Sharjah Book Authority shares latest developments in Arab publishing during its participation in US Library of Congress 2022 National Book Festival Washington DC, US, September 07, 2022: Continuing on its mission to strengthen the presence of Emirati and Arab culture on prestigious international platforms, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) recently concluded its participation in the US Library of Congress 2022 National Book Festival. One of the largest book-themed events in North America, the festival was held under the theme ‘Books bring us together’ and witnessed the participation of 90 renowned American authors. SBA took the opportunity to draw a vivid picture of the current developments in the literary and publishing landscapes in the UAE and the wider Arab world to a diverse global audience at the festival. One of the sponsors of the festival, SBA welcomed American authors and publishers to the upcoming edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) to explore business and collaboration prospects with local and regional market players, given that SIBF was crowned as the largest publishing event of 2021 for attracting the biggest number of publishers and agents with business interest. With real-time updates about the cultural and creative developments in the Arab region, SBA also highlighted the unique new opportunities emerging in the Emirati and Arab publishing sector. These include strong prospects in translations and authorship, among others. The Authority also highlighted the various initiatives it has undertaken to successfully enhance the creative output of the local and regional publishing sectors as well as to popularise a love for books and reading in the community. During a visit to the Library of Congress on the sidelines of the event, HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA, discussed cooperation opportunities with Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, and gifted Arabic and English copies of The Biography of the Sultans of Kilwa, the latest work of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Al Ameri said: “SBA continues its efforts on both local and international levels with a clear vision set by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in which we believe that the presence of Arab culture globally is an embodiment of its strength and impact on humanity. With this belief, we keenly look out for participation opportunities in major international cultural exhibitions and events. Sharjah bears the responsibility of supporting and advancing the book industry locally and in the Arab world; at the same time, the emirate serves as a bridge between the Arab culture and its counterparts around the world.” “As it is well known, we perceive culture not only as a space for creativity, contemplation and generating knowledge but as a reflection of our rich identity and as a bridge between us and other nations and cultures. Therefore, under the directive of the Sharjah Ruler, SBA is responsible for facilitating cross-cultural dialogue, evident in our participation and discussions at the 2022 National Book Festival,” the SBA Chairman added. For her part, Dr. Hayden lauded Sharjah’s efforts to build bridges between Arab and global cultures. She also noted that the emirate has become a top destination for cultural institutions, events and activities in the US dedicated to learning about or collaborating with Arab culture. -ENDS-
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