Leipzig Book Fair 2022: Thinking Diversity Together
Portugal as Host Country – Event Programme for an Open Society
Even if it seems especially difficult to look to the future right now: Planning is in full swing for the Leipzig Book Fair 2022 to take place in our exhibition halls. "We are convinced that the Leipzig Book Fair will be able to take place in our exhibition halls from 17 to 20 March", explains Martin Buhl-Wagner, Managing Director of Leipziger Messe. "The industry sorely misses this all-important platform, which offers visibility for authors and the chance to exchange thoughts on the new titles coming out in the spring. The whole city is also looking forward to this encounter with the book and media industry. We are doing everything we can to make this vital gathering possible – of course with a sophisticated Safe Expo hygiene concept for a safe and stress-free visit to the fair." With the combination of the Leipzig Book Fair, Leipzig liest and Manga Comic-Con, visitors can experience the full breadth of the world of literature and media. In addition to the new product exhibition in the exhibition hall, thousands of readings will be held on the trade fair grounds and around the city on all days of the event, inviting visitors to meet and exchange ideas with authors. In Hall 1, Manga Comic-Con presents colourful heroes from the comic and manga scene. Our host country Portugal welcomes visitors and is promising "Unexpected Encounters".
"The focus of the Leipzig Book Fair is on the diversity of the written word", explains Book Fair Director Oliver Zille. "The cracks in society have increasingly started to show in recent years. At the Leipzig Book Fair, we use literature to expose different perspectives on the pressing questions of our coexistence. We place particular emphasis on highlighting conflicts in discourse, while at the same time bringing people together in person and, above all, in their minds."
Thanks to the Neustart Kultur economic stimulus package launched by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media, there are some especially attractive offers for exhibitors. On top of discounted stand rentals, it is also easy to cancel should this be necessary owing to the pandemic. Exhibitors can find all details on the Leipzig Book Fair website.
Leipzig liest as a Stage for Authors – Event Programme for an Open Society
The Leipzig Book Fair and Leipzig liest (Leipzig reads) are inextricably linked. The many stages set up on the exhibition grounds and in the city bring literature to life. Next year will also see numerous events again taking place in and around Leipzig. The core aim of the reading festival is once again to provide food for thought about workable social coexistence. With its own series of events, the Leipzig Book Fair is dedicated to the pressing social issues of our time, such as freedom of expression, education and diversity.
International Insights: Portugal and Common Ground
Portugal is the host country of the Leipzig Book Fair 2022. After getting a first taste of events at Leipzig liest extra 2021, the country is now stepping onto the big stage. Under the heading "Unexpected Encounters", the focus will be on the country's literature as well as the entire Portuguese language in all its diversity. "Curiosity is the driving force of our entire cultural scene", says Patrícia Salvação Barreto, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of Portugal in Berlin. "In Leipzig, we will be showcasing what can come out of this. We are very much looking forward to the wide range of performances." The main themes of the guest country presentation include heroines in Portuguese literature, restlessness as a creative force or unexpected encounters, including with Germany. In addition to the 29 writers present in Leipzig, the event will honour authors such as José Saramago, winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature, Agustina Bessa Luís, Sophia de Melo Breyner and António Lobo Antunes. International voices can also be heard in "Common Ground. Literature from South-East Europe". After taking place mostly digitally in 2020 and 2021, the programme can finally be experienced live next year. In addition to a wide variety of readings, there are plans for a joint stand presentation for the first time. The regions, otherwise not readily found together on one stage, will come together in a broad range of events. The countries' presentations are organised within the framework of TRADUKI, the European network for literature and books, of which the Leipzig Book Fair is also a member. The Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding will honour an international voice right at the opening of the Leipzig Book Fair. The winner of the prestigious prize in 2022 will be announced on 6 December 2021.
Education for Diverse Thought
Reading is the basis for participation in society. Fokus Bildung will once again be at the Leipzig Book Fair this year with major publishers and a strong programme for educators, librarians, political representatives, as well as interested parents and grandparents. Highlights include the awarding of the Lesekompass (Reading Compass) together with Stiftung Lesen and the Prix des lycéens allemands (German high school prizes). Joint projects with partners also include programmes on the topics of democracy, engagement and participation for children and young people. Discussions, workshops and readings will raise questions for the future and develop ideas for solutions.
