The 26th edition of the Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE), held from Feb. 6 through 11, once again boosted publishing and cultural exchanges this year with a total of 530,000 visitors and 684 publishers from 60 nations.
Over the course of the six-day fair, which enabled Taiwan publishers to connect with their international counterparts, Taiwan’s diverse and vibrant culture was showcased on the world stage while the exhibition has proven to become one of the popular cultural events for the general public.
Although attendance fell by 8.6% in comparison to last year due to the cold spell and the 6.4-magnitude Hualien earthquake, the number of attending publishers increased by 10%, and the amount of workshops and forums rose by 27%. A daily average of 200 events were held at the fair.
Secretary-General Chen Ji-min (陳濟民) of the Ministry of Culture thanked Israel, which served as the guest of the honor this year, for bringing rich and creative works as well as Israeli technology and culture to Taiwan.
Under the theme of “Power of Reading,” visitors were encouraged to explore Taiwan’s dynamic creativity and cultural heritage through displays of a wide range of reading categories such as general books, literature and arts, and award-winning books.
Comics and digital pavilions that combined original content with AR/VR technology to create an interactive experience for readers also received positive feedback.
The TIBE’s best display design awards, which include two categories, were voted on by professionals, scholars, and visitors. The gold prize for large booth display went to the University Press Alliance (大學出版社聯), whereas the silver and bronze prizes went to Chiuko Publisher (九歌出版社), Wenhsun Magazine (文訊雜誌社), Hong Fan Bookstore (洪範書店), Elite Books (爾雅出版社), and Locus Publishing Company (大塊文化出版股份有限公司).
For the smaller booth category, the gold prize went to Chi Ming Publishing Company (啟明出版事業股份有限公司), while the silver and bronze prizes went to PsyGarden Publishing Company (心靈工坊文化事業股份有限公司), Hsin Shih Culture Co., Ltd (信實文化行銷有限公司), and KATE Publishing Co., Ltd (凱特文化創意股份有限公司).
Over 100 events under the banner “City is Reading” were also held by the Ministry of Culture across Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Keelung City to implement its policies of fostering reading habits and deepening the roots of culture.
Next year, the Taipei International Book Exhibition will feature Germany as its theme country. Director-General Martin Eherts of the German Institute Taipei praised the high quality of the annual book fair and as well as the active participation of Taiwanese readers, and invited everyone to experience the culture and literary spirit of Germany next year.
