The Frankfurt Book Fair (German: Frankfurter Buchmesse) is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented, although the Turin Book Fair does attract a wider number of visitors[1].
It is held annually in mid-October at the Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany.
Representatives from book publishing and multimedia companies from all over the world come to the Frankfurt Book Fair in order to negotiate international publishing rights and licensing fees. The fair is organised by a subsidiary company of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association. For five days more than 7,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries and more than 286,000 visitors take part. The Frankfurt Book Fair is considered to be the most important book fair in the world for international deals and trading.
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History
Origins
The Frankfurt Book Fair has a tradition that spans over more than 500 years. Soon after Johannes Gutenberg had invented printing in movable letters in Mainz near Frankfurt, the first book fair was held by local booksellers. Until the end of the 17th century, it was the most important book fair in Europe. As a consequence of political and cultural developments, it was eclipsed by the Leipzig Book Fair during the Enlightenment. After World War II, the first book fair was held again in 1949 at the St. Paul's Church. Since then, it has regained its pre-eminent position.
Significance
The Frankfurt Book Fair is a critical marketing event for the launching of books, but it is also an important event to facilitate the negotiation of the international sale of rights and licences. Visitors take the opportunity to obtain information about the publishing market, to network, and to do business. Publishers, agents, booksellers, librarians, academics, illustrators, service providers, film producers, translators, printers, professional and trade associations, institutions, artists, authors, antiquarians, software and multimedia suppliers all take part in the events and business climate of Frankfurt Book Fair. In 2006, more than 11,000 journalists from 66 countries reported on the fair which brought together 7,272 individual exhibitors from 113 countries, and more than 183,000 trade visitors.
During the fair the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade is given, during a ceremony in the Paulskirche. The prize has been awarded each year since 1950.
The fair is also the birthplace of the Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year, a humorous award which is given to the book with the oddest title.
New events
Since June 2006, a joint venture has been added: the annual Cape Town Bookfair. The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is another joint venture now.
In 2006, Litcam, a campaign first of all against analphabetism began. In this context, the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2007 also started a short story project named "Who's on the line? Call for free" by and for people with migration background.
2007
The fair ran from 10 through 14 October. The first three days were restricted exclusively to trade visitors; the general public could attend on the last two.
Guest of Honour: Catalan Culture
"Singular i Universal – Unique and Universal" – Catalan Culture used this motto to present itself as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2007. A total of 160 cultural and literary events ensured that the book fair was be an exceptional showcase for the Catalan publishing industry and Catalan culture. The exhibition, "La Cultura Catalana, Singular i Universal“ was the centrepiece in the forum of the Frankfurt Book Fair. In the Book Fair's exhibition "Books on Catalan Culture", publishing companies from all over the world showed translations of titles by Catalan authors as well as current books about Catalan culture. The entertaining opening speech by writer Quim Monzó is available at the Frankfurt Book Fair site.[2]
The literary programme formed an important point of emphasis. Famous Catalan authors such as Quim Monzó, Jaume Cabré, Maria Barbal, Baltasar Porcel, Carme Riera and Joan Francesc Mira, with a total of 130 colleagues showed a diverse picture of Catalan literature on the fair site, in the Frankfurt Literaturhaus and in the Römer. A total of more than 60 literary events, discussions and readings were planned around the Frankfurt Book Fair. The fair programme was also be accompanied by a multi-faceted cultural programme in the city with the participation of approximately 680 artists.
Criticism and controversy
The 2007 fair attracted criticism from both the Spanish and German media. Der Spiegel described it as "closed-minded" for its policy of not including the many Catalans who write in Spanish in its definition of Catalan literature.[3] The decision to exclude any element of "Spanishness", defined as literature exclusively done in Spanish, from the fair was made in spite of the fact that the Spanish government contributed more than 6 million euros towards the cost of the fair. [4] This makes sense, however, considering that Catalan is one of the four official languages of Spain. For more on this topic, see the article by Matthew Tree.[5] [6]
2008
The fair ran from 15 through 19 October.
Guest of Honour: Turkey
In autumn 2006, Book Fair director Jürgen Boos and Attila Koç, the Turkish Republic's minister of culture and tourism, signed the agreement for the Guest of Honour appearance in 2008. A Turkish organisation committee showed a programme with a varied range of exhibitions and cultural events alongside the presentation at the Book Fair: seminars and workshops, book exhibitions, readings, concerts, films and stage productions – mainly in Frankfurt and Berlin, but also in other German cities.
In anticipation of the Guest of Honour appearance, considerable efforts took place such as: The state publishing sector in Turkey was restructured, and also in 2005 the translation funding programme TEDA was launched. An international network of literary agents worked on raising the profile of Turkish literature in other countries and boost trade in rights and licences. Other activities were directed towards the modernisation of libraries.
See also
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Wikinews has related news: 2007 Frankfurt International Book Fair opens |
References
- Peter Weidhaas, Wendy A. Wright: A History of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Dundurn, October 31 2007, ISBN 978-1550027440
- ^ Over than 300,000 in 2006, 2007 and 2008: "The Jewish Cronichle"
- ^ Inaugural Speech by Quim Monzó, 2007 Frankfurt Book Fair
- ^ A Controversial Homage to Catalonia: Commerce Replaces Politics at the Frankfurt Book Fair – International – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News
- ^ http://www.mityc.es/es-ES/Servicios/GabinetePrensa/NotasPrensa/HistoricoNoticias/2006/7/FirmaConvenioIndustriaEditorialFrankfurt2007.03.07.06.htm
- ^ Life on the Receiving End: A Subjective Look at Anti-Catalan Prejudice in Spain Today
- ^ Description of the above article at Matthew Tree's website
External links
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