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Saudi authors will have their own pavilion at the Riyadh International Book Fair

on Aug 17, 2022

Up to 200 self-published authors will be chosen to have their work presented to a global audience by the Literature Commission.

RIYADH: Local authors are invited to register to have their works displayed in a special pavilion at the upcoming Riyadh International Book Fair 2022.

The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission-organized event runs from September 29 to October 8 and provides a platform for local and international publishers and authors to present and sell their work.

According to a statement issued by the commission on Monday, Saudi self-published authors — those who are not represented by a publishing house and have the legal right to sell books — who have the legal right to sell books can apply to be part of the Saudi Author pavilion, which will display up to 200 titles, one per writer.

The works will be chosen by the commission after the authors have been evaluated and approved, according to the statement.

In addition to presenting the books, the literature commission will market them and collect any sales revenue on behalf of the authors.

The establishment of the pavilion, according to the commission, is part of its ongoing support for local writers and will allow them to present their works to a large audience at the fair, which is one of the largest of its kind in the Arab world.

Ya'en Allah Ali Al-Garney, a professor at King Abdulaziz University's Faculty of Educational Graduate Studies, said he supported the idea but would like to see more assistance for authors.

"(It's) a good step, but it's not enough," he said, adding that the commission's assistance should continue after the fair.

Al-Garney, a member of the Saudi Scientific Society for Curricula and Educational Supervision, emphasised the importance of supporting authors as "mirrors of society's culture" and a powerful soft force that can help market and bolster the Kingdom's positive image around the world.

Prof. Abd Al-Rahman Al-Sulami, administrative director of the Jeddah Literature and Cultural Club, stated that thanks to the Ministry of Culture's support, Saudi authors are receiving more institutional support than ever before.

Writers, he added, had the ability to promote Saudi Arabia's scientific, cultural, and literary heritage to the rest of the world through their skill and vision.

Dr. Zaid Al-Fadhil, director of the Gulf Research Center's cultural programme, stated that the creation of a dedicated pavilion at the book fair would provide a platform for Saudi authors to present their books to visitors from both home and abroad.

"Any step that encourages Saudi authors to present their works enhances their presence," said Khalid Al-Taweel, a member of the cultural committee of the Literary Club in Madinah, adding that the latest move by the literature commission reflected the ongoing evolution of the publishing movement within the Kingdom.

"Today, you can see a remarkable presence of Saudi authors through their titles," Al-Taweel said, referring to the Riyadh Book Fair, "which is one of the largest fairs in the Arab world and the largest in terms of sales."

This year's book fair will include a full programme of cultural events, including talks, lectures, and workshops, in addition to the new authors' pavilion.