Author: Jaya

Read Part I here.

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Continuing our listing of international book fairs, here are the most important international book fairs planned from April to July 2011. Another, final, list will include the fairs planned for the rest of the year.

London Book Fair, London, UK: 11—13 April 2011

Conducted every spring, the London Book Fair will conduct its 40^th event in the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Kensington, London, this year. Bestselling authors Claire Tomalin, Boris Akunin and Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler are ‘Authors of the Day’ this time and will each spend a day at the fair offering seminars, book signings, events and photo opportunities. This year, the market focus will be Russia. In the ‘Digital Zone Theatre’ section, e-books and digital content-related products will be showcased, with 50 companies participating. Every year, the Lifetime Achievement Award in International Publishing is given during this fair and this year the recipient is Sonny Mehta, Editor-in-Chief of Alfred A Knopf publishers. The ‘Film and TV’ section will bring together film and television producers, with over 300 literary agencies and publishers offering content with screen adaptation potential, as well as a full seminar programme and networking events. In all, around 2000 companies are participating in the fair this year. The website says, “Over 23,000 publishing professionals from every point in the publishing supply chain attend The London Book Fair annually”. Website: http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk.

Budapest International Book Festival, Budapest, Hungary: 14—17 April 2011

This trade show, in its 18^th edition in 2011, is said to be “one of the largest book fairs in Central and Eastern Europe” and is held at the end of April every year. Rather than a book fair alone, it is a festival of combined arts with literary evenings, book premières, talks, film screenings, theatre performances and exhibitions being conducted over the four days. The Budapest Grand Prize is given each year during the festival. The European Union is the guest of honour this year. The European First Novel Festival will be held for the 11^th time within the frame of the festival, to introduce talented young authors from the European Union, a joint effort of 19 EU-member countries. Trade meetings, conferences and lectures are held on the key issues of the book market and of reading habits. Librarians’ Club, the professional event of librarians, is one of the special features of the festival. The fair gets about 50,000 visitors annually, with 50,000 titles and hundreds of new publications. It is open to trade visitors as well as the general public. Website: http://www.bookfestival.hu/angol.html

International Book Fair of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina: 20 April—9 May 2011

This long established fair will conduct its 37^th event at La Rural Trade Centre, Buenos Aires. It is said to be one of the top five book expositions in the world. Open to trade visitors and the general public, the International Book Fair of Buenos Aires is the largest book fair in the Spanish-speaking world. The Professional Conference and National Meeting of Librarians will be held on 19, 20 and 21 April. The International Education Conference will be conducted on 19 and 20 April. Foreign guests invited include Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, Zambian author Wilbur Smith, Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez Vilaro, French sociologist François Dubet, Spanish Rosa Montero, Juan Jose Millas and Antonio Muñoz Molina, among others. The International Poetry Festival will be held from 29 April to 3 May. Free courses are offered. Some of the topics for discussion and exposition are flash fiction, art shows, copyrights and translation rights. Website: http://www.el-libro.org.ar

Geneva International Book and Press Fair, Geneva, Switzerland: April 29—3 May 2011

The 2011 edition of the Geneva International Book and Press Fair will mark its silver jubilee year. The fair is said to be the largest cultural and educational meeting place organised each year in Switzerland. Some of the features of the fair include the Grand Exhibition, presenting “Art of freemasonry” with exhibits made available by collectors, never before been shown in public; special exhibitions, which include “100 years of Gallimard” and Etienne Delessert with 80 original drawings; the Village de la BD (Graphic Novel Village) and events like the Book Kitchen, the Treasure Hunt and a book-aid charity. The guest of honour this year is Armenia. Two new innovations this year will be the Laboratoire Des Nouvelles Lectures (Laboratory of New Reading) and the Le Temps De Le Dire (Time to Speak Out) Festival. Following the principle of social networks, the laboratory of new reading offers a platform to editors, authors and inventors to present their ideas or prototypes on a web platform where readers can review and react to them. The Time to Speak Out festival, led by Patrick Ferla, the new president of the fair, aims to meet the expectations of publishers and the public by providing a global forum for reading and editing. In an area exclusively set aside for it, the festival will offer debates, meetings and discussions on various themes, as well as public readings given by authors, actors and theatre groups. This festival brings together 100,000 professionals each year and is open to trade and the general public. Webite: http://www.salondulivre.ch/en/

