Cuba International Book Fair 2012

An Invitation 

The 21 Cuba International Book Fair'2012 will be held from February 9th to the 19th, 2012, and will continue throughout the whole country until March 4th, with the motto Reading is growing.
 
It will pay tribute to the Bicentennial of the rebellion organized by José Antonio Aponte against the Spanish colonial empire in Cuba and the Centennial of the Colored Independent Party members' uprising. It will honor, as usual, two Cuban authors: Zoila Lapique Becali, Social Sciences National Award 2002 and Ambrosio Fornet Frutos, Literature National Award 2009 and Edition National Award 2000.
 
The Fair will also honor our many Caribbean cultures, envisioned as a great cultural melting pot, diverse and at the same time integrated by their common history, which encompass the fourteen island States, Mexico, the six Central American countries, the four South American countries with Caribbean coasts, plus the territories that are still subjects of European governments. The US state of Louisiana will be included due to the similar nature of its links with the Caribbean region.
 
The San Carlos de La Cabaña Fortress will be the main site, but some of the literary, artistic and academic events will take place in different institutions of Havana City, such as Pabellón Cuba, Casa del Alba, Casa de las Américas, Centro Dulce María Loynaz, and UNEAC among others.
 
Cuba International Book Fair is conceived as a space for dialogue among the cultures of the whole world. In every edition there is a country or region honored by its contribution to the universal culture. The fair is an opportunity for writers, publishers and distributors to reach Cuban readers, who hold high standards and are well prepared to participate in the dialogue the fair seeks to develop.
 
Cuba International Book Fair is the cultural event with the biggest attendance in the country. The most recent event took place in February 2011 and more than 2 741 400 people came to the different sites and activities. More than 1 600 000 books were sold. Writers, publishers and booksellers from 40 countries occupied an exhibit area of 11 040 mts2.
 
The pavilion designated for the Caribbean peoples' cultures as guests of honor will include the Caribbean Room, where regional art and traditions will be displayed, and the Nuestra América Conference Room for talks and book launchings. 
 
The professional, academic and literary programs of the Book Fair will conduct meetings, panels, lectures, poetry and fiction recitals, the delivery of literary awards and book launchings. The artistic program will offer concerts, visual art exhibitions, contemporary films, theater plays, and dance performances. 
 
The Paper Treasure is a pavilion organized for children with many recreational and cultural activities specially designed to foster children's appreciation of art and literature.
Since its initial convocation in 1982, the International Book Fair is considered the most significant event of the Cuban editorial sphere. It offers a space for exchange and participation to all the professionals and entities linked to book production. The Professional Salon provides a meeting venue for writers, publishers, booksellers and distributors, in addition to information and communication services.
 
In the ecumenical spirit that inspires our call to honor the Caribbean cultures, and hoping that this 2012 Book Fair will become an inclusive gathering in Havana of the broadest diversity of writings and personalities linked to all facets of editorial, literary and artistic creativity, we cordially invite all to attend this festival of literature and art, in its long trajectory as a vanguard of the editorial movement in America.
 
Those who are interested in participating must apply for registration as well as inclusion in the different programs, contacting the Organizing Committee:

CÁMARA CUBANA DEL LIBRO (CUBA CHAMBER OF BOOKS) Calle 15 no. 602 e/ B y C, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba Telf.: (537) 832 9526 al 29 ext. 101 y 108, (537) 832 8829
Fax: (537) 833 3441 E-mail: direccion@ccl.cult.cu, feria@ccl.cult.cu, promocion@ccl.cult.cu
Dalia Nápoles del Toro President
Cámara Cubana del Libro
General Director of Cuba International Book Fair