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ARMENIA'S PUBLISHING INDUSTRY, COMING TO A BOOK FAIR NEAR YOU
Read more by Guest Contributor
April 25, 2014
After 500 years of publishing, Armenian writers and publishers are
coming out of the shadows, and presenting a unified face at world
book fairs.
By Charle Malas
After 500 years of printing and over 1,000 years of manuscripts,
Armenian writers and publishers are finally coming out of the shadows,
realizing their dreams and sharing them with the world. Whilst
Perestroika lead to the breakup of the Soviet Union creating several
countries that existed many years earlier, one has to spare a thought
for the unique dynamics of one particular country and nation -
Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora whose authors, writers and poets
have articulated a century of passion and truth influenced by their
adopted surroundings.
Armenia's official annual participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair is
overwhelmed by the sheer size of the world's largest book fair compared
to its participation at the London Book Fair, which is certainly
number two in terms of importance on the publishing world's calendar.
The Armenian Pavilion at the London Book Fair had a unique formula
in that it brings together Armenian publishers, authors and writers
from Armenia and the Diaspora on one stand, sharing with the world the
wealth of knowledge and talent that the Armenians have to offer. This
was mostly thanks to a British Armenian benefactor Raffi Tanielian,
and his sister Nyree, both who had the foresight to recognize the
importance of the Pavilion and what it represents.
L-R: Charle Malas, Armenian Pavilion Organizer; Varujan Vosganian,
Romanian-Armenian politician, economist and essayist; and Hagop
Havatian, director of the Vahe Setian /Hamazkayin publishing house
of Beirut.
In its second consecutive year, the Armenian Pavilion registered
thirty-three exhibitors - almost three times more than the previous
year. With the support of the Armenian Embassy in London, twelve of
the registered exhibitors were from Armenia and the rest from France,
Germany, Lebanon, Turkey, United Kingdom and the USA. The category of
books varied from culture, religion, history and genocide to novels,
travel guides, cooking, children's and autobiographies. Emphasis on
new publications and reprints were made, which included Armenia and
Karabakh: The Stone Garden Travel Guide by Matthew Karanian; Masis,
a novel by Raffi Adam Kevorkian; The Greedy Sparrow, a folk tale by
Lucine Kasbarian, cartography books by Rouben Galichian, and an array
of children's books by Nouneh Sarkissian.
For the first time at the Armenian Pavilion, the Hrant Dink Foundation
(HDF) and Aras Publishing from Turkey were able to attend with support
from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Overwhelmed with emotion,
Hermine Sayan from HDF said "I was apprehensive at first, but I am so
happy to be here amongst my fellow Armenians." Both HDF and Aras have
promised to return next year, well informed and better prepared. On
a special trip to the Pavilion, Deputy Culture Minister of Armenia
Nerses Ter-Vardanyan praised the work of the committee, saying,
"The Armenian Government would not have done a better job. We owe it
ourselves to look forward and build on what has been achieved here."
Understandably, not all of the exhibitors were able to travel to
the exhibition. Those who could not were represented by the Armenian
Pavilion Committee tasked with the responsibility of displaying their
books and gathering information from interested visitors. As creator
and initiator of the concept, I headed a committee made up of dedicated
volunteers from the British Armenian Community. The committee, which
re-groups annually, was this year supported by the Armenian Community
Council of the United Kingdom (www.accuk.org.uk).
Discussions are already underway for next year and subject to a
satisfactory result, the committee hopes to return with an improved
stand growing bigger in size and in the number of exhibitors.
Representatives from the Frankfurt Book Fair made a special visit
to the Armenian Pavilion. In describing the stand, they said "you
have internationalized the Armenian publishing industry by pooling
all this talent from many parts of the world. We would welcome it if
you brought this concept over to Frankfurt." Perhaps with the correct
support and backing, this may very well be possible.
http://publishingperspectives.com/2014/04/armenias-publishing-industry-coming-to-a-book-fair-near-you/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Read more by Guest Contributor
April 25, 2014
After 500 years of publishing, Armenian writers and publishers are
coming out of the shadows, and presenting a unified face at world
book fairs.
