NZ launches Guest of Honour Year at Frankfurt Book Fair

Manatū Taonga/Ministry for Culture and Heritage

NZ launches Guest of Honour Year at Frankfurt Book Fair

Media Release, October 13, 2011

New Zealand is thrilled to have been selected as guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair for the coming 12 months.

This unique opportunity to showcase New Zealand’s rich and thriving culture in the heart of Europe is being led by a team from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage which looks after the national treasures of Aotearoa.

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the biggest book and media trade fair in the world, with about 7500 exhibitors from more than 110 countries and attracting about 300,000 people during its five-day duration.

This year’s fair opened this week and a launch for New Zealand’s tenure as guest of honour was held today attended by hundreds of media and publishing representatives from across Europe.

Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Lewis Holden says the Frankfurt Book Fair offers an unparalleled opportunity to promote New Zealand and its many and diverse artistic endeavours.

“We are honoured to have been selected as the fair’s special guest, the exposure for New Zealand and its creative industries, as well as our growing multimedia and technology industries is extraordinary.”

Project director for the Frankfurt Book Fair Tanea Heke promises a visual and cultural feast over the next 12 months as she leads an expert team who will showcase Aoteroa’s best literary and cultural talent throughout Germany.

“New Zealand publishers have attended the Frankfurt Book Fair for more than 10 years but to have been selected as Guest of Honour is a unique opportunity to show New Zealand’s talents in Germany”

The high level cultural and arts programme will feature New Zealand film, visual arts, theatre, dance and writers’ tours. Participants will also have the opportunity to sample some of the country’s best wine and unique food products.

And New Zealand officials will be on hand at Sunday’s handover ceremony.

“We are also very fortunate to have three of New Zealand’s most eminent writers attending this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair. Witi Ihimaera, Kate Camp and C.K. Stead will on hand showcasing New Zealand literature as well as getting a feel for next year’s event,” Lewis Holden says.

For further information see: www.mch.govt.nz, www.nzatfrankfurt.govt.nz

ENDS

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