Guadalajara’s Book Fair Invites Los Angeles as Guest of Honor

by Aída Bardales -- Críticas, 9/15/2008 8:58:00 AM

Organizers of the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (Guadalajara’s International Book Fair or FIL) announced on September 9 that the city of Los Angeles has been invited to be next year’s Guest of Honor. This is the first time the FIL has invited a city to be its Guest of Honor; since 1993, the FIL has showcased literary artists from a selected country or region.

Los Angeles’s participation in the FIL, the Spanish-language book industry’s most important book fair, was made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which awarded $1.6 million to the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) to cover all fair expenses (artists’ fees, travel, and exhibition space). 

In a press release, FIL President Raúl Padilla said “The diversity and astonishing force of the Angeleno culture will be, without any doubt, an extraordinary discovery for most [FIL] visitors. It will also be a chance to revisit and renew the cultural ties we share, and to establish a common ground for better understanding between our countries.” NEA Chairman Dana Gioia concurred: “As a native Angeleno of Mexican descent I am particularly proud of this extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the cultural ties between Mexico and the United States.”

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa observed,”Los Angeles literature, film, dance, and theater will have a privileged place in the largest celebration of reading and learning in Latin America.” The book fair features three areas of activity: publishing, academic presentations, and cultural presentations. 

On September 23, DCA application guidelines for artists and arts organizations interested in presenting their work at the 2009 FIL will be made public. Los Angeles artists will be featured in more than 100 exhibitions, performances, films, readings, lectures, and symposia at next year’s book fair.

The 2008 Guest of Honor will be Italy. Past guests of honor have included Brazil (2001), Peru (2005), Andalusia (2006), and most recently, Colombia (2007).