Institut Ramon Llull and Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals presented the Spotlight programme this afternoon at a press conference: the focus on Catalan culture that will take place from April 5th to 7th at the London Book Fair, one of the most prestigious fairs of the international publishing scene and main entrance to the English-language market.
Since 2017, Institut Ramon Llull and Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals are working to launch Spotlight, which, together with the Market Focus, highlight the publishing and literary scene of a given culture at the London Fair. According to Pere Almeda, Institut Ramon Llull’s director, “it is a great opportunity for Catalan literature to be shown with all its possibilities and strength at an international publishing context.”
Also, acting director of the Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals Edgar Garcia pointed out that “with Spotlight we consolidate a work of cultural diplomacy and publishing export that we have been developing for years together with publishers and their institutions. It is a milestone that contributes to strengthen a key cultural sector for Catalonia”.
The main goals with Spotlight are to enhance translations of Catalan literature authors to English, promoting the authors of Catalan literature already translated to English, fostering assignments from British publishers to Catalan and Balearic illustrators, and contributing to the growth and strengthen of commercial relations between Catalan publishers and agencies, and British and American publishers and agencies.
The scheduled programme for the fair is divided in two fields of action: the professional programme and the cultural programme. The professional programme will mainly focus on matchmaking sessions between the Catalan and the English-language publishing sectors, and it will take place at the Fair premises in order to motivate the sales of Catalan publishing rights.
Regarding the cultural programme, there will be 8 talks with Catalan and English-language authors open to the Fair visitors. They will discuss their works and the themes that inspire their writing, thus triggering a dialogue between Catalan and English-language literatures. The Catalan authors joining these sessions are: Irene Solà, Sergi Pàmies, Marta Orriols, Borja Bagunyà, Eva Baltasar, Josep Maria Esquirol, Aina Bestard and Raül Garrigasait. The English-language authors joining these sessions are: Max Porter, Jay Griffiths, Daisy Johnson, David Constantine, Yara Rodrigues Fowler, Vassiliki Tzomaka, the translator Peter Bush and the publisher Christopher MacLehose.
Beyond the fair and taking advantage of the public attention around Spotlight and the focus on Catalan culture, Institut Ramon Llull designed an activity programme to advertise other areas of Catalan creation in the United Kingdom. Thus, from March to June 2022 the following activities will be held: book presentations from authors who participate in Spotlight, in collaboration with their British publishers; cultural activities at UK universities where Catalan studies are taught; and collaborations with prestigious cultural institutions and organizations from the UK. To this effect, taking benefit from the stable UK network and market, a Catalan film series will be held, along with various performing arts and music shows. Magalí Saré, Vicens Vacca and Atresbandes are some of the bands and artists that will be part of this programme. Also, in collaboration with Ajuntament de Barcelona, a series of poetry readings and performances will take place in London, Manchester and Exeter.
Besides the directors of Institut Ramon Llull and Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals, the press conference counted on the presence of Mar Pérez, acting director of the Market Area from ICEC; Joan de Sola, Literature Area director from IRLL; and Maria Lladó, Creation Area director from IRLL. They all talked about the details of the activity programme.
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