Nataša Pirc Musar, president of Slovenia (image: Matjaž Klemenc) and Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor (image: Bundesregierung, Thomas Köhler/Photothek)
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Boos: ‘The Fair’s Importance for Democracy’
In its announcement today (September 5), Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 18 to 22) has announced that the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, will open the 75th edition of the trade show with Nataša Pirc Musar, president of Slovenia, this year’s guest of honor market.
The invitational opening ceremony, as usual, is set for Frankfurt eve, on Tuesday evening, October 17.
As is traditional, the opening ceremony will be followed by Scholz’ and Musar’s visit to the Guest of Honor Slovenia pavilion, another part of Buchmesse they’ll officially open as part of their evening at Messe Frankfurt. As Publishing Perspectives readers know, the Slovenian delegation is anticipated to be a large one, featuring at least 75 of the country’s authors, poets, translators, and other publishing professionals at the world’s largest international professional trade show in the book business.
Organizers in Germany today are stressing that this year’s anniversary edition of Frankfurt Book Fair “will be celebrating good stories, honoring democratic discourse, and promoting peaceful exchange in unpeaceful times.”
Other speakers at the opening ceremony for Frankfurter Buchmesse are scheduled to include the trade fair’s president and CEO, Juergen Boos; Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, chairwoman of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Germany’s publishers and booksellers association; and Mike Josef, mayor of the City of Frankfurt am Main.
Juergen Boos
In a prepared statement for today’s news, Boos is quoted, saying, “From its beginnings in St Paul’s Church until today, Frankfurter Buchmesse has stood for democracy and diversity.
“For the 75th time, the book fair will serve as a platform for democratic exchange. It is also a cultural marketplace. Publishers and authors, literature and culture fans from more than 100 countries can come together here in a safe and peaceful environment.
“The presence of Germany’s federal chancellor and Slovenia’s president at the opening ceremony underscores the fair’s importance for democracy, freedom, and understanding on an international level.”
There are to be literary speakers, as well—typically chosen by the guest of honor market. This year, they are to be the philosopher Slavoj Žižek—easily the best-known and biggest seller among Slovenian authors—and the writer Miljana Cunta.
A programming note: In partnership with Guest of Honor Slovenia, our Publishing Perspectives Forum will present “Does Size Really Matter? Audio and Small Markets” at 3 p.m. on Frankfurt Thursday, October 19, with:
- Alma Čaušević Klemenčič, CEO, Beletrina Academic Press, Slovenia
- Pedro Sobral, CEO, Grupo Leya, Portugal
- Bence Sárközy, CEO, Libri Publishing House, Hungary
- Nathan Hull, chief strategy officer, Beat Technology, United Kingdom
More on the Forum and its programming is here, with speakers being added as we confirm them and programming descriptions being developed as they’re ready.
Additionally, Publishing Perspectives will moderate “Data and Reading and Publishing Research,” a panel on the Srečko Kosovel Stage of the Slovenian Pavilion at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18, with:
- Miha Kovač, University of Ljubljana
- Owena Reinke of Mainz University
- Christoph Bläsi of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
More from Publishing Perspectives on Frankfurter Buchmesse is here, more on Slovenia is here, more on the world’s international trade shows and book fairs is here, and more on guest of honor programs is here.
Publishing Perspectives is the International Publishers Association’s world media partner.