China, honorary guest of the Gaudeamus Fair
The last preparations are being made for the 23rd edition of the Gaudeamus International Book and Education Fair.
Valentin Țigău, 10.11.2016, 14:24
The most eagerly awaited event of the national book industry, organised by Radio Romania, the Gaudeamus International Book and Education Fair will open its doors in Bucharest, next Wednesday. The organisers are making the last preparations, as this year they will bring over more than 300 exhibitors. No less than 850 editorial and professional events will also be organised, a record high in the fair’s history.
Gaudeamus is the most important component of the National Reading Program, initiated and developed by Radio Romania since 1994. During its 22-year history, the fair, which has been financed through public funds by Radio Romania, has followed an upward trend. Now, it enjoys the status of national leader in the book fairs industry, thanks to its long-standing tradition, importance and cultural impact on the relevant market.
Each edition is an excellent opportunity to meet people, exchange ideas, launch cultural projects and strike new partnerships. It also establishes a direct contact with the public at large, as the fair boasts over 100,000 visitors each year, in recent times. Due to the market value and the offer for potential foreign participants, Gaudeamus was included as early as 2001, in the calendar of the most important book fairs around the world, compiled in Frankfurt.
Since 2010, honorary guests have been invited to attend the fair. Belgium, Italy, Moldova, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Russia have been the featured countries so far. The honorary guest this year is, for the first time, a non-European country, China, which has recently hosted the Beijing International Book Fair, attended, among others, by Romania.
China will be represented by over 50 prestigious publishing houses, 100 publishers and a group of prominent writers. Over 2,000 titles and a total number of 3,000 volumes in English, Romanian and Chinese will be available at China’s stand.
The honorary president of this year’s edition of Gaudeamus is Liviu Papadima, PhD, the prorector of the Bucharest University.
The traditional sections of the fair include Book and multimedia, with an updated offer of printed and electronic books, music, film, interactive courses, the Education Scholarship, destined for Romanian and foreign education institutions which present their educational and editorial offer and the Ion Creanga- Children’s Book Salon. Other highlights of the fair are the campaigns Books are returning home, the Mircea Nedelciu National Reading Contest, Special Guests- Romania’s Olympiads’ Winners and Gaudeamus Draw.
An outstanding event, Gaudeamus already has an impressive record in its 22-year history, alongside its roving editions across the country: 96 fairs, over 2,600,000 visitors and some 10,500 cultural events. (Translated by Diana Vijeu)
