12th–14th March, the London Book Fair is taking place, and Latvian literature will be represented with a national exhibition stand for the sixth year in a row.
Latvian delegation in London is comprised by the representatives of the “Latvian Literature” platform, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), publishing houses “Jāņa Rozes apgāds”, “Pētergailis” and “Liels un mazs”, as well as “Dardedze”, “Jelgavas tipogrāfija” and “Veiters” printing companies. Journalists from Latvijas Radio and “Delfi” news site will also be visiting London to report on the event.
The Latvian programme in the UK will commence on 11th March with a function at the Daugavas Vanagi Foundation cultural centre. The event will feature readings by Latvian and British poets (Ausma Perons, Elvīra Bloma, Lauris Veips and Raimonds Ķirķis) who recently participated in the poetry translation workshops organized in Riga in collaboration with the British Council. On 12th March, at 11:30 AM, the London Book Fair will be hosting a seminar “Rising Stars: Children's Authors and Illustrators from the Baltics” attended among others by the internationally recognized book illustrator Elīna Brasliņa. On 13th March, 14:30 PM, “Women in Publishing: Voices from the Baltics and the UK” seminar will be held where a panel of leading female editorial directors from the Baltics and Britain, including “Zvaigzne ABC” director Vija Kilbloka, will discuss the progress made by women in publishing. On 13th March, 17:00 PM, all three Baltic stands will host receptions. On 14th March, 13:00 PM, in the “Literature in Translation: Baltic Books in the UK” seminar, publishers will discuss which books from the Baltics they have chosen to publish and why.
The Latvian exhibition stand (5D135c), set up thanks to the support of LIAA, will continue promotiong Latvian literature with the #iamintrovert campaign. This year our visitors will be treated to a chance to rest their ears from the bustle and noise in “The Silent Space”, a specially designed cosmic and completely soundproof room.
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia participated at the London Book Fair 2018 as the Market Focus countries, which was one of the main international events marking Latvia's Centenary. The goal of attending the fair is to increase the exports of Latvian literature to the UK and other countries. Latvia’s participation in the London Book Fair is ensured by the “Latvian Literature” platform and supported by the Investment and Development Agency and the Ministry of Culture of Latvia.
After the London Book Fair, 21st – 24th March, Latvian team will be taking the exhibition to the Leipzig Book Fair (Leipziger Buchmesse), where poet Arvis Viguls’ book presentation will take place. 1st – 4th April, Latvian national stand will be set up also at the 2019 Bologna Children's Book Fair Latvija (La fiera del libro per ragazzi).
