ARTPOLIS will again be the organizer of the World Book Day celebration in Pristina this year.

World Book Day is a Celebration! It is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books, and (most importantly) it is a celebration of reading. In fact, it is the largest event of its kind, created by UNESCO as a global celebration of books and reading, marked in over 100 countries around the world.

The purpose of World Book Day is to promote such a day as a tool for celebrating and educating children, young people, and society in general through art and the promotion of reading over two days – April 22 and 23.

World Book Day is supported by: The European Union in Kosovo, Culture for All, local Departments of Public Services, Education and Culture in the Municipality of Pristina, and the University of Pristina.

Various activities will be held in honor of World Book Day, such as: Open readings in the amphitheater of Zahir Pajaziti Square; Poetry and reading night with artists, civil society activists, and various public figures accompanied by music at the Modelarium of the Faculty of Architecture; Reading workshops with children from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in Fushë Kosovë, as well as readings for children by writers during the book fair

Bookstores and publishers will offer discounts on book sales. During the fair, the Hivzi Sylejmani municipal library will provide free registration for young people

PROGRAM FOR MARKING WORLD BOOK DAY

FRIDAY, April 22, 2016

11:00 – 17:00 – LOCAL BOOK FAIR IN PRISTINA at “Zahir Pajaziti” square

For the first time, the local book fair in Pristina will be organized for two days, to encourage the sale and reading of books. The bookstores and publishers participating in the book fair are: Artini, Albas, American Corner, Alliance Française in Pristina, Buzuku, Damo, Dit e Nat’, Dukagjini, Faik Konica, Pema, Soma Book Station, Ura, Titanik, including street vendors from Pristina: Florim Beqiri, Muharrem Krasniqi, Mustafa Raqi, Selatin Beqiri, Jeton Mexhuani

During the Book Fair, the city library “Hivzi Sylejmani” will provide free registration for all citizens

11:00 – 13:40 – POETRY AND THEATER WITH CHILDREN at “Zahir Pajaziti” square.

During this activity, writers Drenusha Zajmi and Rreze Abdullahu will read poetry for children and discuss children’s literature. Each school will have a session after which 5-10 children, dressed as their favorite book characters, will perform on stage and share their favorite books with others

The schools participating in this activity are: “Faik Konica”, “Naim Frashëri”, “Gjergj Fishta”, “Elena Gjika”, and “British School of Kosova”

11:00 – 17:00 – PUBLIC READING IN THE PUBLIC SPACE at “Zahir Pajaziti” square.

For the first time, the square will be used as a space for public reading where citizens/community members are not just passing through the square but also have the opportunity to sit down and choose a book from the shelves of the “Hivzi Sylejmani” library or electronic books from the American Corner.

14:00 – 16:00 – POETRY AND ART WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN FROM THE ROMA, ASHKALI, AND EGYPTIAN COMMUNITIES at “Fidan Lahu” Center, Fushë Kosovë.

Poet and artist Shpetim Selmani and teacher and activist Ardita Islami will engage 20 children from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in an interactive workshop with poetry and drawings. This activity aims to inspire and encourage children to write and express their creativity through poetry and art.

SATURDAY, April 23, 2016

11:00 – 17:00 – LOCAL BOOK FAIR IN PRISTINA at “Zahir Pajaziti” square.

For the first time, the local book fair in Pristina will be organized for two days, to encourage the sale and reading of books. The bookstores and publishers participating in the book fair are: Artini, Albas, American Corner, Alliance Française in Pristina, Buzuku, Damo, Dit e Nat’, Dukagjini, Faik Konica, Pema, Soma Book Station, Ura, Titanik, including street vendors from Pristina: Florim Beqiri, Muharrem Krasniqi, Mustafa Raqi, Selatin Beqiri, Jeton Mexhuani.

During the Book Fair, the city library “Hivzi Sylejmani” will provide free registration for all citizens.

20:00 – 22:00 – POETRY IS MUSIC – NIGHT OF POETRY AND MUSIC at the Modelarium, Faculty of Architecture.

A special event to celebrate poetry and diversity with unique performances by artists and activists: Aulone Kadriu, Bajram Kafu Kinolli, Dardana Mehmeti, Melihate Qena, Safete Rugova, Shpetim Selmani, Shukrije Gashi, Visar Arifaj with special music by Oda Haliti.