The 12th edition of the Regional Book and Publishing Fair kicked off on Wednesday 06/27/2024 in Chefchaouen, under the theme “Chefchaouen: Circuits of history and creativity”.
The opening ceremony of this cultural event, which took place in the presence of the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the governor of the province of Chefchaouen, Mohammed Alami Ouaddane, elected officials , intellectuals, and numerous publishers and book professionals, was marked by a tribute to the poet, Abdelkrim Tabbal, whose name is borne by this edition.
In a statement to MAP, the minister stressed that this event aims to celebrate books and reading, also offering an ideal opportunity for all citizens to discover new cultural horizons.
Mr. Bensaid noted that this cultural event “plays a key role in the cultural industries and publishing, as well as in economic and societal dynamics”, stressing that the ministry plans to link books and reading to the arts and economic activity to promote the attractiveness of the city of Chefchaouen.
The ministry, he continued, also aims to link the Regional Book Fair to reading, theater, history and heritage, specifying that such initiatives will emerge in the future in several regions and provinces of the Kingdom.
The program for this edition includes conferences and round tables addressing several themes, including “Abdelkrim Tabbal: the city and the poem”, “Chefchaouen: Circuits of history and creativity”, “Chefchaouen in audiovisual production”, and “the city in Moroccan plastic art”.
The fair, which is held at Bir Anzaran Square, aims to support the book industry at regional and national levels, and to strengthen cultural activity in all its forms, through the organization of workshops and workshops in drawing, drama and storytelling for children and young people, as well as lectures highlighting creative and academic achievements in various literary and artistic genres.
It also offers literary meetings with writers, as well as the presentation of new publications with the participation of renowned writers in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceïma region, whose works have enriched Moroccan and Arab literary and scientific libraries.
The fair, which will continue until July 4, also aims to pay tribute to figures of culture, thought and creativity of the Northern region, to promote the regional cultural landscape, and to support publishing and reading by highlighting the production of publishing houses, booksellers, academic institutions, professional organizations and associations concerned with cultural affairs.
It also aims to promote an elite of thinkers and creators, notably writers, poets, critics and researchers of different generations.
In this regard, the director of one of the participating publishing houses, Naif Al Zoubi, highlighted the importance of this regional fair, which offers the opportunity to present the latest publications of several Moroccan writers and researchers from different backgrounds. generations, believing that this initiative reflects the efforts of the Ministry of Culture to support the book and publishing industry.
Please note that this event is organized in coordination with the Regional Directorate of Culture of Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, the province of Chefchaouen, the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of National Education, the Regional Council, the Provincial Council of Chefchaouen and the Municipality of Chefchaouen.
MAP June 27, 2024
