Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa Will Lead Delegation to Book Fair as Guest of Honor

Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa Will Lead Delegation to Book Fair as Guest of Honor
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 4/13/2013

An intense cultural program is about to get underway with more than 700 writers, intellectuals, artists from here and abroad and 80 special guests from 11 countries who have all confirmed their attendance at the upcoming International Book Fair Santo Domingo 2013, reported José Antonio Rodríguez, Minister of Culture.

Minister Rodríguez provided details of the event in a press conference held in the Juan Bosch auditorium of the National Library …

He also announced the impressive list of relevant painters, photographers and national and international musicians who will be participating in this amazing opportunity to celebrate and promote reading. The Book Fair will run from April 22 to May 5 at the Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza, in the center of the Dominican capital.

Minister Rodríguez provided details of the event in a press conference held in the Juan Bosch auditorium of the National Library where he said: “There will be 180 publishers and more than 100 bookstores at the Book Fair this year. There will be books and reading opportunities for all ages. We have placed special emphasis on this last point as there are going to be many opportunities and offers to acquire books.”

Joining Minister Rodríguez at the press conference was the director of Books and Reading, ValentínAmaro, and the executive director of the Book Fair, Pedro Antonio Valdez. They jointly announced that the delegation from Ecuador, this year’s Guest of Honor, will be led by the President of the country himself, Rafael Correa, who will personally attend this cultural festival.“This is a testament to the fraternity that exists between the two countries,” said Minister Rodríguez.

For his part,Amarosaid another major event at the Book Fair would be the presence of Argentine poet laureate Juan Gelman, who has been awarded the highest literary awards such as the Cervantes Award, the Reina Sophia and the Juan Rulfo.

“Additionally, it is a great joy for us to host Spanish writer José Ovejero, the recipient ofthe 2013 Alfaguara Prize. This will be his first time here at the Book Fair,” said Mr. Amaro.

In addition to these two well-known figures, other important literary giants are also attending this year: the notable Cuban novelistand journalist, Leonardo Padura; Uruguayan poet, Alfredo Fressia, Argentine writers César Aira and Ana MaríaShua; Puerto Rican writers Mayra Santos Febres and Virginia Díaz Sánchez and the Guatemala Armando Rivera.

Others on the long list include William Ospina, John JairoJunieles and Santiago Gamboa, from Colombia; Edmundo Paz SoldánandLilianaColanzi, from Bolivia; the celebrated Argentine photographer Daniel Mordzinski; Spanish novelists José Manuel Fajardo and Alfonso Mateo-Sagasta; and the young Columbian poet Giovanny Gómez.

From the Dominican Diaspora, recent Ultramar prize-winners Daniel BaruEspinal and Rubén Darío Sánchez are also visiting us. Writers Karina Rieke and Saulo Hidalgowill be recognized at the Dedication of the Streets.

Executive Director of the Book Fair, Pedro Antonio Valdez, said the pavilions are already a tradition at the event and will include Dominican Authors, Gastronomy and Children’s Literature along with the Poetry Pavilion, the Haiku Boulevard and the Hilma Contreras. There will be a special dedication for Pedro Mir’s and Education Ministry’s Centennial wherein Juan Pablo Duarte will be the central figure, among others.

The central themes this year include: the celebration of the Bicentennial of the Birth of Juan Pablo Duarte, Father of the Dominican Nation; the 150th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Republic; the 50 year anniversary marking the rise to power of Professor Juan Bosch; the 50th  anniversary of the uprising of ManoloTavárez Justo in  Manaclas, and the Centennial of the Birth of Pedro Mir, the National Poet.