Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair (German: Frankfurter Buchmesse) is the world's second largest trade fair for books, held annually in mid-October in Frankfurt am Main, 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 and takes place every October. It is claimed to be the largest in the world, and for five days more than 7,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries and more than 286,000 visitors take part. It is certainly the most important book fair in the world for international deals and trading, though Turin International Book Fair overcame it by receiving more than 300,000 visitors in 2006 and 2007[1].
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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.
History
Origins
The Frankurt Book Fair has a tradition that spans over more than 500 years. Soon after Johannes Gutenberg had invented printing in movable letters in the town of Mainz (only a short distance away from 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. Due to political and cultural reasons, it was replaced by the Leipzig Book Fair in the time of 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.
In 2007
10-14 October, from Wednesday to Friday restricted exclusively to trade visitors; general public: Saturday and Sunday. Opening times are from 9.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. daily and to 5.30 p.m. on Sunday.
Guest of Honour Catalan Culture
"Singular i Universal – Unique and Universal" – Catalan Culture uses this motto to present itself as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2007. A total of 160 cultural and literary events will ensure that the book fair will be an exceptional showcase for the Catalan publishing industry and Catalan culture. The exhibition, "La Cultura Catalana, Singular i Universal“ will be 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 are showing translations of titles by Catalan authors as well as current books about Catalan culture.
The literary programme will form an important point of emphasis. Famous Catalan authors such as Quim Monzó, Jaume Cabré, , Baltasar Porcel, Carme Riera or , with a total of 130 colleagues will show 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 are planned around the Frankfurt Book Fair. The fair programme will also be accompanied by a multi-facetted cultural programme in the city with the participation of approximately 680 artists.
The fair has attracted some criticism. 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. [2]. On the other hand, when Spain -as a country- was invited to the London Book Fair this same year, only Spanish language writers were actually promoted.[3]
In 2008
15-19 October (opening hours see above).
Guest of Honour Turkey
In autumn 2006, Book Fair director 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 has already begun with preparations for a programme that will include a varied range of exhibitions and cultural events alongside the presentation at the Book Fair. There are plans for 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 forthcoming Guest of Honour appearance, considerable efforts are under way in Turkey: The state publishing sector was restructured in 2005 and the translation funding programme TEDA was also launched in 2005. An international network of literary agents will work on raising the profile of Turkish literature in other countries and boost trade in rights and licences. Other activities are directed towards the modernisation of libraries.
Statistics
- At the Frankfurt Book Fair 2006, 7,272 exhibitors from 113 countries presented their products on an area of around 172,000 square metres.
- With approximately 1,900 exhibitors from English-speaking regions, the Frankfurt Book Fair is perhaps the largest in the Anglophone publishing industry.
- showed a total of 111,913 new publications out of total exhibits of 382,466 titles.
- 286,621 people came to the Frankfurt Book Fair over the five days of the 2006 event, more than 183,000 of them were trade visitors.
- around 11,000 journalists from 66 countries were accredited for the Book Fair 2006.
- Altogether 2,700 events were presented in the context of the Frankfurt Book Fair.
(Wiki German Page "Frankfurter Buchmesse")
References
- , Wendy A. Wright: A History of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Dundurn, October 31 2007, ISBN 978-1550027440
- ^ http://www.wuz.it/Home/AnsaNews/tabid/65/newsid/31237/Default.aspx Fiera del libro: 300.000 visitatori
- ^ A Controversial Homage to Catalonia: Commerce Replaces Politics at the Frankfurt Book Fair - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
- ^ Racó Català - Espanya només va dur escriptors en castellà a la Fira del Llibre de Londres 2007