At the Bologna children’s book fair – awards for Lithuanian creators Culture

Lithuania’s presentation in Bologna is organized by the Lithuanian Cultural Institute (LKI) and the Lithuanian Publishers Association (LLA). According to Rūta Nanartavičiūtė, head of the LKI Programs and Projects Department, the aim of the Institute at the fair is to acquaint the world with our country’s literature and book creators, by organizing events presenting them, creative workshops, the participation of beginning and already recognized artists at the fair, as well as meeting with foreign publishers and partners in order to find new translation and collaboration opportunities. “This year, more than ever, our creators have been recognized with prestigious awards, included in exhibitions and lists of the best – this is the recognition of Lithuanian book creators and publishers at the highest level in the world,” said R. Nanartavičiūtė.

The Bologna Book Fair brings together children’s book creators every year: writers, illustrators, festival organizers and publishers. According to LLA executive director Rūta Elijošaitytė-Kaikare, who is organizing the Lithuanian stand at the fair, Lithuanian publishers are not an exception: “They are not only interested in what children’s literature is doing around the world, but they also have something to show and present themselves: children’s books published in Lithuania are noticed not only for that , that they combine catchy texts and illustrations, but also because of the attention to the quality of the book and the press. This year, more than twenty representatives from the publishing houses “Alma littera”, “Aukso žuvys”, “Baltas lankos”, “Debesų ganyklos”, “Misteris Pinkmanas”, “Vaiga”, “700 lines” are participating in Bologna. The books of the same number of publishing houses will be presented at the Lithuanian stand,” said the head of the association.

Personal archive photo/Creators of the book “Girl with a Shotgun”.

Lithuanian creators are among the best

Visitors to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair will see the works of Lithuanian illustrators in the main competitive exhibition of the fair: among 79 artists from 31 countries, even two representatives of our country – Inga Dagilė and Kornelija Žalpytė – will present their works. 3250 illustrators from 81 countries participated in the selection for this exhibition. Since 1967 the purpose of the exhibition held at the fair is to present the latest trends in illustration. After the fair, the exhibition travels to museums, galleries and libraries around the world for two years.

Lithuanian book creators were also recognized for the first time at the prestigious BolognaRagazzi Awards: the book by illustrator Lina Itagaki and writer Mariaus Marcinkevičius “Girl with a shotgun. The Story of a Guerrilla Girl’ (published by their self-founded publisher Mr. Pinkman) won a Special Mention Award in the Comics category. The competition jury emphasized that the book deals with topics that are relevant in modern Europe. The partnership between the illustrator and the writer was also highly praised, seamlessly combining the story and the images to create a work that expertly maneuvers between a children’s book and a graphic novel.

The competition is designed to highlight the most beautiful and innovative picture books published recently, and 3,355 publications from 65 countries participated in it.

This week, the fair announced another news of the BolognaRagazzi Awards: the international commission selected the book “Ilgi ilėrasciai trunmiems” (Ilgi ilėrascii trunmiems) by writer Marius Marcinkevičius and illustrator Ieva Gvazdaitytė (publisher “Misteris Pinkmanas”) for the exhibition “The Braw Amazing Bookshelf”, which presents 100 books out of 40 countries.

Photo of organizers/Marius Marcinkevičius and illustrator Ieva Gvazdaitytė’s book “Long poems for short ones”

The Bologna Book Fair is a springboard for beginners

Traditionally, the Bologna children’s book fair becomes a source of inspiration and an international presentation platform for budding Lithuanian illustrators – Valentina Černiauskaitė has this opportunity this year. Valentina responded to the invitation of LKI and LLA for beginning authors of children’s books who have not yet published their work or who have published no more than three books. She was selected from 18 candidates who sent applications by a competent commission – illustrators Kęstutis Kasparavičius and Ieva Babilaitė and publisher Sigita Pūkė.

The young creator, who graduated from the graphic arts studies at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, currently works in the field of illustration, book design and visual art. “I have heard regarding this fair since the first year, it is extremely important for everyone working or working in the field of illustration. It’s a nice coincidence that the opportunity to go to Bologna appeared right following the publication of her first picture book for children – “The Dog That Goes Out at Night” created together with Jurga Vile – so the trip will be really special,” said Valentina. In Bologna, she intends to get inspired, see what the world of illustrated books is like, visit the stands of her favorite publishers, get to know book creators, take part in portfolio reviews and workshops, master classes, take an interest in illustrated books for adults – this area is also relevant for the artist.

V. Černiauskaitė will also visit the exhibition of the 100 most exclusive picture books in the world selected by dPICTUS, the international platform of picture book publishers and agents, which includes her illustrated book by Jurga Vilė “The Dog that Goes Out at Night” (700 Eilučių publishing house).

Organizers’ photo/Jurga Vilė and Valentina Černiauskaitė’s book “The dog that comes out at night”

A space for creation, education and dissemination

The Lithuanian Institute of Culture cooperates with the organizers of the book fair in the program “The Illustrators Survival Corner” (lit. – “Illustrators Survival Corner”) – since 2017. in the space dedicated to the profession of illustrators at the fair, where creative workshops, master classes and portfolio reviews are organized. April 9 in this space, I. Dagilė will lead the creative workshop “Aplink pogodno” for budding book professionals.

On the same day, I. Dagilė, together with Kornelija Žalpyte, will also organize a creative workshop for schoolchildren at the MAMbo Museum of Modern Art in Bologna, which the Institute organizes with the Lithuanian cultural attache in Italy.

Photo of the organizers/illustrations by Valentina Černauskaitė

During the fair, the institute will present to foreign professionals a new catalog for children’s and youth books, prepared with the Lithuanian branch of IBBY, and will participate in meetings with foreign publishers and literary organizations.

Lithuanian children’s publishing house, illustrators’ works have been presented at the international Bologna children’s book fair since 1989, 2011. our country was the Alex Reed of honor at the fair. The painter and writer Kęstutis Kasparavičiai has been called one of the fair’s most important guests for many years, many famous and beginning book creators from Lithuania have presented their work in Bologna, including Ieva Babilaitė, Monika Vaicenavičienė, Kotryna Zylė Inga Dagilė, Lina Itagaki, Aušra Kiudulaitė, Vilija Kvieskaitė, Simona Jurčiukonytė, Ula Rugevičiūtė Rugytė and others and R. Jančiauskaitė created a visual 2020. identity of the fair.

The Lithuanian Institute of Culture is a budgetary institution established by the Ministry of Culture, which consistently strengthens the role of Lithuanian culture in the world through its activities. The institute purposefully presents Lithuanian culture and professional art abroad, increases the opportunities of culture and art creators, specialists and organizations in these fields in the international space.