THE LONDON BOOK FAIR: A WINDOW INTO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PUBLISHING MARKET Every year the international London Book Fair brings together from all over the world publishing and literary professionals – publishers, agents, translators, writers, illustrators, and digital content developers. This Fair, with its opportunities for professional contacts and negotiations, is also distinguished by an impressive programme of seminars, conferences and discussions. The 47th London Book Fair attracted more than 25,000 participants from 118 countries.
THE MARKET FOCUS PROGRAMME
The aim of the London Book Fair Market Focus programme is to draw attention to the publishing markets of the featured countries or regions, as well as to create a network of international and cultural partnerships. The British Council and the UK Publishers Association support the programme as partners. “The Baltic countries - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - for the first time combining to present themselves together, enjoy a rich and cosmopolitan literary history, complementing a fascinating contemporary cultural landscape. 2018 will be a year of celebration for these three countries as they celebrate a centenary of independence, and our Market Focus program will be part of a wider cultural showcase”. Jacks Thomas, Director of The London Book Fair
DADADA STUDIO: CREATORS OF THE BALTIC COUNTRIES MARKET FOCUS PROGRAMME LOGO
ESTONIAN ALPHABET
LATVIAN ALPHABET
LITHUANIAN ALPHABET
Lithuania in the London Book Fair Baltic Countries Market Focus Programme
HE LITHUANIAN T PAVILION
200
240
12
Of the 600 square metre Baltic Contries pavilion
Books in the national exhibition
Publishers working in the pavilion
sq. m.
Concept by “Ekspobalta”, produced by “Expoera”
THE LITHUANIAN PROGRAMME
35
40
1900
Events
Participants from Lithuania
Visitors
The main events at the Fair and in the city
LITHUANIAN AUTHORS IN THE BALTIC COUNTRIES MARKET FOCUS PROGRAMME
KRISTINA SABALIAUSKAITĖ
ALVYDAS ŠLEPIKAS
UNDINĖ RADZEVIČIŪTĖ
TOMAS VENCLOVA
AUTHOR OF THE DAY KRISTINA SABALIAUSKAITĖ Sam Leith, the literary editor of the weekly magazine “The Spectator”, in conversation with Kristina Sabaliauskaitė on the English PEN stage.
5 events and 8 interviews and articles in the UK press (The Times Literary Supplement, The Irish Times, The Guardian, The Bookseller and others) and 3 radio interviews (BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 3).
WORLD POETS SERIES: POETRY EVENING Tomas Venclova after reading at the London Southbank Centre’s Poetry Library
During the event Tomas Venclova, Maarje Kangro (Estonia) and Karls Verdins (Latvia) read their poetry and discussed the poetry scene in the Baltic countries.
Tomas Venclova’s poetry was read in English by the poet, and his translator, Ellen Hinsey. The event was introduced by Clare Pollard, British poet and editor of the magazine Modern Poetry in Translation.
LOST HISTORIES UNEARTHED – REVISITING THE FORGOTTEN TRAGEDIES OF LITHUANIA AND EASTERN EUROPE Writer Alvydas Šlepikas shared impressions about the forgotten or, in the Western world, unknown history of “wolf children” with Juliet Mabey, the UK publisher of his book In the Shadow of Wolves, and Meike Ziervogel, the publisher of Dalia Grinkevičiūtė’s memoirs Shadows on the Tundra. The discussion at the London Book Fair was moderated by journalist Rosie Goldsmith.
TRANSFORMATIONS: WOMEN’S WRITING FROM THE EDGES Undinė Radzevičiūtė, author of the internationally acclaimed novel Fishes and Dragons, discussed literature written by women as a term worthy of acceptance, rejection or revision with her Latvian and British colleagues, Nora Ikstena and Alys Conran. The discussion was moderated by UK journalist Bidisha.
FINDING NEW VOICES: CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FROM THE BALTICS Illustrator Aušra Kiudulaitė, together with Roger Thorp (from Thames and Hudson, the UK publisher of her book The Fox on the Swing), Luīze Pastore (Latvia), Penny Thomas (UK), Emma Wright (UK), Ulla Saar (Estonia) and moderator Pam Dix (UK), discussed the choices of UK children’s book publishing houses and the impact of Baltic book authors on the British children’s literature market.
BEING BALTIC: AT THE CROSSROADS OF INFLUENCE At the British Library
Three Baltic authors of the day, Kristina SabaliauskaitÄ—, Mihkel Mutt (Estonia) and Nora Ikstena (Latvia), discussed in the British Library the influence of European, Russian and Scandinavian cultures on contemporary Baltic literature. The discussion was moderated by journalist Rosie Goldsmith (UK).
EUROPEAN POETRY FESTIVAL: THE EUROPEAN CAMARADE! At the “Rich Mix” Cultural Centre
Poets Giedrė Kazlauskaitė, Aušra Kaziliūnaitė and Marius Burokas participated in the main event of the European Poetry Festival, during which 18 pairs of poets jointly staged literary performances specially designed for this event.
POP UP CREATORS EXHIBITION Works created during the international project for the exchange of illustrators from the Baltic countries and the UK were presented at the Royal Over-Seas League. The exhibition consisted of the best works created through the collaboration of 18 experienced illustrators and 150 young artists from four countries. Together they prepared illustrated stories in the leporello format.
The venue was the club of Royal Over–Seas League
JONAS MEKAS: SCREENING, TALK AND BOOK SIGNING: CONVERSATIONS WITH FILM MAKERS Jonas Mekas and Serpentine Galleries’ artistic director Hans Ulrich Obrist talked about cinema, art and life to a full house at Peckhamplex, a multi-screen cinema in south London.
At the Peckhamplex in South London
BALTIC POETRY NIGHT “PARTHIAN BALTICS” At the historic Wheatsheaf pub
Poets Marius Burokas and Giedrė Kazlauskaitė, together with the translator Rimas Uzgiris, read poems of theirs published in the UK by Parthian Books.
A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY IN THE BALTIC COUNTRIES Aida V. Dobkevičiūtė, Tauno Vahter (Estonia), Renate Punka (Latvia) and Simon Littlewood (UK delegate to the European Federation of Publishers) discussed the special features of the publishing market in the Baltic States.
LITHUANIA AMONGST THE LEADERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Lithuania was nominated in 5 categories and won in one.
nated for the Literary Festival Award.
The publishing house Alma Littera won first place for the brand Kakė Makė in the category of Children’s and Young Adult Publisher.
Alma Littera was nominated for the Market Focus Baltics Adult Trade Publisher Award.
The Poetry Festival Druskininkai Poetic Fall was nomi-
Šviesa was nominated for the Educational Learning Resources Award and the Education Publisher Award.
Before and after the Fair
VISITS TO LITHUANIA
Since 2015, at the invitation of the Lithuanian Culture Institute, 50 publishing and literary professionals from the UK have visited Lithuania: publishers, journalists, representatives of literary organizations and festivals, and public relations specialists.
RESULTS OF THE VISITS
New Books in English
Publications in the UK Media
Collaborative Projects and the Emerging Translator Programmes
Invitations to Authors for Festivals and Literary Events in the UK
​EMERGING TRANSLATOR PROGRAMMES The programmes aim is to cultivate future ambassadors of Lithuanian culture and literature to the UK.
Emerging Translator Mentorships
Lithuania Translation Fellowship
At the initiative of the Lithuanian Culture Institute, the Lithuanian language has been introduced for the first time into the Emerging Translator Mentorships programme.
Four emerging Lithuanian to English translators participated in the programme sponsored by the the Lithuanian Culture Institute and the British Council for 2017-2018.
NEW BOOKS IN ENGLISH BY LITHUANIAN AUTHORS
19
Tomas Venclova and Ellen Hinsey Magnetic North: Conversations with Tomas Venclova Alvydas Šlepikas In the Shadow of Wolves Ričardas Gavelis Memoirs of a Life Cut Short Antanas Škėma White Shroud Dalia Grinkevičiūtė Shadows on the Tundra Sigitas Parulskis Darkness and Company
Renata Šerelytė The Music Teacher Rasa Aškinytė The Easiest Jaroslavas Melnikas The Last Day Evelina Daciūtė and Aušra Kiudulaitė The Fox on the Swing Gintaras Grajauskas Then What New Baltic Poetry Aušra Kaziliūnaitė The Moon is a Pill
Marius Burokas Now I Understand Žemaitė Tofylis, or The Marriage of Zosė Grigory Kanovich Shtetl Love Song Ruta Sepetys Salt to the Sea Ilzė Butkutė Caravan Lullabies Laura Sintija Černiauskaitė Breathing into Marble
INTERNATIONAL PROJECT “POP-UP CREATORS� An educational co-operation project initiated by the Lithuanian Culture Institute among 150 young artists and 18 professional illustrators from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the United Kingdom. Participants from Lithuania: 4 illustrators 20 Vilnius Academy of Arts students 2 tutors Vilnius Academy of Arts Publishing House During the 12 creative workshops, 53 laporello books were presented at the exhibition in London.
LITHUANIAN AUTHORS IN UK LITERARY FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
RUTA SEPETYS “Hay Literature Festival” May 27th 2018, Hay on Wye
TOMAS DIRGĖLA at the Writing Borders Residency June 8-15 2018, Northumberland
TOMAS VAISETA at the International Summer School of Literary Translation and Creative Writing, July 22-28 2018, Norwich GABIJA GRUŠAITĖ National Writers’ Conference, June 30th 2018, Birmingham SIGITAS PARULSKIS Edinburgh International Book Festival, August 16th 2018, Edinburgh
Public relations campaign
DAY OF THE BOOK SMUGGLERS IN LONDON MARCH 16, 2018
Kristina SabaliauskaitÄ— and British journalist Rosie Goldsmith discussed Lithuanian literature and the phenomenon of book smugglers at the Free Word Centre. Contemporary book smugglers visited London and Norwich and called on publishers, literary organizations, editors and literary festival headquarters. 80 book smuggler collections were delivered, which included the latest translations of Lithuanian literature, information about the Lithuanian programme at the London Book Fair and souvenirs created by Lithuanian designers.
REACTIONS TO THE DAY OF THE BOOK SMUGGLERS IN THE UK SOCIAL MEDIA
#followthebooksmugglers
PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN IN LITHUANIAN MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA SEPTEMBER 2017APRIL 2018
180
12
Lithuanian Culture Institute Facebook posts (posts, photo albums, links, live streaming events)
Radio reports
6
Press releases from the Lithuanian Culture Institute
40
Instagram posts from the Lithuanian Culture Institute
25
Published press releases
28 Articles
5
Television reports
PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM NOVEMBER 2017JUNE 2018
500
9
16
5
Social Media posts in the Twitter account of the Lithuanian Culture Institute. 200% increase in the number of followers, 286,100 reactions
National Dailies and Weeklies: Evening Standard, The Guardian, Times Literary Supplement, London Review of Books, The Spectator, The Jewish Chronicle, Irish Times, etc.
Publishing and Business Magazines: The Bookseller, Bookbrunch, Publishing Perspectives; Insert in the Baltic Edition of Publishers Weekly
17
Internet publications and blogs
6
TV and radio: BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service, Monocle24, Talk Radio Europe
Magazines: Big Issue, Time Out, etc.
PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM NOVEMBER 2017JUNE 2018
„Venclova himself is nothing of a nobody. His country’s most celebrated literary figure, he has translated Eliot, Frost and Auden into Lithuanian as well as Mandelstam, Rilke, Cavafy, Pasternak, Baudelaire and others. He’s an emeritus professor in Russian literature at Yale, and in a new book of conversations, Magnetic North, he sets out his own story, including friendships with Brodsky, Miłosz, Anna Akhmatova...“
with Tomas Venclova in the magazine The Spectator.
Partners and friends
ORGANIZER
PROJECT FINANCED BY
PARTNERS
ESTONIAN AND LATVIAN PARTNERS
FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE LITHUANIAN EVENTS PROGRAMME THANKS TO:
ADDITONAL THANKS TO:
Kristina Sabaliauskaitė Tomas Venclova Undinė Radzevičiūtė Alvydas Šlepikas Jonas Mekas Giedrė Kazlauskaitė Aušra Kaziliūnaitė Marius Burokas Rimas Uzgiris Mindaugas Kvietkauskas Marija Drėmaitė Lina Dūdaitė Rasa Joni Ieva Babilaitė Akvilė Magicdust Romas Kinka Aušra Kiudulaitė Rūta Elijošaitytė-Kaikarė Eglė Rindzevičiūtė Jurgita Nacevičienė Artūras Karosas and others.
Antanas Astrauskas Agnė Bagočiūtė Elžbieta Banytė Julius Bučelis Norbertas Černiauskas Jurga Dovydėnaitė Marija Drėmaitė John Evans Julija Gulbinovič Jeremy Hill Simona Kaunaitė Indrė Klimaitė Justė Kostikovaitė Erika Lastovskytė Rimvydas Laužikas Gytis Skudžinskas Darius Sužiedėlis Tomas Vaiseta Severina Venckutė Agnė Mackevičiūtė Vsevolod Kovalevskij Alexandra Katarina Bondarev Skirmantė Gough Dadada Studio Less Table Godspeed Branding and to the Coordinating Working Group and to all others who contributed to Lithuania’s participation in the 2018 London Book Fair.
THE LITHUANIAN CULTURE INSTITUTE TEAM: Aušrinė Žilinskienė Rūta Nanartavičiūtė Rūta Statulevičiūtė–Kaučikienė Vlada Kalpokaitė–Kručkauskienė Vakarė Smaleckaitė Eglė Paulauskienė Giedrė Malūkaitė Aistė Žukauskaitė