Russia - Guest of Honour at the London Book Fair 2011

 

 

Publishers Competition

In preparation for the London Book Fair 2011, Academia Rossica has organised a competition for Russian publishers. Entrants are required to create a proposal for a collaborative project with a British publishing house. The winner of this competition will receive a place on the 5 day International Publisher Training Programme at Oxford Brookes. The competition will be judged by leading British publishers.

 

 

Russia Market Focus seminars at the Nonfictio№11 book fair

3 - 6 December 2009

In conjunction with the British Council and the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication, Academia Rossica organised a series of seminars at the Nonfiction fair in Moscow presenting new strategies to Russian publishers concerning the London Book Fair 2011.

 

Click here for further details of this programme. 

 

 

First Steering Committee Meeting in London

9 November 2009

In order to prepare Russia’s participation as the Market Focus Country for the London Book Fair 2011 two steering committees have been set up - one in London and one in Moscow. 

 

The first London steering committee was held at the Russian Embassy in London on 9 November 2009. It was chaired by Mr Alistair Burtenshaw, Director of The London Book Fair and the committee includes representatives of leading British literary organisations

 

The committee noted that it is an opportune time for Russia to become the Market Focus of the London Book Fair. It was stressed that the main obstacle in the development of collaboration between Russian and British publishers is a lack of information and communication on both sides. Russian publishers are not aware of potential business opportunities in the English language market and perceive it as an introverted and closed market. It was emphasised that it is extremely important to create an information resource about the possibilities of co-operation and business opportunities. 


It was proposed that a separate communication plan should be developed from now on in Russian and English for all those interested via the steering group's contacts in the UK and in Russia and to set up a social network of those interested in Russia. They also proposed to produce a guide on how Russian publishing works for UK publishers and vice versa. 


It was noted that it is time to combat the stylised view of Russia and recourse to classics through a programme of events in the next two years which will showcase contemporary Russian writers. The issue of the shortage of good translators from Russian into English was also raised. Academia Rossica was praised for establishing the Rossica Prize and the Rossica Young Translators’ Prize and for other work done in this area. The importance of translation grants was also emphasised.