Thessaloniki Book Fair, Thessaloniki, Greece: 5—8 May 2011

The 7^th Thessaloniki Book Fair presents Greek and international books to an audience of publishing professionals, the media, schools and the public. About 250 Greek and foreign exhibitors will participate this year. More than 100 events, with writers from Greece and abroad, are organised in this fair that is held every spring. Attractions include an exhibition, guests of honour and dedicated areas for children, teenagers, parents and teachers. The guest of honour is the Middle East. This year’s theme is ‘Education and Books.’ The New Technologies Corner will bring news of the latest trends. The fair is open to trade visitors as well as the general public. Website: http://www.thessalonikibookfair.com/2011/index_en.asp

Prague International Book Fair, Prague, Czech Republic: 12—15 May 2011

The 17^th International Book Fair and Literary Festival, also called ‘Book World Prague’ will be held in 2011. The guest of honour will be the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the focus will be the literature of the Arab world, along with different categories of books such as fiction, non-fiction, scientific journals, children’s books, and so on, from international and domestic literature. The fair would be a place to find large numbers of rare prints and old books at one place. It is open to trade as well as visitors of the general public. Website: http://www.bookworld.cz/en/menu/general-info/

Warsaw International Book Fair, Warsaw, Poland: 19—22 May 2011

The 56^th Warsaw International Book Fair will be conducted in in the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw in 2011. For authors, publishers, booksellers, agents and editors from around the world, the fair is an annual interface between Western and Eastern European publishers. The last show had representatives from around 30 countries and nearly 600 exhibitors. It is open to trade alone on one day and to the general public on other days. Website: http://arspolona.com.pl/index.php/lg/1

BookExpo America, New York City, USA: 23—26 May 2011

Book Expo America, commonly known as BEA, is the largest annual book trade fair in the United States and is held in a different place in the US each year. Special to this year’s fair are breakfast events (each of which requires a ticket to be purchased). On 24 May is the Children’s Book Author Breakfast with Brian Selznick, Sarah Dessen and Kevin Henkes. The next day is the Adult Book Author Breakfast with Diane Keaton, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Charlaine Harris. On 26 May is another Adult Book Author Breakfast with Anne Enright and Erik Larson. The 2011 Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC), the premier event in the audiobook industry, will be held on Monday, 23 May at the Javits Center. In ‘Insight Stage’ influential authors and publishing figures will discuss the latest books, and hot topics that will move the industry forward in the coming year. BEA boasts the largest author autographing program in the US. During BEA 2011, visitors can meet authors like Dave Barry, Mary Higgins Clark, Eoin Colfer, Gail Carson Levine, R L Stine and Rick Riordan. Italy is the guest of honour at the Global Market Forum. Last year’s BEA saw 11,538 visitors and had 1,253 exhibitors. The BEA is a trade-only fair. Website: http://www.bookexpoamerica.com

Cape Town Book Fair, Cape Town, South Africa: June 2011

The Cape Town Book Fair organisers announce that the fair will not be held in 2011, but will be conducted in a new, remodelled format in 2012. In 2010, the fair had the participation of 273 exhibitors, with about 33,500 visitors, of which 4700 were professionals. Started in 2005, the Cape Town Book Fair conducts seminars and provides opportunities for meeting and discussions between industry professionals. Last year, the first day was open to trade visitors alone while the other days had author events and readings with famous writers from around the world. Website: http://www.capetownbookfair.com

Seoul International Book Fair, Seoul, Korea: 15—19 June 2011

While the Seoul Book Fair started in 1954, the first Seoul International Book Fair was held in 1995. Organised by the Organizing Committee for the Seoul International Book Fair, the event is held every spring. The Seoul International Book Fair is the only large-scale exhibition held at the COEX that is free and open to the public. It draws over 200,000 visitors and gets extensive media coverage. The book fair has a vast collection of books from around the world on display, and offers consultation on copyright and trading. There are special exhibits and events for visitors. Readers get to meet and speak with book authors. There is also a photograph-taking event with authors at certain scheduled times, in which the first 100 visitors are given a personally signed book and a framed souvenir photo of themselves and their favourite author. The Seoul International Book Fair is open to trade and public visitors. Website: http://www.sibf.or.kr/eng/

