Georgian publishers to bring new literature to Frankfurt Book Fair

Georgian publishing houses and literary agencies will take their spots on the fairgrounds at the 2019 Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest European event of the kind, to bring the country's authors, book art scene and tourist potential to visitors starting next week.

Opening next week, the major event for publishers, literary professionals and organisations will host its first edition since Georgia and its culture was introduced to visitors at last year in the capacity of the country's Guest of Honour status.

Coming back to the exhibition site on Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage in the city, seven publishing houses will present their latest selection of Georgian authors and titles in Hall 5.0/B100, where the national stand for the country will be located.

The national corner at the fair will update it's Guest of Honour programme Georgia Made by Characters to reflect the experience of the introduction of the Georgian book scene in Germany and beyond over the last year or so, with the new project titled Follow the Journey of Georgian Characters.

Published and unpublished books for children will be presented at a kids' corner of the fair by the Georgian representation. Photo: Anett Weirauch/Frankfurter Buchmesse.

Over a dozen literary events and business networking activities will be hosted by the Georgian representation on fairgrounds with the aim of both presenting new titles and forging professional ties.

While the national stand representation and publishing houses show the brightest and latest additions to the Georgian literature, another stand will present both published and unpublished children's books at the Frankfurt Kids Foyer.

In the third part of Georgia's presence at the fair, the country's tourist potential will be unveiled to visitors through Spend 4 Seasons in Georgia, a campaign hosted at Hall 3.1/K126 at the site.

[The campaign will look to promote] Georgia, with its culture, adventure, food, and people on social media platforms. The campaign was a response of young Georgians to the direct flight ban imposed by Russia on Georgia," organisers said.

The participation of the Georgian representation at the Frankfurt event will come in the wake of an announcement on selection of Tbilisi as World Book Capital for 2021, which is set to boost the country's cultural and tourist profile.

Georgia's capital city was picked from nominations submitted by the International Publishers’ Association (IPA), the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and UNESCO.

This year's Frankfurt Book Fair is hosting Norway as the Guest of Honour. The title was handed over by the Georgian delegation to their Norwegian counterparts at the conclusion of last year's event.

The fair will run in Frankfurt between October 16-20.