Friday 29 March 2024
 
»
 
»
Story

Sharjah named World Book Capital 2019

SHARJAH, June 28, 2017

Signalling a ground-breaking achievement for the UAE and the Arab world, Sharjah has been crowned with the prestigious ‘World Book Capital’ title for 2019 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

The honour is a recognition of the emirate’s pioneering role in supporting and expanding the local and regional publishing industries, promoting reading to become an intrinsic cultural practice, as well as embracing intercultural, knowledge-based dialogue, reported state news agency Wam.

Since 2001, Unesco has been selecting a World Book Capital every year on the grounds of certain criteria, where the title is awarded to the city, which shows continued excellence in charting a cultural programme of activities throughout the year to promote reading and books focusing on grassroots community involvement.

The criteria include the breadth and impact of cultural programmes, and quality of events tailored by countries to promote books and reading, stated the report.

Sharjah was the first emirate in the UAE to establish a formal school and public library. It was also the first emirate to house many cultural institutions like the Emirates Publishers Association, the Emirates Writers Union and the UAE Board on Books for Young People, UAEBBY, all targeted to support the book publishing industry.

The accolade is an important addition to Sharjah’s existing portfolio of milestones like, the 1998 Capital of Arab Culture, Capital of Islamic Culture in 2014, and Capital of Arab Tourism in 2015.

The emirate is the first in the GCC and third in the Arab world and Middle East, to have received this recognition, said the Wam report.

An international committee of Unesco experts reached the decision at a meeting held at the headquarters of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), at La Haye, in the Netherlands.

Sharjah has been chosen for the quality of its literary and cultural activities, and for its unfailing efforts to make books accessible to the entire population of the nation. It is the 19th city to become World Book Capital preceded by Conakry (2017) and Athens (2018).

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the president of the Emirates Publishers Association and head of Sharjah’s World Book Capital Organising Committee, said: "We are so proud to have been recognised on a global scale for literary excellence, and having our name being put on the same platform with some of the world’s frontrunners in the world of books and reading."

"This signals a fruition of the momentous project that was established four decades ago by the vision of HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah," she noted.

"He has led efforts of both institutions and individuals working to shape the emirate’s cultural identity with knowledge and books. It is his strong belief in intercultural dialogue as a means to advance local communities that has led to the establishment of a tolerant, culture-loving society in Sharjah," she added.

Sharjah’s annual cultural calendar is packed with programmes and activities. It hosts more than 1,500 publishers from across the world at the Sharjah International Book Fair, SIBF.

Another premier cultural event is the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, SCRF, dedicated to fostering a love of reading and knowledge among children through innovative and interactive methods, said the report.

The festival features celebrated international authors, more than 2,000 events and attracts over 300,000 visitors annually, it added.




Tags: Sharjah |

More Media & Promotion Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads