Bologna Children’s Book Fair to honour Sharjah
sharjah — The emirate of Sharjah has been named the ‘guest of honour’ at one of the most prestigious children’s book fairs in the world. On Monday, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) announced that the emirate will be featured as the guest of honour at the 57th edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2020.
As one of the most significant platforms for children’s books in the world, Elena Pasoli, exhibition manager at Bologna Children’s Book Fair said it is “scrupulous” in its selection of the guest of honour. But given the rich cultural experience of Sharjah, she said the fair was “delighted to welcome Sharjah in April 2020”.
“(In the selection process) ... focus is placed on cities, countries and regions with great cultural heritage, or those that have established new platforms for producing books which target children and young people, nurturing their critical thinking and expanding the scope of their creativity.”
Ahmed Al Ameri, chairman of the SBA, said to have the honour “is a wonderful testament to the
Sharjah’s children enjoy a special status in the region, thanks to the wide range of strategies that encourage learning and knowledge.” Ahmed Al Ameri, chairman, SBA
emirate’s ambitions and achievements”. “We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to share our experiences in the world of children’s literature during the 2020 edition of the Bologna book fair, which will be an enormous celebration of Emirati culture and Arab heritage associated with young people,” he said. “Sharjah’s children enjoy a very special status that is unparalleled in the region, thanks to a wide range of strategies, campaigns and initiatives that encourage an atmosphere of learning and a thirst for knowledge.”
The city’s consistent investment in children is one of its most prominent achievements and each year, Sharjah organises and hosts an array of major events to enhance their knowledge, develop their skills and hone their talents not only for their own benefit, but also for the benefit of their families and communities.
Among the annual events dedicated exclusively to children in Sharjah are the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, Sharjah Children’s Biennial, and Sharjah Children Shura Council. The Sharjah International Book Fair — the third largest in the world — also attracted vast numbers of schoolchildren and young people over the course of its eleven-day run.
The emirate is also home to the headquarters of the UAE Board on Books for Young People, the Arab Children’s Book Publishers Forum, the Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment and the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators.
Sharjah’s ongoing emphasis on cultural education, festivals and exhibitions for young people continues to deliver the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA).