Literary festival expects 50% increase in visitors
More than 30,000 people are expected at the second instalment of an annual book fair this week, shattering the perception that people in the UAE don't read for leisure.
With 107 authors of all stripes set to take part in more than 100 sessions, organisers of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature are hoping for a 50 per cent increase on last year's 20,000-plus attendees, Festival Director Isobel Abulhoul told Emirates Business.
The event, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday, has been significantly expanded since its first edition, with nearly double the number of authors, including 50 from the Arab World.
New features this year include a musical strand featuring several of the festival authors, a live cookery demonstration with British Indian celebrity chef Anjum Anand as well as workshops for both children and adults in creative writing, drama and illustration including an expanded Education Day with leading authors visiting various branches of the Dubai Public Libraries on March 11. Visitors will also have the opportunity to pick up Yann Martel's new novel Beatrice and Virgil a month before it goes on general release.
"There's going to be a real festival 'buzz' throughout the four days of the event," Abulhoul said.
"A typical day for a visitor could involve a discussion with a world famous author, attendance at a creative writing or translation workshop finishing up with a concert or an impromptu storytelling session.
"Meanwhile, your children could sing along with an author, design a puppet and learn the secrets of illustration from a top international children's book illustrator.
"We will also have the first performance of our specially commissioned festival 'anthem' which, I'm sure, will be a highlight for many."
There will be several works unveiled throughout the four-day event, including Looking Back with Love, an anthology of 19th century poetry compiled by UAE-based author Khalid Al Budoor. Acclaimed Iraqi poet Fadhil Al Azzawi has translated the poems into English.
Both will read from the collection accompanied by specially commissioned harp music composed by Dubai-based musician Joanna Marsh. Abdo Khal, the Saudi Arabian novelist who was awarded The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) 2010 less than a week ago, will be speaking at two sessions at the Festival.
Amit Chaudhuri, together with four Dubai-based musicians, will bring his celebrated 'This is Not Fusion' musical performance to the Middle East for the first time.
And Abulhoul said she and her team were working to inculcate a reading culture in the Emirates.
"Possibly in today's busy world, people don't find enough time to read.?And our special Education Day for students is an attempt to show that reading is important, that it matters."
Education Day runs on?Thursday and more than 4,000 students from around the UAE will attend a series of author sessions held at the Scientific and Cultural Association in Mamzar, she said.
Leading children's authors including Jacqueline Wilson, performance poet Roger McGough and Lebanese author Nadine Touma will entertain and engage students throughout a packed morning programme which due to popular demand will be spread across additional venues in libraries, kindergartens and schools.
As part of the Education Day activities, Nadine Touma will visit the Dubai Public Library at Al Safa; Fatima Sharaffedine will tour the Al Twar Library and emerging Emirati writers will meet at the Al Rashidiya Library. "The Education Day initiative that brings authors face to face with the public, especially children, will help to foster a deeper understanding of the writing process, and inspire young talent to hone their skills," said Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Officer, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
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