Mexico to confer Guest of Honour status on Sharjah at Guadalajara Book Fair today
Picture used for illustrative purposes.
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
The Mexican city of Guadalajara, popularly known as ‘The City of Roses’, is asserting the global stature of the emirate of Sharjah and the UAE among the world’s leading cultural capitals as it celebrates the cultural project of Sharjah on Saturday to honour the emirate’s Guest of Honour status at the 36th Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL).
With a host of entities participating in the international book fair under the Sharjah pavilion, the emirate will host rich and diverse activities to introduce visitors to the nation’s unique heritage, arts, and music, in addition to shining light on the Emirati cultural and publishing sectors.
Commenting on the emirate’s activities during the book fair, which runs between November 26 and December 4, Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, said: “The Department will organise an ‘Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition’ in collaboration with the University of Guadalajara in addition to an art workshop. We will also showcase the department’s publications and magazines in various cultural fields.”
For his part, Sultan Al Amimi, Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union, said Sharjah’s participation at FIL provides a unique opportunity for knowledge and culture exchange, and is an opportunity to showcase Emirati and Arab literary works to their global counterparts in line with the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, said the entity’s participation will introduce FIL visitors to the UAE’s rich heritage. He said: “The institute’s agenda includes a seminar on inscriptions and its significance on the Emirati heritage, in addition to folk art shows performed by the Sharjah National Band where female artisans will showcase traditional and heritage crafts. The latest publications of the institute, available in various languages, will also be presented at the book fair.”
Prof. Dr Hamid Majoul Al Nuaimi, Director of the University of Sharjah (UoS), said that in line with the Sharjah’s cultural and developmental vision, UoS will conduct meetings with the University of Guadalajara, Universidad de Guanajuato, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, to build partnerships in various fields including teaching Arabic, medicine, engineering, space, archaeology.
Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, said the authority will cover live the events of the book fair, in addition to special segments on Sharjah’s activities, as well as conduct interviews with Arab and Mexican authors and intellectuals.
On her part, Marwa Al Aqroubi, Director of the House of Wisdom, said: "A diverse agenda of cultural activities will mark our participation at the 36th Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL). This includes the launch of the Spanish version of 'Folktales Reimagined' exhibition in partnership with the UAE Board on Books for Young People, in addition to showcasing rare and valuable books donated by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the House of Wisdom.”
Dr. Alyazia Khalifa, President of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA), said that with a focus on expertise exchange, the entity also aims to highlight its efforts to safeguard the rights of authors and publishers.
