Tbilisi Book Days celebrates literature and creativity

More than 40 Georgian publishing houses, local book illustrators and international print designers are coming together in Tbilisi this week for a four-day celebration honouring literature and creativity.

Book-lovers of all ages are encouraged to be part of the second annual Tbilisi Book Days, which will kick off on Thursday November 26 at Expo Georgia event’s centre. From Thursday to Sunday all aspects of literature will be explored and discussed, giving readers of all ages the chance to indulge in their chosen literature and participate in group discussions and other activities.

Organisers said interest in the book fair had grown and this year’s event would host 17 major book exhibitions, up from 11 last year.

The festival – staged at five exhibition pavilions in Expo Georgia as well as the Tbilisi Goethe Institute Exhibition Hall – will involve a book sale, public lectures and include a range of activities for children.

The festival will include public lectures by foreign artists and industry experts. Photo/Tbilisi Book Days.

Well-known book illustrators and designers from Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Brazil and the United States will showcase a collection of about 200 pieces of work over the four-day book fair. In addition, the creators will be invited to transform a street wall near the Tbilisi-based Book Art Centre offices by painting it and giving it a fresh new look.

Meanwhile Georgian literary experts will showcase their talents at three exhibitions planned specifically for local design artists.

Public lectures at the Tbilisi Book Days will include an event led by Norwegian editor Bernhard L. Mohr, who will speak about the book market. Belgian illustrator Tom Schamp will also share his experience and present his latest work, while Roger Mello will narrating about the nuances of Brazilian illustration art.

Ten other lectures by foreign guests are planned to take place during the November 27-29 book fair, held at Pavilion 3 at Expo Georgia.

Books, illustrations and more will be on display during the four-day event. Photo/Tbilisi Book Days.

Organisers of the book fair said this year’s event would interest a wide audience, with activities to interest people of all ages. Children who attend the book fair can get involved in a range of activities, including excavating parts of ceramic items on a specially prepared "archaeological expedition” site before reconstructing the original artefacts using the discovered pieces. Other activities for children include planting trees, painting and creative writing.

The Tbilisi Book Days festival was founded in 2014 as a joint project of the Goethe Institute Georgia , Book Art Centre Tbilisi and Expo Georgia. The event is supported by Georgia’s Culture Ministry, German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Georgian National Book Centre.

The festival will run until November 29. Full details of the Tbilisi Book Days program can be found on the event’s official website.