By Charle Malas
After 500 years of printing and over 1,000 years of manuscripts,
Armenian writers and publishers are finally coming out of the shadows,
realizing their dreams and sharing them with the world. Whilst
Perestroika lead to the breakup of the Soviet Union creating several
countries that existed many years earlier, one has to spare a thought
for the unique dynamics of one particular country and nation -
Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora whose authors, writers and poets
have articulated a century of passion and truth influenced by their
adopted surroundings.
Armenia's official annual participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair is
overwhelmed by the sheer size of the world's largest book fair compared
to its participation at the London Book Fair, which is certainly
number two in terms of importance on the publishing world's calendar.
The Armenian Pavilion at the London Book Fair had a unique formula
in that it brings together Armenian publishers, authors and writers
from Armenia and the Diaspora on one stand, sharing with the world the
wealth of knowledge and talent that the Armenians have to offer. This
was mostly thanks to a British Armenian benefactor Raffi Tanielian,
and his sister Nyree, both who had the foresight to recognize the
importance of the Pavilion and what it represents.
L-R: Charle Malas, Armenian Pavilion Organizer; Varujan Vosganian,
Romanian-Armenian politician, economist and essayist; and Hagop
Havatian, director of the Vahe Setian /Hamazkayin publishing house
of Beirut.
In its second consecutive year, the Armenian Pavilion registered
thirty-three exhibitors - almost three times more than the previous
year. With the support of the Armenian Embassy in London, twelve of
the registered exhibitors were from Armenia and the rest from France,
Germany, Lebanon, Turkey, United Kingdom and the USA. The category of
books varied from culture, religion, history and genocide to novels,
travel guides, cooking, children's and autobiographies. Emphasis on
new publications and reprints were made, which included Armenia and
Karabakh: The Stone Garden Travel Guide by Matthew Karanian; Masis,
a novel by Raffi Adam Kevorkian; The Greedy Sparrow, a folk tale by
Lucine Kasbarian, cartography books by Rouben Galichian, and an array
of children's books by Nouneh Sarkissian.
For the first time at the Armenian Pavilion, the Hrant Dink Foundation
(HDF) and Aras Publishing from Turkey were able to attend with support
from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Overwhelmed with emotion,
Hermine Sayan from HDF said "I was apprehensive at first, but I am so
happy to be here amongst my fellow Armenians." Both HDF and Aras have
promised to return next year, well informed and better prepared. On
a special trip to the Pavilion, Deputy Culture Minister of Armenia
Nerses Ter-Vardanyan praised the work of the committee, saying,
"The Armenian Government would not have done a better job. We owe it
ourselves to look forward and build on what has been achieved here."
Understandably, not all of the exhibitors were able to travel to
the exhibition. Those who could not were represented by the Armenian
Pavilion Committee tasked with the responsibility of displaying their
books and gathering information from interested visitors. As creator
and initiator of the concept, I headed a committee made up of dedicated
volunteers from the British Armenian Community. The committee, which
re-groups annually, was this year supported by the Armenian Community
Council of the United Kingdom (www.accuk.org.uk).
Discussions are already underway for next year and subject to a
satisfactory result, the committee hopes to return with an improved
stand growing bigger in size and in the number of exhibitors.
Representatives from the Frankfurt Book Fair made a special visit
to the Armenian Pavilion. In describing the stand, they said "you
have internationalized the Armenian publishing industry by pooling
all this talent from many parts of the world. We would welcome it if
you brought this concept over to Frankfurt." Perhaps with the correct
support and backing, this may very well be possible.
http://publishingperspectives.com/2014/04/armenias-publishing-industry-coming-to-a-book-fair-near-you/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress