While preparing the 17th International Podgorica Book and Education Fair, we invited readers to this event with the words: A hundred thousand reasons to come.
Starting tonight, those thousands and hundreds of thousands of reasons are before the readers and visitors of the Podgorica Book and Education Fair.
Sometimes those reasons, sufficient for one book fair and for an entire life, are found in just one book that inspires and fulfills us, changes us and encourages us to read hundreds and thousands of other books.
Sometimes these reasons are sought and found in conversations with writers and other readers and visitors of the Fair.
Sometimes these reasons are revealed in the atmosphere of the fair, among the multitude of books and in the abundance of meetings and events.
Over 100.000 books were exhibited at this Fair. And each of them carries and bears witness to at least one unique world.
Opened as a great stage of literature and culture, the Podgorica Book and Education Fair continues to gather publishers from Montenegro and the region, writers of different genres and poetics, of different generations and different views on the world.
Nova Knjiga, as the founder of this Fair, and the Podgorica Book Fair are most happy that this event gathers so many readers. As a rule, those who have been to one of the earlier Podgorica Book Fairs also come to the new edition of the Fair. I believe it will be the same this year.
During these 17 years of existence, in various circumstances, the Podgorica Book and Education Fair has confirmed how much this kind of event is needed by the city where it is held, the country where it is organized, and the region towards which it is opened.
We were not always trusted by everyone from whom we expected support, but most importantly, our readers did. We knew that this support was irreplaceable and it was always easier and simpler with it.
When Nova knjiga founded the Podgorica Book Fair 17 years ago, it was first an international and regional fair, with the participation of many publishers and writers from other countries. Then, years later, it was recognized as a fair that is significant for literature and culture, publishing and education in Montenegro.
Only this year, after 17 years of persistent work, noticed in many cultural environments outside of Podgorica and Montenegro, the Podgorica Book and Education Fair was truly accepted as a city and Podgorica fair, as a cultural and social event important for this city and supported by this city.
We are grateful to the new people in the city government in Podgorica who recognized the importance of this Fair and who, believing in the importance of culture and literary and cultural events, wholeheartedly supported the implementation of the Podgorica Book and Education Fair.
Every book fair is a big adventure where readers search for new books, while publishers recommend themselves to new readers. Over 100.000 books at this Fair are the real cause of that adventure.
I wish everyone a happy and successful Book Fair!
I wish you to enjoy the Fair and its programs, and to discover as much as possible of the hundred thousand reasons why you should come to this Book Fair in the fair days ahead.
(Predrag Uljarević is the director of the publishing house Nova knjiga; speech at the opening of the 17th International Book and Education Fair, May 8, 2023)
Bonus video:
