Press releases

23 Jan 2020

Minsk book fair to feature 30 exhibitors from 30 countries

Archive photo

MINSK, 23 January (BelTA) – Exhibitors from 30 countries will present their new publishing projects at the 27th edition of the Minsk International Book Fair, which will be held in the Belarusian capital on 5-9 February, at 14 Pobediteley Avenue, Dmitry Makarov, the chairman of the council of the organizers of book fairs in the CIS, Director General of Makbel book selling company, told the media on 23 January, BelTA has learned.

“More than 300 exhibitors from 30 countries will present their new products at the Minsk fair,” said Dmitry Makarov. The forum will feature more than 300 events such as meetings with authors, publishers, artists and also book presentations, roundtables, autograph sessions.

The motto's of the fair is “Belarus is an Open Book" which stands to symbolize the fact that Belarusians are writing their modern history with new achievements, new victories and new creative successes today. The national stand will highlight such themes as the Year of Native Land and the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory. The 90th birthday of renowned Belarusian writer Vladimir Korotkevich, which is celebrated in 2020, is one of the major themes of the publishing projects.

The stand will also feature the National Library of Belarus, the Presidential Library and the National Book Chamber of Belarus. The Union of Writers of Belarus will be the venue for meetings with authors. The projects implemented with the support of the Union State Standing Committee and also the publications-winners of the International Book Art Contest will be also featured at the stand.

The Day of Belarus that will be held under the motto “Belarus is an Open book” will feature a presentation of art projects dedicated to the Year of Native Land and the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory. Among them will be the project “Traditions of Sovereign Belarus” by the BelTA News Agency. Elena Mikulchik's project dedicated to the centuries-old traditions of Belarusian national cuisine will also be on display.

“The Traditions of Sovereign Belarus” is not just a book. It is a kind of social and spiritual project. It lays down the foundation for the values which we talk about at different levels: economy, culture, education. It is not easy to find the contemporary things that characterize the country and our land today. But the book does it. The book explores the traditions that have been developed over the last 25 years. They do not just characterize one or another part of our life. They help shape our future," Deputy Information Minister Igor Buzovsky said.

The fair will also kick start the project “Belarus – War and Peace” which will be traveling during the year. Through the unique editions based on the archival historical photographic materials, the project will tell about the most important events of the military and peaceful years in the period 1812-2020 with an emphasis on the Great Victory.

The Tip-Top children's day will feature a large number of events for children and their parents, including interactive performances. The youth audience will be provided with an opportunity to contribute to the preparation of materials for the TikTok social network that popularizes book reading. Varied presentations will be held on the closing day of the fair. The Presidential Library will demonstrate books dedicated to the anniversaries of the special units of the Armed Forces of Belarus.

The fair will be held not only at the exhibition grounds but also in bookstores, libraries and museums. The events will include the screening of film based on the works of Belarusian authors in Minsk cinema houses, literary-themed performances in theaters. A shuttle poetic bus along Pobediteley Avenue and events in the libraries of Minsk will be organized. Such projects made their debut at the fair in 2019 and attracted great interest.