08 April 2018
More Than 220,000 visitors Throng Bahrain’s 18th edition of International Book Fair
From Muharraq, city of culture and enlightenment, the “Capital of Islamic Culture 2018”, The 18th Bahrain International Book Fair, has come to end yesterday, 7 April 2018. the 18th Bahrain International Book Fair, held Under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, May God Protect Him, attracted sstudents, teachers, scholars, authors, intellectuals, librarians and book lovers to its specially set tent near Arab Fort. The Fair also drew a total of 400 local, Arab and international publishing houses, cultural and intellectual institutions representing 26 countries are taking part in the 2018 edition, and they contributed to making this book fair a fabulous cultural and historical success, a source of universal inspiration for all peoples.
The Fair, extended to last until 10:00 pm by BACA, attracted more than 220,000 visitors over ten days, 7,000 students from 181 public and private schools.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the Guest of Honour of Bahrain’s International Book Fair 18th edition, a kind gesture adding a new line in the history of the mutual, extended cohesion and interdependence between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and it embodies the historical relations that link the two brotherly peoples based on mutual understanding, cultural and historical heritage, values, customs and common social traditions.
Saudi Ministry of Culture & Information” has presented during the book fair an array of eventsr, such as forums, lectures, music shows, Saudi movie screenings etc. The guest of honor program also included lectures, forums, photography exhibition, live painting and sculpture performances all along the exhibition. The Fair also hosted an array of programming and special cultural events, including intellectual activities, presented by cooperation partners, book signing events, and others, as well as parallel cultural events, including poetry, music, literary and art criticism sessions.
Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities stand was a platform launch for cultural events and book signing ceremonies every day at Bahrain Int. Book Fair 2018, adding new publications to the Bahraini and Arab libraries, whether intellectual knowledge-based books or human sciences studies, literature, theater , translation, archeology, history or criticism. Indeed, more than 10 writers signed their books, published by “ Common Publishing Project”, launched in 2000 between Bahrain’s BACA and the “Arab Institute for Research & Publishing” in Lebanon.
Beyond selling books, music, lectures, forums and movies, the fair organized a Book Signing corner, offering discussion sessions on particular books and signing events for new releases. Novels, poems, studies and researches were on the menu every day at the fair.
This year’s edition was very rich with cultural participations coming from the intellectual elite coming from Bahrain and the Arab region, in cooperation with Culture Authority, Shaikh Ibrahim Center For Culture & Research, Al-Sharjah Book Authority, Al-Bayareq Al-Bayda’a Society of Bahrain, Bahrain Trust Foundation, have all contributed to the richness of the cultural program offered.
The Children’s Corner at the Bahrain International Book Fair hosted the Book Friends section, which offered workshops on creative short story writing, a storytelling session for traditional Bahraini stories, participatory readings with children, a workshop on how to build a home library, and a series of workshops, in cooperation with Shaikh Salman Cultural Center and BACA.
Bahrain’s International Book Fair 18th edition this year surprised the visiors and lovers by selecting an expected venue, setting stage at the heart of Muharraq, Capital of Islamic Culture, at a specially set tent near Arad Fort archeological site.Indeed, there is a seductive quality to the scenery, with its open blue sky, graceful palm trees, and vibrant flowers overlooking this place of sublime natural beauty.
Finally, Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities would like to thank all thosewho helped and contributed to making this book fair a fabulous cultural and historical success, a source of inspiration. BACA extends its thanks to Gold Sponsors, Viva telecommunications company, and Silver Sponsors, Bapco, AA Car Rental. Media support is covered by the Ministry of Information and Al-Bilad newspaper.
