Fourth stop: Guadalajara!

From 30 November to 8 December 2024, the Bologna Grand Tour 2024 has made a stop at The Guadalajara Book Fair, a must-attend event, essential for exploring a market with great potential as a reference point for the entire Latin American and Spanish-speaking publishing world.   

The appointment with Bologna Childrren's Book Fair, BolognaBookPlus and Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids was in the International area, stand HH7.

 

On this stop of the Grand Tour: the exhibition From Illustration to Comics: pencils in talented young hands, designed to offer a window onto contemporary Italian illustration, a true artistic scene of excellence, featuring the works of thirty young talents (curated by Accademia Drosselmeier and Giannino Stoppani Cooperativa Sociale and organised by BolognaFiere/Bologna Children’s Book Fair/BolognaBookPlus with the collaboration of the association of Italian Publishers - AIE) and the exhibition Literature as an engine of change - A selection of Italian books, curated by the Italian section of IBBY - International Board on Books for Young People, and consisting of a selection of 65 children’s books chosen from among the best releases published in Italy in the last two years (2023/24), with a special section dedicated to ‘books about books’, a category designed for all those interested in studying and promoting children’s literature.

The meeting curated and chaired by Dolores Prades (Director of Instituto Emilia and BCBF consultant for Latin America, Brazil) ‘Trans-American Bridges - Traditional Communities and Literature’ (4 December, 3-3.50 pm, Foro de Industria, Area Internacional, HH Corridor), a round table discussion featuring Rita Carelli (author and illustrator, Brazil), David Unger (author and translator, Guatemala) and Simon de Jocas (editor of Les 400 coups, Canada). Faced with ties that, even today, remain fragile between South and Central America and North America, and Canada in particular, the speakers have discussed the importance of establishing a dialogue aimed at identifying common interests and challenges in order to strengthen the affirmation of traditional communities and Afro-descendant peoples throughout the Americas, from North to South, while fostering interactions that can nurture publishing production for children and young people.

Also returning for this edition was the ever popular The Illustrators Survival Corner (30 November-4 December). Five days of events for illustrators dedicated to their craft, organised by BCBF with Mimaster Illustrazione. This occasion has also seen the launch of a new initiative: The Illustrators First Aid Station, an opportunity for free debate and open interaction between illustrators and professionals in the sector to share experiences of professional life, both regarding creativity and the practical aspects of managing careers in illustration. This edition’s guests included: illustrators Isidro Ferrer, María Luque, Santiago Solís Montes de Oca, Miguel Tanco; numerous international publishers, including A Buen Paso, Acoma Book, Alboroto Ediciones, Diego Pun Ediciones, Editorial Juventud, Ekaré, Instituto Emilia, Leetra editorial, Petra Ediciones, White Star; as well as professionals from the sector such as Maru Aguzzi, director of Gran Salòn México.

Eventually, the most eagerly awaited initiative of BCBF’s programme at Latin America’s leading publishing event: the first edition of the new Bologna Portfolio Award, the prize set up by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair with the aim of acknowledging the portfolio as a pivotal tool in the profession of illustration, the key to accessing new work opportunities and the main vehicle for communication between illustrators and their clients. Participation was open to all those enrolled in the portfolio reviews at The Illustrators Survival Corner at the Guadalajara Fair and Bologna Children’s Book Fair is offering the winner the prize of a trip to Bologna for the next edition of the fair (31 March-3 April 2025). After an initial shortlist drawn up during the portfolio reviews in Guadalajara, the winner will then be selected by a Jury composed of three industry professionals. BCBF is also offering all the participants in the contest complimentary access to the Illustrators Wall 2025, the digital showcase for illustrators from all over the world.