“Beirut has a word to write”. This is what Tania Hadjithomas Mehanna, the coordinator of the Beirut World Book Capital 2009 project, said. This title was granted to the Lebanese capital by the UNESCO: therefore, Beirut comes after Madrid (Book Capital 2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Anvers (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogotá (2007), and Amsterdam (2008). The Lebanese Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Beirut are in charge of the implementation of this project. They will try to make the year 2009 a year full of events: international symposiums and conferences, literary cafés, specialized saloons, writing workshops, forums… Not to mention the initiatives that the local actors will be making during this year: individuals and companies can participate in a call for a project regarding four themes: the book vector of culture, the professions of the book, the promotion of reading and writing, the encouragement of the youth to read. Tens of candidacies were given to the organizers; the call will remain open until the end of June.
Modernity and Tradition
The UNESCO explained that it chose Beirut “because of its implication in terms of cultural diversity, dialogue, and tolerance as well as the variety and the dynamic character of its program”. According to Tania Hadjithomas Mehanna, the choice of the Lebanese capital has something that has to do with logic. As an author, a journalist, and a writer, she explains with enthusiasm, “Beirut is a highly symbolic city. It was pictured as the city of wars for years, and then it was seen as an undefined city in perpetual reconstruction. Finally, since 2005, Beirut seems to have sent a call to the rest of the world, with a population that showed a will to continue living together despite the tensions between communities. This is a very strong image of Beirut, in a world where communitarian life is increasing!”
If the modern Beirut has been able to grab UNSCO’s attention, there are also lots of factors that link Beirut to the written tradition: the Phoenician alphabet, the first printing machines…Nowadays, four hundred editors publish their books in three languages (Arabic, French, and English) in the Lebanese capital. However, this must be said clearly: the Lebanese people are known to hate reading, which is a bad reputation.
Tania Hadjithomas Mehanna sees the things in a different way, “the truth is that Lebanese readers are extremely solicited: local production is very important, not to mention the Lebanese Diaspora production that surely attracts the local market. We can also add the international production, which is being sold in Lebanon. Therefore, this consists of a small market (Lebanon is a small country), divided into three languages (Arabic, French, and English), for readers who face a hyperproduction with limited purchasing powers”.
Governmental Support
In order to support the book sector, the Ministry of Culture has made a series of initiatives since a few years, including, the adoption of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), the exemption of VAT for books, the establishment of two international book saloons (Arabic and French-speaking)… And, in 2003, the establishment of Centers for Reading and Cultural Animation (CLAC) everywhere in Lebanon. Originally launched by the Francophonie (French speaking communities), the CLAC of Lebanon include local production (Arabic-speaking) to respond to the demand of the minister of Culture then, who asked for this feature when the centers were established.
Those centers are having a great success among the Lebanese population, regardless the community they belong to. According to the minister of Culture Tarek mitri, 16 000 people visited the CLAC in Hasbaya in 2005. As for the CLAC in the southern suburb, it is one of the most frequented centers. The book, a means of cultural gathering? The answer will be given to you in the year 2009.
Beirut, World Book Capital 2009
Candidacy forms for the call for a project are available on www.culture.gov.lb
The forms must be sent by mail to the following address worldbookcapital@culture.gov.lb
For more information, contact Tania Hadjithomas Mehanna on 03-616 486,
email: taniamehanna@gmail.com
