The Book Fair of the city of Tunis is preparing to open its doors for its 13th edition, which will take place from December 25, 2024 to January 11, 2025 on Avenue Habib Bourguiba in the capital Tunis. Placed under the slogan “The book, a homeland”, this event organized by the regional police station for cultural affairs of the governorate of Tunis, the Union of Tunisian Publishers and the Tunisian Book Center, will bring together more than 80 publishing houses and will present more than 30,000 titles covering various fields, announced the Tunisian Book Center on its official page.
Celebrating the governorate of Gafsa as guest of honor, the 13th edition of the Fair has notably scheduled a conference entitled “Capsian civilization, cradle of humanity”, with a view to highlighting the different facets of this southern region. -western Tunisia and its history through the ages.
Among the highlights of the cultural program, the details of which will be revealed tomorrow Monday during a press conference, include two new initiatives: the inauguration of the “Library of the traveler nourished by Books” installed on board the train linking Tunisia to Algeria, and which is a donation from the General Directorate of Books and the Tunisian Book Center as well as the kick-off of the “Bridge of Creativity” caravan which will offer a round-trip entertainment trip on the railway line Tunisia-Algeria.
Palestine will also be in the spotlight during this edition. A play, entitled “Freedom for Palestine”, will be presented by students from Sidi Aloui primary school. At the same time, a drawing workshop, focused on the symbols of resistance, will be organized. Songs and poems, dedicated to the Palestinian cause, will accompany this demonstration of solidarity.
The cultural program includes several exhibitions including a documentary exhibition entitled “Lights on the regions” organized in collaboration with the association of the National Heritage Institute (INP) as well as an artistic exhibition “Figures of Tunisian culture” which will highlight before the great figures of Tunisia's cultural heritage.
A series of dance shows, choreography, music and theatrical performances and poetry readings are also planned.
Various workshops will also be organized, offering a variety of activities to suit everyone, children, young people and adults: painting workshops, theater, Arabic calligraphy, mosaic, manual activities, personal development, and workshops in particular on first aid with the intervention of the Tunisian Red Crescent…. An innovative workshop, focused on the enhancement of heritage and archaeological monuments using artificial intelligence, will also be offered in partnership with the TICDCE, offering experiences in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
Conferences and meetings on various themes such as “The book in the Internet era” and “The prospects of the book in Tunisia” will be organized by the Directorate of Books and the Union of Tunisian Publishers as well as a series of meetings on the theater. A conference entitled “Our museums, living fortresses of heritage”, will be organized by the Agency for the Development of Heritage and Cultural Promotion (AMVPPC) and the INP.
A meeting is also planned to pay tribute to the memory of Fraj Chouchane, an emblematic figure of the Tunisian cultural and media scene, who died on December 13.
The program also includes poetry, writing and theater competitions, etc., offering visitors a diverse and immersive experience.
The book fair in the city of Tunis is organized with the collaboration of the regional library of the governorate of Tunis, the Ibn Khaldoun and Ibn Rchiq cultural houses, with the support of the governorate and the municipality of Tunis.
