RIYADH: The most awaited literary carnival of the city, the Riyadh International Book Fair, which serves as a great networking platform for publishers, writers, scholars and academic institutions and one of the most important book fairs in the Middle East, opened registration Sunday for its upcoming edition.
The book fair will kick off on March 9, 2016 under the auspices of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.
“All publishing houses and other stakeholders who wish to participate in the Riyadh International Book Fair 2016, be it from inside the Kingdom or international participants, and want to book their exhibition site, can apply for registration with effect from Dec. 6,” a Ministry of Culture and Information spokesman said.
The registration process will close on Feb. 6.
Commenting on preparations and arrangements, Saud Al-Hazmi, general supervisor for the book fair and exhibition at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said that the ministry has completed its preparations for the annual international cultural event.
He pointed out that the ministry each year seeks to further develop its programs in the exhibition by introducing new elements of modern technical aspects in order to make it easier for publishers to participate and ultimately help make the fair a huge success.
Moreover, the effort is to allow a greater number of applicants to participate and serve visitors with ease and flexibility, he underlined.
The general supervisor of the exhibition also urged publishing houses to follow the terms and dates of registration set by the ministry in order to meet the deadline.
The book fair features hundreds of national and international publishing houses, distributors and retail booksellers to facilitate and promote exchanges between professionals whose jobs depend on books and reading, and publishers.
The exhibition at the book fair last year accommodated more than 300,000 titles, including several best-selling books from about 1,000 publishing houses from more than 30 countries, represented by 400 exhibitors within the Kingdom and more than 1,000 foreign exhibitors.
The exhibitors at the book fair put on display a large number of books on Islam, Arab culture, history, medicine, law, science and technology, mass media and communications, besides biographical accounts, fiction and novels available in languages including Arabic, English, French, Turkish, Urdu and Spanish.
Riyadh International Book Fair promises literary feast
Riyadh International Book Fair promises literary feast
Ithra will bring Spain to life for 2-week cultural celebration
- Ithra Cultural Days will unfold across the plaza, museum, theater, lush garden, library, idea lab, cinema, children’s museum, energy exhibit and Ithra tower
DHAHRAN: Visitors to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) can enjoy a taste of Spanish culture from Jan. 12-31.
Under the banner “Live Spain,” spaces at Ithra will be transformed to give a glimpse of life in this vibrant European country.
Ithra Cultural Days will unfold across the plaza, museum, theater, lush garden, library, idea lab, cinema, children’s museum, energy exhibit and Ithra tower, with exhibitions dedicated to Spanish photography, fashion and sports. There will also be Spanish cuisine and interactive installations exploring historical and linguistic connections between Arab and Spanish traditions.
There will be live performances across various stages, with a production of “Carmen” among the highlights.
“Cultural exchange is a core part of Ithra’s approach to programming. Celebrating Spain’s culture and history reflects this focus, particularly as this year’s Cultural Days take on a distinctive character by exploring Spain’s cultural heritage,” Noura Alzamil, program manager at Ithra, said.
“Visitors to Ithra will experience an exciting program in every sense, given the scale and variety of events designed to appeal to all tastes and interests.”
Cinema showings will feature Spanish short and feature films, accompanied by post-screening discussions to provide additional cultural context, while talks and sessions in the idea lab and library will explore architecture, literature and creative practice.
Hands-on workshops will invite visitors to engage directly with Spanish crafts and creative traditions, from visual arts and design to food-related practices.
A dedicated program for children and youth will run alongside with storytelling, creative workshops and performances among the attractions. Food and market experiences in Ithra’s public spaces will reflect the important social role played in the country by food.
Ithra Cultural Days present international cultures through immersive, public-facing experiences. This year’s focus on Spain follows the success of last year’s Japan edition, which welcomed more than 200,000 visitors in just two weeks.
