Libreries affected by the flood are facing the event with «joy, nerves, and excitement» to meet «face to face with customers.»
The Fira del Llibre de València has opened its 60th edition on Thursday at the Viveros Gardens in the city, a special occasion that aims to be key in the recovery of the bookstores after the passage of the dana on October 29. This year, the event also breaks a record of exhibitors, with a total of 91, occupying 135 stalls mainly composed of independent bookstores, where more than 600 writers will parade during these days.
This annual meeting with readers, organized by the Fundació Fira del Llibre de València and the Gremi de Llibrers, is being held from this Thursday, April 24, until the next Sunday, May 4, at the Jardines del Real, which have been the venue for this event for 40 years. The event is also facing the challenge of not «dying of success,» as acknowledged by the organizers, «growing too much is not good.»
The inauguration ceremony of the exhibition, held on Thursday afternoon, was chaired by the president of the Gremi de Llibrers, Juan Pedro Font de Mora; the president of the Fundació Fira del Llibre, Maria Bravo; the Director General of Culture of the Generalitat, Miquel Nadal; the Culture Deputy of the Diputació de València, Francisco Teruel, and the Culture Councilor of the València City Council, José Luis Moreno. Also present was the president of the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua (AVL), Verònica Cantó.
This new edition breaks a record of exhibitors (91) occupying 135 stalls mainly composed of independent bookstores, public bookstores, bookstore chains, and independent publishers where more than 600 writers will be found. Additionally, this meeting aims to become a «key» element in the recovery of the book sector after its severe impact by the dana.
In this way, the organization has provided some of the bookstores affected by the flood and that have not been able to open their doors with a free booth where they can carry out their activities since, for many of them, participating in the book fair means getting 10 to 15 percent of their annual earnings, according to the Gremi de Llibrers.
One of the bookstores affected by the dana participating in the Fira del Llibre is La Moixeranga, from Paiporta, a town in the ‘ground zero’ of the floods last October. One of its representatives, Eva Vázquez, explained to Europa Press that being present at this event is a mix of «joy, nerves, and excitement.» «It’s also about going back to work after almost six months, five months and a week without having your work routines, without touching your bookstore, without being face to face with the customer,» she emphasized.
She valued that the goal of events like this, for the cultural sector affected by the dana, is «to support each other, try to sell as much as possible, and that, in the end, we will get a little ahead, we will achieve it, I clearly say.» In fact, just an hour after the opening to the public of the Fira, she assured that «the customer response is going very well.»
Many of the cultural activities to be held in the venue will be led by companies based in the city of València that have also been affected by the dana. Thus, on different days of the fair, Contrahecho Producciones will perform the show ‘Sherezade,’ and Horta Teatre with ‘Rodar i rodar,’ based on the stories of Gianni Rodari. The Sedajazz collective will also be present with the Sedajazz Happy Band formation, made up of musicians between 7 and 3 years old.
The significant impact of the dana on the book sector has also inspired the l’Associació de Professionals de la Il·lustració Valenciana (APIV) to hold its annual collective exhibition, which returns to the Fira del Llibre this year under the name ‘Colze a colze, traç a traç.’ Imatges per al suport mutu,’ focusing on mutual support as a fundamental tool for survival and collective resistance.
Additionally, more than 1,000 activities have been scheduled for this edition, including book presentations, book signings, recitals, and readings aimed at students from schools and high schools. In total, 4,000 students will participate in the fair’s activities.
Moreover, some of the most prominent authors of the current scene will also be present at this Fira del Llibre, including Theodor Kallifatides, Rosa Montero, Manuel Rivas, Ignacio Peyró, Vicenç Altaió, José Luis Sastre, Rosa Ribes, Josep Piera, Sara García Alonso, Manuel Vilas, Maria Josep Escrivà, Julià Guillamón, Cristina Sánchez-Andrade, Sabina Urraca, and Joan Benesiu.
The fair opened its doors around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, and shortly after, hundreds of people, including regulars, curious onlookers, and some tourists, were already filling the Antonio Machado promenade at the Viveros Gardens, where the stalls of the main independent bookstores are located. As for the publications, one that has caught the attention of the first visitors is ‘Esperanza,’ the autobiography of Pope Francis, who passed away this past Monday.
In statements to the media before the inauguration ceremony, the president of the Gremi de Llibrers de València, Juan Pedro Font de Mora, stated that the Fira del Llibre is experiencing its «most significant growth moment,» which has been «tremendous» over the last 15 years. For this reason, he emphasized that now «we have to think calmly,» as sometimes, «growing too much is not good.» «Now we will think calmly, and next year will be another story,» he affirmed.
At the same time, he highlighted that some bookstores at this event achieve «20 percent of their entire year’s revenue,» emphasizing the importance of this edition for «the recovery of the book sector after a very troubled autumn» due to the dana, and encouraged the public to visit the Fira with the aim of having «as many people as possible come to buy from any stall and also from the bookstores affected by the floods.» «There is a cultural part, but also a charitable one,» he pointed out.
From the Generalitat, the Director General of Culture, Miquel Nadal, highlighted that inaugurating the Fira is «another more intense way to experience it,» while also advocating for «the effort of everyone to ensure the continuity» of the exhibition. He also emphasized the «effort» it represents for the bookstores affected by the dana, but also «an opportunity to meet customers, to sell, and to find a new boost» in the face of a «significant» public attendance.
From the Diputació de València, the head of Culture, Francisco Teruel, stated that the Fira is «one of the most beautiful things that happen throughout the year,» an «unmissable» event, and on this occasion, «beyond everything that has happened to us» after the dana, which the booksellers «have lost so much.»
Finally, from the city council, Councilor José Luis Moreno highlighted that the Fira del Llibre is «one of the most culturally significant events in the city» and an «unmissable celebration,» so the fact that the fair is celebrating its 60th year is a «double reason» for celebration.
«It has matured very well in these 60 years, and now it is time for it to consolidate and not die of success,» he assessed. «They say that culture heals, but the Fira del Llibre heals, helps rise above, and cope better with all the tragedy we have experienced,» he added.
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