New and old titles bookspromotions and educational meetings in the city center. book festivalone of the country’s most beloved and historical cultural institutions, returns to Zappeion for another autumn.

From from 2 to 18 September 2022, visitors will have the opportunity to combine a walk with the purchase of books and visits to special events as part of an interesting program. But this year’s festival is special as it celebrates 50 years since its first appearance, inviting friends of the book to strengthen the efforts of the Association of Book Publishers (SEKB).

Under the slogan “The heart of culture beats at Zappeio for another year”, authors and publishers are waiting for the public at this great reading feast. Stands of the 50th festival: 240 in the room. “This means that they are involved over 300 publishersthe entire publishing space,” he says in cathimerini.gr President of the Book Publishers Association Grigoris Plastaras.

It is a fact that the pandemic coronavirus significantly affected the field of the book – and the festival, which did not take place in 2020 – as well as the economic crisis that still affects it. “However, we are here for another year to pay tribute to art and culture, which we consider essential conditions for giving meaning to our lives,” says Mr. Plastaras. And he adds: “We want to be a spiritual ark, where creative dialogue, polyphony, intellectual liveliness will be preserved. The union of our bookshelves next to each other, our harmonious collaboration, our love for books and culture and respect for our readers, we want to become a reference point for how the book community can become an example of sociability in our daily lives.” .

However, despite the crisis that the pandemic has brought to many industries and institutions, the impact on the book is positive. “People realized that the truth is in the pages of a good book, and turned there.”

Tribute

As in any case, the festival also features tributes dedicated to current issues. This year’s central tribute is “Catastrophe in Asia Minor as an element of identity in modern Greece”, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary. “At the same time we have”Diversity and racism“, a thematic unit that is an important issue of the time, and through the speeches of experts (educational psychologists) we want to formulate critical questions, reflections and dialogue about it. Finally, we organize an extensive tribute to the architect of the modern Greek theater and a writer of great caliber, Jacobo Campanelli“, explains Mr. Plastaras. Tribute accompanies book events, music, theater and children’s performances.

Festival in modern cultural development

One of the questions that have arisen in recent years in connection with the rapid development of technology, information and, therefore, their contribution to culture, is what is the place of the festival in modern society. The SEKB President answers: “We want to integrate these elements into our cultural vision, transform them into elements of progress, the main factor of which is a person, his concern for a quality and necessary life. Therefore, the festival for us is also a melting pot from which new ideas will emerge, new dreams for a higher perception of how we experience our time.”

Mr. Plastaras notes that the festival officials do not approach technologies on a competitive basis. “While print and electronic speech seem to contradict each other, the golden mean will be found, they will coexist, and print speech will not lose its value.” Sure, services like audiobooks or the Kindle have become popular in the last decade, especially among younger readers, but “holding a text message in your hands is a different feeling.”

“Bridge of Acquaintance”

In his invitation to attend the festival, the president emphasizes, among other things, the importance of the book, saying that “it is a bridge of acquaintance in a world that risks getting lost in isolation and loneliness. This may be an occasion to look at events differently.”

As for the success of such a major event, it does not match either the anniversary or the commercial appeal. “But because it will confirm its main goal – to be a social action that will reach all citizens.”

Organization of the Association of Book Publishers (S.EK.B.), Ministry of Development and Investment, Organization of Culture, Sports and Youth of the Municipality of Athens (OPANDA), National Theatre, Theater and Art Network.