Riyadh International Book Fair is back. And there’s nothing better than being enraptured by a good book. Whether you’re flicking through the pages of a glossy travel guide, absorbed in captivating autobiographies, or biting your nails through a genuine thriller, books have the power to transport us to a whole new world. For those bibliophiles ready to add some new stories onto their shelves, the annual Riyadh International Book Fair 2021 is the place to be – there’s really something for everyone.
If you fancy a dose of culture, round up your fellow literature buffs or mingle with like-minded book enthusiasts at this ten-day event, starting on October 1, 2021, at the Riyadh Front. Bursting with exhibiting authors and illustrators, one of the largest book festivals in the region will be celebrated with a varied programme of workshops and interactive lectures. The capital is championing the art of storytelling by giving Saudi, Middle Eastern, and international talent a chance to showcase their literary prowess for eager readers and publishers to discover.
The annual event is hosted by the Ministry of Culture and organised by the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission, both working towards establishing Saudi Arabia as a publishing, literary, and arts and culture hub.
“The Riyadh International Book Fair will bring together publishers and readers from all over the world and spotlight our homegrown story tellers who represent the Kingdom’s wealth of literary talent in genres as diverse as poetry and science fiction,” says Dr Mohammed Alwan, CEO of the Literature Publishing and Translation Commission.
“The fair will deliver a unique cultural experience, raising awareness of the many benefits of reading, writing and literature.
“There will be a theatre featuring events by world-renowned authors, alongside interactive lectures led by Saudi and Arab authors, and several workshops in art, publishing and bookmaking will be held,” he adds.
“For the first time, we will also be hosting a publishers’ conference, between October 4 and 5, which will facilitate international publishing partnerships.”
The book fair programme is divided in to four sections. The Theatre hosts the main stage, and you’ll find the cultural and literary events held here.
The Speakers Platform, meanwhile, will host interactive lectures with Saudi and Arab writers speaking on topics related to culture, art and literature.
Workshops make up another important strand, with a selection of daily events related to art, writing, publishing and translation, and finally the Special Programme, which promises to create a cultural window into the Kingdom.
Joining the thousands of books on-site will be a great selection of coffee houses and refreshment options. So, when you need a break from wandering the rows upon rows of books, and through incredibly diverse genres, take a seat and admire the surroundings while you recharge. It’s likely you and the kids will lose yourselves among the paperbound and hardback novels of today, tomorrow and times gone by.
Riyadh International Book Fair runs from Wednesday October 1 to Friday October 10 at Riyadh Front. For more information and the full programme, visit riyadhbookfair.org.sa.
Creative kids
Keep the creativity flowing with these year-round literacy activities for youngsters.
The Learning Zone, a children’s center in the city offers an array of creative afterschool fun-activities, encouraging young minds to explore their creativity through art and words.
info@thelearningzone.co.sa, thelearningzone.com.sa (047 03444).
If your schedule does not allow you to physically attend a class, check out Bambinos Live, an online company ready to improve your little ones’ handwriting, engage in the phonetics programme or allow them to explore words through creative writing, all can be enjoyed as a private online or group class. Prices starting from SAR700 for four weeks.
bambinos.live
Check out The British Council, Saudi Arabia for numerous planned activities during the holidays (all year round), including storytelling, arts and crafts, and drama workshops.
ksainfo@sa.britishcouncil.org
