The Sheikh Zayed Book Prize aims to make a significant impact at the 2021 Frankfurt Book Fair through an insightful literary group

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center (ALC) located in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi will be 73^roadThe Frankfurt International Book Fair (FBF) will be held from October 20th to 24th with the theme “Re:Connect”.

SZBA will occupy a dedicated space in the ALC pavilion of the exhibition and will host three insightful group meetings to attract publishers, authors and other exhibition visitors. The panel will be broadcast live in English through the Frankfurt studio and will be broadcast live in Arabic on the SZBA YouTube channel after the event to ensure maximum interaction with different audiences around the world.

“The Sheikh Zayed Book Award has a long history at the Frankfurt Book Fair-it is one of the most important events in literature and publishing. We are very happy to be here to participate in another fair, leading authors, publishers and Influential industry professionals come together to learn, collaborate and connect with their readers.” Chairman of SZBA and ALC. “The ties between Arab and German literary circles are deep-rooted and continue to grow significantly. Our group meetings provide us with a unique and favorable opportunity to fulfill our mission of promoting cultural exchanges and the promotion of Arabic and Arabic languages ​​and culture. A diverse audience to provide literary works.”

The first activity on the agenda is “The Unexploited Potential of Arabic Literature”, Which occurred at 11 am on Thursday, October 21st, UAE time. Organized in cooperation with Publishing Perspectives, Publishing Perspectives is a leading trade magazine in the international book publishing industry headquartered in the United States, affiliated to the Frankfurt Book Fair. This conference will explore the reasons why many great Arab writers have not been translated into other languages, discuss writers they think deserve more international attention, and outline how publishers understand the profound classic world of great Arab classics and modern works.

The group is chaired by Porter Anderson, the editor-in-chief of Publishing Perspectives, and features Kevin Blankinship, a poet, critic, translator, and assistant professor of Arabic literature at Brigham Young University in the United States; Chip Rossetti, the editorial director of the Library of Arabic Literature; and Yasmina Jraissati, Storytel, Dubai Publishing manager and founder of RAYA literary institution.

Next will be “Publishing Arabic Books-Opportunities and Challenges”The panel discussion was held in cooperation with the Litprom Cultural Foundation, an affiliate of the Frankfurt Book Fair, at 2 pm on Thursday, October 22, UAE time. The discussion will explore what hinders Arabic literature from entering the Western market, topics that are of most interest to international readers, and ways to support Arabic literature abroad. The conference will then discuss which books by non-Arabic authors can be introduced into the Arab market, in order to best resonate with Arab readers.

The guest speakers will be Dar Al Jadeed publisher, SZBA 2021 Publishing and Technology Award winner Rasha Al Ameer; Yasmina Jraissati, Dubai Storytel publishing manager; and Piero Salabè, Hanser Verlag-Munich editor. Lena Bopp, editor of the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), will moderate the discussion.

This will be followed by the third and final event, “This is just a children’s book-seemingly simple and complex”It will be held at 3 pm on October 22nd in UAE time, also in cooperation with Litprom Cultural Foundation. The group will emphasize the superb skills required to develop literary works for children. Speakers will discuss the challenges of writing, translating and publishing children’s books, the types of books that are considered suitable for children, and how to develop such works from the perspectives of language, narrative and explanation.

The conference was hosted by translator Leila Chammaa. Ibtisam Barakat is a writer and artist. Her book won the SZBA 2020 Children’s Literature Award Lilac girl; Madjid Mohit, publisher and executive director of publisher Sujet Verlag; and author and translator Suleiman Taufik.

In addition to organizing group meetings, Sheikh Zayed Book Award will also display its latest translated award-winning books in the ALC Pavilion in Hall 4.1/G5.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of innovators and thinkers in the fields of literature, art and humanities in Arabic and other languages. The award was launched in 2006 to promote Arabic literature and culture and provide new opportunities for Arabic writers. Authors who write Arabic culture and civilization in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian are also recognized by the award.