JEDDAH: More than 1,000 local, Arab, and international publishing houses displayed their products at over four hundred pavilions at the Jeddah Book Fair, which concluded on 16 December.
The 10-day fair was arranged by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission under the theme “Ports of Culture” at the Jeddah Superdome, according to Arab News.
Mohammed Hassan Alwan, the CEO of the commission, expressed his gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their unwavering support of the culture sector. He also appreciated the guidance and follow-up of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan.
The book fair presented an integrated and comprehensive knowledge journey through a cultural program of more than eighty events. It included panel discussions, seminars, poetry readings, and workshops on the publication of comics and Japanese manga.
“Saudi Author” in Book Fair
To support independent, self-published writers, the commission established a corner called “Saudi Author,” providing an opportunity to explore more than one hundred titles. Children were offered educational activities through theater, puppet workshops, shows, and a writing and sensory play area.
Workshops on cooking, music, fashion, comic book creation, stop-motion, and animation were also arranged with local and international experts.
The “Year of Arab Poetry 2023” initiative was also showcased at the fair through different platforms.
The Jeddah Book Fair is the third such gathering arranged by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission this year, following Madinah in June and Riyadh in September.
