The inaugural Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) was held in April 1964. The event was designed as a platform for analyzing current trends in children’s publishing. Since then, it has become one of the most important professional events built around children’s content. BCBF is the meeting place for industry professionals that is mainly used for the buying and selling of publishing, translation and adaptation rights.
The fair is one of the world’s major copyright business hubs. It draws publishers, literary agents, authors, translators, illustrators, graphic designers, booksellers, distributors, teachers, librarians and other professionals somehow involved with creating and publishing children’s books. With more than 25,000 attendees participating in numerous events and activities, BCBF is the place for networking and forging new partnerships.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair features a wide range of events. Along with the trade fair itself, it includes meetings and talks, cultural events, business training programs, masterclasses and workshops, a special area devoted to digital media, a set of programs for translators, and more. Each edition of the fair features a Guest of Honour – a country or region whose children’s literature and publishing industry are heavily featured throughout the fair.
Since 1967, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair has been hosting its famous Illustrator Exhibition that showcases the latest trends in children’s book illustration and design. In 2009, BCBF and Fundación SM launched the SM Foundation International Award for Illustration for artists under 35 featured in the Exhibition. The award is designed to discover, encourage and support new talents in illustration.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair gives a number of prestigious awards to outstanding artists and publishers. The BolognaRagazzi Award (BRAW) is given to acknowledge publishing excellence in terms of format innovation and graphic layout. It is given in four main categories: Fiction, Non Fiction, New Horizons (for the non-Western world) and Opera Prima (debut works). Other awards include the BolognaRagazzi Award for Art Books, the BolognaRagazzi Digital Award, the Bologna Best Children’s Publisher of the Year Prize, the Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi Award, and others.
Photo: The Salariya