Tokyo International Book Fair, Tokyo, Japan: 7—10 July 2011

In its 18^th year, Asia’s leading publishing trade fair, the Tokyo International Book Fair is an important venue to negotiate publication rights, book imports and exports, and other related businesses with publishing professionals in Japan and Asia. Its special exhibit zones include the Children’s Book Fair, Natural Sciences Book Fair, Humanities & Social Sciences Book Fair, Editorial Production Fair, Lifestyle, Hobby & How to Books Zone, Book’s Accessories Zone, Solutions for Publication Distribution Zone and the International Printing Zone. Last year, 984 exhibitors participated and the fair saw about 87,450 publishing professionals visiting. Concurrent exhibitions are conducted at this time, including the ‘15^th e-book Expo Tokyo’ that focuses on digital publishing; ‘Licensing Japan,’ a comprehensive trade show for the global licensing community industry interested in developing business in Japan and East Asia; and ‘IT Educational Solutions Expo,’ an educational industry trade show for educational content, technologies and services for schools. Website: http://www.bookfair.jp/en/

A book fair is a meeting point for the many kinds of people associated with books—publishers, authors, readers, distributors, retailers. Since these people usually work in relative isolation, a book fair provides the opportunity to meet, discover and discuss the latest developments in the field in that part of the world—the latest way of publishing, a new and popular genre of writing as well as to see which stalls do the most business, which reveals the readership, current trends, and the like.

A trade book fair is one in which only companies of the industry participate and showcase the latest developments and trends, network with other professionals, get publicity for their work and see what the competition is doing as well. A trade fair is open only to professionals in the industry and representatives of the companies. A consumer book fair is one that is open to the public.

The oldest book fair in the world is the Frankfurt Book Fair, which dates back to the 15th century, when Johannes Gutenberg from Frankfurt first invented movable type. This was the central and undisputed European book fair city until the 17^th century when political upheavals began. Later, in 1949, the early Frankfurt book fair tradition was given a new lease of life with 205 German exhibitors exhibiting in the first post-War book fair. The present Frankfurt Book Fair starts counting its official duration from this date, so that its event in 2011 is the 62^nd one.

Here are some of the most important international book fairs coming up this year. The first list here is of events planned for February and March 2011. Further lists will include book fairs planned for the rest of the year.

1. Cairo International Book Fair, Cairo, Egypt: 29 January—8 February 2011

   Organized every year, starting in the last week of January, by the Ministry of Culture and the Egyptian General Book Organization this fair is open for trade and to the general public. This event started from Al-Gezira grounds in Cairo in 1969 so it is one of the world’s oldest fairs, in its 43^rd year in 2011. Last year, 31 countries and 800 publishers (majority Egyptian, then Arab, and 62 foreign) participated in the fair. It draws about 2 million visitors every year. Website: http://www.cairobookfair.org
   

2. Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE), Taipei, Taiwan: 9—14 February 2011

   The TIBE is called “the gateway to Asian and Chinese book markets” and will have its 19^th event in 2011. The fair is open to trade and public. In 2010, 58 countries and 883 exhibitors participated. The TIBE is one of the largest book exhibitions in Asia with publishers from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and European countries participating every year. TIBE 2011 will have more international publishers and writers and more in-depth events for publishing professionals including the Asian Publishing Forum, Digital Publishing Forum, Librarian’s Workshop, Children’s Literature Forum, Book Design Forum, Editor’s Workshop, and Translator’s Workshop. Website: www.tibe.org.tw
   