The comprehensive advanced education programme offers new inspiration for educators. The Forum Unterrichtspraxis (Teaching Practice Forum), organised by the Verband Bildungsmedien, will be held in Hall 2 for the first time. Here, case studies from teaching practice will be presented. The Forum is open to all visitors. The Textbook of the Year Award recognises outstanding pedagogical works.
Leipzig Book Fair Prize – New Chair of the Panel
The panel of judges for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize has a new chair: Journalist Insa Wilke will replace Jens Bisky for the next term of office. Together with her six colleagues, she is currently reading through 441 books from 169 publishers. The jury members have until 17 February 2022 to find five favourites in each of the categories fiction and non-fiction/essay. The awards ceremony will take place on the first day of the fair at 4 pm in the Glass Hall.
Manga Comic-Con: Diversity is King
Even the walk to Leipzig's Exhibition Halls is colourful and diverse: Manga Comic-Con in Hall 1 will make sure of that. Visitors' colourful costumes display their love of literary protagonists in a unique way and thus provide many young readers with an introduction to the world of books. New mangas, the latest films and games as well as readings with manga stars, signing sessions, cosplay competitions, workshops: Manga Comic-Con is a cherished experience and a wonderful example of living diversity in our society.
Direct Book Sales at the Fair
From now on, it will be even easier for visitors to the Leipzig Book Fair to find their way to a book. As previously planned for 2020, books can be purchased on-site from the exhibitors' stands at the upcoming Leipzig Book Fair. There are also three bookshops operated by Hugendubel and offering an assortment guaranteed to provide you with fresh reading material.
Leipzig Book Fair in Times of COVID-19: The Hygiene Concept
Leipziger Messe's Safe Expo hygiene concept ensures a carefree and safe visit to the fair. It is continuously adjusted according to the current situation as well as the associated Corona Protection Ordinance.
The current core elements include the following:
• Tickets are only available in advance to ensure contact tracing: Either online or at selected Eventim ticket agencies. There will be no ticket office on site. There are no permanent tickets.
• Visitor numbers are limited to a maximum of 25,000 per day.
• Owing to the high number of COVID-19 cases, the "2G rule" currently applies to visitors on the exhibition grounds. Should the number of cases decrease significantly, the concept will be changed to the "3G rule". We always provide daily updates on the website.
• Masks are compulsory on the exhibition grounds.
• Hygiene guides and route markings throughout the grounds ensure that there will be no crowding. Ventilation systems and the regular cleaning of all contact surfaces ensure a safe visit to the fair.
• Exhibitors and visitors can find daily updated information on all the detailed regulations contained in the hygiene concept at https://www.leipziger-buchmesse.de/de/hygienekonzept/.
The Leipzig Book Fair and Manga Comic-Con will open daily from 17 to 20 March from 10 am to 6 pm. Day tickets – permanent tickets are not available this year – will be on sale in our online shop from 14 December 2021. It's worth being quick, as tickets are also limited by the restriction on visitor numbers.
8th Library Congress Leipzig 2022 Takes Place in Parallel to the Leipzig Book Fair
The Library Congress opens in close conjunction with the Leipzig Book Fair from 14 to 17 March 2022. Under the title "Creating Free Spaces", the annual conference of librarians will be discussing current topics in the sector. The congress will be accompanied by a specialist exhibition.
About Leipziger Messe
Leipziger Messe is one of the ten leading German trade show companies and one of the top 50 worldwide. It organises events in Leipzig and at various locations in Germany and abroad. With its five subsidiaries and the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL), Leipziger Messe is a comprehensive service provider covering the entire event organisation sector. Thanks to this offer, customers and visitors voted Leipziger Messe the service champion of the trade fair industry in Germany's biggest service ranking in 2021 – for the eighth time in a row. The Leipzig fairgrounds comprise an exhibition area of 111,900 m² and an open-air exhibition area of 70,000 m². Every year, around 270 events take place – from trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses to events – with over 15,500 exhibitors and more than 1.2 million visitors from all over the world. Leipzig was the first German trade fair company to be certified according to the Green Globe standards. Sustainability is a recurring theme in the Leipziger Messe's corporate activities.
Leipzig Book Fair on the Internet:
www.leipziger-buchmesse.de/buecherleben
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