About the Project

Based on the positive experience of World Book and Copyright Day, launched in 1996, UNESCO initiated the concept of World Book Capital City and nominated Madrid as the Capital for Year 2001. Following this successful experience, the General Conference established the yearly nomination of the Book Capital City.

The International Publishers Associations, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and the International Booksellers Federation are associated to this initiative and are therefore represented with UNESCO in the nominating committee, so as to guarantee appropriate representation from the international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry.

An agreement was concluded among the partners that, after Madrid (2001), the subsequent capitals would be Alexandria in 2002 and New Delhi in 2003. Then, following public calls for candidatures, the Selection Committee gathered at UNESCO Headquarters and successively nominated the city of Antwerp (Belgium) for 2004, Montreal (Canada) for 2005, Turin (Italy) for 2006, Bogota (Colombia) for 2007,Amsterdam (the Netherlands) for 2008, Beirut (Lebanon) for 2009, Ljubljana (Slovenia) for 2010, Buenos Aires (Argentina) for 2011, Yerevan (Armenia) for 2012 and Bangkok (Thailand) for 2013.

The city of Yerevan was chosen for the quality and variety of its programme, which is “very detailed, realistic and rooted in the social fabric of the city, focused on the universal and involving all the stakeholders involved in the book industry”, according to the members of the selection committee.

“I congratulate the city of Yerevan, which has presented a particularly interesting programme with many different themes, including the freedom of expression, as well as several activities for children, who will be the readers and authors of tomorrow”, said Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. “Mobilizing the entire world of books and reading, from authors to printers and publishers, will undoubtedly help to make the Yerevan programme a major success, with a sustainable impact,” she added.

The schedule of events for Yerevan World Book Capital 2012 places a special emphasis on children and young adults as carriers of knowledge into the future. Many programs will be organized to help instill the love of reading, reciting, writing and even learning how to publish and print books for children. Events such as, “Give us Books, Wings to Fly”, “I Am Creating a Book”, “Returning Books Back to Children” and “Colorful Books”, will be geared to reach this objective.

Conferences, symposiums and exhibitions will discuss issues related to copyright, translation, freedom of speech, genocide and internationally renowned works of literature. Special events will be organized for libraries and librarians, who continue to be mediators between writers and readers. These programs will allow an exchange of knowledge and information and become the conduits for change in an ever-changing and fast-paced world. Books written about cinema, music and other art forms will be highlighted through exhibitions, seminars and film premiers. Creating bridges of new technologies, ideas and innovations will be the main rallying points. After 70 years of Soviet rule, when even literature was legislated, Yerevan World Book Capital 2012 will mark a turning point for Armenia and the region in general. It will bring together writers, journalists, publishers, librarians, booksellers and lovers of books from all over the world in a location where there is a thirst for knowledge and information. In cooperation with international partners, Yerevan World Book Capital 2012 promises to turn a new page in our book history.

Events

The translation of the text will be soon available.

The Armenian Education and Cultural Association announce the “Levon Shnat” competition, which aims to promote the development of Armenian modern theatre, to discover new names ...

“Antares” publication and Dasaran.am organized Reading Olimpaid for the pupils on the initiatives of Ministries of Culture, Education and Science, “Granish” c...

''Sasna tsrer or Sasuntsi Davit epos performance manifestations " application discussion about the protection of cultural heritage took place on December 5 in Paris and by the...

The Department of Press, Information and Public Relations of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs of informs that on 22 November the Armenian Embassy organized an exhibitio...