3. Vilnius International Book Fair, Vilnius, Lithuania: 17—20 February 2011

   The 12^th international Vilnius Book Fair will be conducted in the Lithuanian Exhibition Centre LITEXPO, Laisves pr. 5, Vilnius. This distinctive feature of this fair open to trade and public is the abundance of cultural events, especially meetings with well-known Lithuanian and foreign writers. Every year, the Vilnius Book Fair highlights one concrete topic. This time the topic is ‘Literature without frontiers, the links between culture and politics’. The topic is dedicated to the 100^th birth anniversary of the Polish writer-poet and Nobel Prize winner Czesław Miłosz. The fair also commemorates the 100^th death anniversary of the Lithuanian artist M K Čiurlionis. This anniversary is included in UNESCO’s list of important dates in 2011. In 2011, 200 companies will visit from 10 countries. Website: http://www.litexpo.lt/en/main/index

4. Jerusalem International Book Fair, Jerusalem, Israel: 20—25 February 2011

   This fair, in its 25^th year in 2011, is a biennial event open to the public. It draws around 1200 publishers from more than 40 countries. It is known for its Editorial Fellowship Program, which invites a promising, talented editors to meet and exchange ideas with their contemporaries at the fair. The JIBF has launched a similar program now, for literary agents. Their website claims that many of their editorial and agent alumni have gone on to prestigious and influential positions in the publishing field, and several return each year to meet and mentor new ”fellows”. Another important event is the Jerusalem Prize awarded to a writer whose work best expresses and promotes the idea of the ”freedom of the individual in society”. The Jerusalem Prize has been awarded to five writers who have also received the Nobel Literary Prize. Website: http://www.jerusalembookfair.com
   

5. Dublin Book Festival, Dublin, Ireland: 4—6 March 2011

   The Dublin Book Festival, which is open to the public, “brings together the best of Irish publishing, for both established and upcoming authors” says the fair’s website. Irish poets and authors will gather to celebrate Dublin’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. Author events will be held from 2–6 March, in a variety of venues throughout Dublin, including the National Library of Ireland, The Gutter Bookshop, Cube at the Project Arts Centre, Dublin City Libraries and, as with previous years, Dublin’s City Hall. Website: http://www.dublinbookfestival.com
   

6. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Abu Dhabi, UAE 15 – 20 March 2011

   The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair offers the best access to industry professionals and key market players in the Middle East and North Africa. This year, the fair will conduct its 21^st event with the market focus being Korea. In 2010, the fair had 840 exhibitors, half a million titles on display and 236,000 visitors, including publishing professionals and the general public. There will be events like author lectures, book signings, poetry performances by local and international poets and a live daily cooking show. Another unique ADIBF offer is a programme subsidising translation deals. Website: http://www.adbookfair.com
   

7. Paris Book Fair, Paris, France: 18—21 March 2011

   This fair, called Salon du Livre in French, is said to be the most important cultural event in Europe and will conduct its 31^st this year.  The venue is the Exhibition Centre at Porte de Versailles, Paris. While the event is open to the general public most of the days, the morning of March 21, from 9 am to 1 pm, is for trade only. While copious events are planned, the focus this year will be on Nordic literature (authors from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland will be present). Talking of numbers, 914 exhibitors will participate in 2011. There will be a phenomenal 2118 book signings, 116 conferences and events. It’s clear that this is the book fair to not miss in Europe. Train, air and hotel fares will be lowered to allow more people to attend the event. More than 2 lakh visitors make it to the fair every year. Website: http://www.salondulivreparis.com
   

8. Bangkok International Book Fair, Bangkok, Thailand 25 March – 6 April 2011

   The Bangkok International Book Fair is called the hub of book markets in South East Asia. It had 1.5 million participants and 423 exhibitors from 19 countries in 2010. The fair will conduct its 9^th event in 2011 and is open to both trade and general public. Website: http://www.bangkokibf.com
   

9. Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Bologna, Italy 28 – 31 March 2011

   The Bologna Children’s Book Fair, in its 48^th edition in 2011, is the only international marketplace exclusively for the children’s publishing and multimedia industry. The website says, “Authors, illustrators, literary agents, licensors and licensees, packagers, distributors, printers, booksellers, and librarians meet to sell and buy copyrights, find the best of children’s publishing and multimedia production, generate and gather new contacts while strengthening professional relationships, discover new business opportunities, discuss and debate the latest sector trends.” About 1300 exhibitors from 67 countries and 4763 international professional trade representatives participated in the fair in 2010. This is a fair open to trade only. Website: http://bolognachildrensbookfair.com