Warsaw Book Fair 2016 to focus on Barcelona and Catalan literature

Barcelona (CNA).- Catalan culture continues to flourish and gain international exposure. Institut Ramon Llull (IRL), a public institution which aims to promote Catalan culture and language, is working on several European projects that will project Barcelona and Catalan literature in the next two years. “Barcelona and Catalan literature will be the main focus” at the Warsaw Book Fair 2016, stated the Director of Institut Ramon Llull, Àlex Susanna. He also told CNA that next year it will be time to “set the coveted invitation” to the Bologna Book Fair and admitted the institution is “working hard” on a possible “Catalan landing” in the multidisciplinary Edinburgh Festival in two years’ time.   

Last year, Göteborg Book Fair hosted a spot on Catalan literature and this year Toronto’s International Festival of Authors (IFOA) will do the same, with ten Catalan writers invited. These are examples of how Catalan literature has gained international exposure in the last years.

In an interview with CNA, Institut Ramon Llull’s (IRL) Director, Àlex Susanna, announced that Catalan literature and authors related to Barcelona will be “the main focus” of another prestigious festival, the Warsaw Book Fair 2016. He also commented that next year it will be time to “set the coveted invitation” to the Bologna Book Fair, which is children and teenager oriented, “we expect to be there in two or three years’ time” he stated. 

However, this is not the only horizon toward which IRL is working. Susanna also assured that the institution is “working hard” on a possible “Catalan landing” in the multidisciplinary Edinburgh Festival “in two years’ time”. This will include literature but also other field and cultural expressions. “The effort to introduce Catalan literature in the Anglo-Saxon market is huge, as it is really impenetrable” he admitted.   

Susanna admitted to be optimistic regarding Catalan culture’s international projection and highlighted that this development coincided with the economic crisis.  

“I think we have fairly gained such prestige that we are regarded as a cultural power” stated Susanna. The IRL director also admitted to being proud of “the enormous interest” that Catalan culture and literature awakens across the world.