into Creativity Corner from now on, to include not just children of all ages, but teenagers too. “It’s going to be not just a corner for children coming to the fair, but a book corner, where they will discover and learn about the wonderful world of books,” said Krauss.

Details of all ADIBF’s programmes are available on its website, www.adbookfair.com.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE