The project “Slovenia, Guest of Honour at Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 – a model for sustainable international promotion of Slovenian literary creativity abroad” is a national project for the promotion and enhancement of the export potential of Slovenian creativity in the field of Slovenian literature and illustration. Slovenia’s presentation as Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2023 is a unique opportunity to focus attention on our national book production and rich creativity and tradition in literary creation in the broadest sense not just anywhere, but within the context of the largest international fair in the world. A fair that enjoys an enviable and great reputation and captures the attention of the publishing and bookselling industries and that of the media. Frankfurter Buchmesse is one of the world’s largest book fairs. It lasts six days and is intended for the translation, publishing and other expert public linked to books and the publishing industry. More than 2,100 publishing houses, agencies and publishing associations exhibit annually at Frankfurter Buchmesse. The fair is visited by more than 36,000 B2B visitors from more than 100 countries and some 37,000 B2C visitors from 85 countries. Artistic events organised by publishers and international performers from various countries and interviews with authors take place simultaneously with the fair. International journalists and media regularly report on the fair.

The project’s objective is to improve the reputation and visibility of young people’s, children’s and other literary creativity of the last thirty years, the recognisability of Slovenian creativity and economy, and tourism in Slovenia and internationally. With regard to literary translation, Slovenia has become a particular success story in recent years. By presenting selected authors and the programme, we wish to enhance this reputation even further. Special attention will also be dedicated to educational publishing services; key international study and publishing meetings in Frankfurt and curatorial meetings in Ljubljana have already been organised this year. Several key calls for Slovenian and foreign publishers were published, which were financed from the EU Cohesion Fund. The aim is also to present Slovenia as a country that understands the key cultural, technical and developmental challenges of today and the significance of deep reading in the screen era of the publishing industry.

The Slovenian Book Agency programme at FRANKFURTER BUCHMESSE 2022 has been created by Dimitrij Rupel, Director of Slovenian Book agency, Slovenian curator Miha Kovač and German curator Mathias Göritz. 

PROGRAMME 14. 10. 2022 – 23. 10. 2022

MARBACH

14.10.2022 at 17.00

Poetry vending machine – opening

Schiller Nationalmuseum / Literaturarchiv Marbach, Schillerhöhe 8-10, 71672 Marbach am Neckar

An event with Matthias Göritz and Miljana Cunta

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FRANKFURTER BUCHMESSE and other locations

20.10.2022 at 10.00

PRESS CONFERENCE

FBM - Frankfurt Pavilion, Agora

Speech by Asta Vrečko, Minister of Culture

Speeches by Dimitrij Rupel, Director of the Slovenian Book Agency and Miha Kovač, Slovene curator

Debate with Peter Svetina, Ana Marwan, Nataša Kramberger and Erwin Köstler Moderator: Katja Gasser

Interpreter: Zdenka Hafner Čelan

20.10.2022 at 10.00

Every story matters project presentation and closing event with B2B event;

FBM - Conference Room Illusion, Congress Centre, Third Floor

Speakers: Katja Stergar, Staša Guček

20.10.2022 at 14.00

Innovation in publishing in small markets;

FBM - Publishing Perspectives Forum, Conference Room Spectrum, Congress Centre, Second Floor

A debate with experts Benas Berantas, Lawrence Schimel, Urpu Strellman and Senja Požar on how authors build brands in export markets and how publishers and agents of those markets help open doors to translations of their authors.

Moderator: Rüdiger Wischenbart

20.10.2022 at 17.30

Für mich sind sie alle lebendig – Why translating dead, yet literarily living authors matters

FBM - International Translator's Stage, Hall 4.0

A debate with Erwin Köstler (translator and literary scientist), Hans Jürgen Balmes (translator and publisher) and Sebastian Guggolz (publisher and moderator).

20.10.2022 at 18.30

Slovenian reception

FBM - Translator's stage, Hall 4.0

21.10.2022 at 17.00

Land-Wirtschaft – Debate on Environmental Issues;

FBM - Slovenian national stand - Slovenian Book Agency, Hall 4.0 B56.

A debate on environmental issues with Nataša Kramberger and Luisa Neubauer; Moderator: Doris Akrap

21.10.2022 at 17.30

Keine wie sie

FBM - Reading Zone of Independent Publishers, Hall 3.1

A conversation with Jela Krečič about her new novel

Moderator: Katharina Strauß (Book blog Lesendes Federvieh)
Interpreter: Liza Linde

Organised by Mitteldeutscher Verlag and Beletrina

22.10.2022 at 10.30

Gebrauchsanweisungen für Slowenien

FBM - Slovenian national stand Slovenian Book Agency, Hall 4.0 B56.

Presentation of a personal report on Slovenia, by Aleš Šteger

Moderator: Bettina Feldweg

Catering with typical Slovenian pastries

22.10.2022 at 16.00

Die Schnittmenge der Schönheit - poetry event

Literary Festival Literaturbahnhof, Haus des Buches, Braubachstrasse 16, 60311 Frankfurt

Presentation of new book by Milan Dekleva, published by Edition Thanhaüser

Moderator: Silke Scheuermann

Interpreter: Amalija Maček

22.10. 2022 at 16.00

Versopolis platform - poetry event

Open Books, Haus am Dom, Domplatz 3, 60311 Frankfurt am Main

Conversation with Martin Piekar (Germany), Nina Dragičević (Slovenia) and Gaia Ginevra Giorgi (Italy).

Moderator: José F. A. Oliver

22.10.2022 at 19.00

Nostalgie im Roman

Bookfest City, Lindley Lindenberg Hotel, Lindleystraße 17, 60314 Frankfurt am Main

A debate on contemporary Slovene fiction with Jela Krečič, Ana Schnabl and Aleš Šteger Moderator: Andreas Unterweger (writer and editor)

Interpreter: Amalija Maček

23.10.2022 at 12.00, at 14.00 and at 16.00

Duo / Yellow and Blue

Frankfurt Pavilion, Agora

A 2022 choreographic paraphrase with Mateja Bučar, Katja Legin and Nataša Živkovič (DUM - Association of Artists / Dancers Without Answers).

Organized and supported by SKICA Berlin

23.10.2022 at 12.00

Warum haben die Zebras Streifen?

Struwwelpeter Museum, Hinter dem Lämmchen 2–4, 60311 Frankfurt am Main

Workshop by Lila Prap, author’s performance, drawing with children

23.10.2022 at 16.00

Handover ceremony

Forum 1 (Guest of Honour Pavilion)

Debate with Drago Jančar and Manuel Rivas

Moderator: Shila Behjat

Interpreter: Amalija Maček

Musical performance: Maša But (vocal) and Janez Krevel (double bass)

After HANDOVER CEREMONY event: Slovenia – Spain, wine reception

See you at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2022!

Slovenian Book Agency

Our official website sloveniafrankfurt2023.com with our beautiful logo of Slovenia: Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2023 - SATOVJE BESED / WABEN DER WORTE / HONEYCOMB OF WORDS will go live just before the PRESS CONFERENCE.