Sharjah announced Guest of Honour at Turin International Book Fair 2019

SHARJAH- In recognition of its internationally acclaimed cultural stature, Sharjah will be the 'Guest of Honour' at the Turin International Book Fair 2019, which will run from 9th to 13th May, in the northern Italian city.

The emirate’s pavilion will introduce visitors to Emirati and Arab culture through a host of activities in which influential local authors and cultural figures will participate. Supervised by Sharjah Book Authority, SBA, the emirate’s pavilion will host a series of activities including seminars and workshops including traditional during the five-day event.

The pavilion will also be the launch pad for 57 Emirati book titles translated into Italian for the first time. Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations, DoGR, and Head of the Sharjah delegation to Turin Book Fair, said, "The emirate’s relationship with cities around the world is a measure of the vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who believes that culture can be used to open new channels of communication and engage the world in dialogue." He added that the Sharjah Ruler’s vision has yielded great benefits for Emirati and Arab cultures, as reflected in the emirate's newest accomplishment as the holder of UNESCO’s World Book Capital title in 2019-2020. The invitation to be the Guest of Honour at Turin Book Fair is another recognition of the emirate’s cultural achievements, he continued.

"These events are a unique opportunity to build relationships and strengthen bonds between countries. It is a golden chance to invite other cultures and civilisations to exchange knowledge and share their unique experiences. Turin has a long cultural history, and this international event offers a platform for the two cultures to meet, and pave way for future cooperation," said Sheikh Fahim. "Culture is a product of people’s experiences, and everyone’s experience is influenced by a mixture of factors. Language, art, music and other forms of creativity are not born by chance; they are products of knowledge and exchange of ideas. Such cultural events open doors to new forms of communication, understanding and dialogue," he noted.

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA, said the Authority is on a mission to realise the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah to build bridges and open dialogue with all cultures. He pointed out that SBA is keen to continue spreading Sharjah’s message by showcasing its cultural journey that has been built over 40 years of dedicated work to serve humankind. The emirate will host a series of literary sessions and workshops led by a host of Emirati and Arab literati, in addition to poetry recitals by popular poets.

Notable Emiratis taking part in the activities include Dr. Habib Al Sayegh, Secretary-General of the Arab Writers Union; poet Kholoud Al Mulla; researcher Sultan Al Amimi; poet and journalist Sheikha Al Mutairi; author Nasser Al Dhaheri; Dr. Hamad bin Sarai; actor and director Habib Ghuloom; poet Abdullah Al Hadiya and authors Saeed Hamdan and Omar Al Busaidy. The Turin International Book Fair, which was launched in 1988, is considered one of the largest book fairs in Italy and the most prominent in Europe. It attracts many prominent intellectuals and authors, in addition to the biggest names in the European and international publishing sector.