| Miami Book Fair | |
| Status: | Active |
| Genre: | Multi-genre |
| Venue: | Miami Dade College |
| Location: | Miami, Florida |
| Country: | US |
| First: | 1984 |
| Organizer: | Miami Book Fair @ Miami Dade College |
| Attendance: | 200,000 |
The Miami Book Fair is an annual street fair and literary festival organized by Miami Dade College.[1] The weeklong gathering attracts more than 300 national and international authors every year and features pavilions for comics, children, and young adults, among others.[2]
Miami Book Fair International, originally known as "Books by the Bay," was founded in 1984 by Miami-Dade College President, Eduardo J. Padrón; Books & Books owner, Mitchell Kaplan; Craig Pollock of BookWorks; and other local bookstore owners in cooperation with the Miami-Dade Public Library System.[3] [4] The two primary organizers of the inaugural 1984 Book Fair from the Miami-Dade Public Library System were Head of Community Relations Margarita Cano and Wolfsonian campus librarian Juanita Johnson.[5]
In 2020, the book fair added virtual content.
The Florida Center for the Literary Arts is the parent organization of the Miami Book Fair International.[6] The literary center was conceived to advance the College's literary traditions. A permanent endowment was established with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Full programming began in January 2002.
As a department of Miami Dade College, FCLA generates programs to support authors and writing, journalism, play and screen writing, reading and literacy as well as the Miami Book Fair International. Outreach consist of reading campaigns and book discussions, writing workshops, author presentations, panel discussions, and master classes. The Center collaborates with a number of Florida-based cultural institutions and other partners in order to advance literary initiatives. The Center reflects of Miami Dade College's commitment to inspire anyone attuned to the world of literature.
Typically more than 300 authors from around the world take part in the Fair's international Festival of Authors.[7] Writers come from all over the United States, and in previous years, the Fair has welcomed authors from countries like Argentina, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, England, France, Finland, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, Israel, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Trinidad, and other nations.
The Evenings With… Series features readings by world-renowned writers every evening for six consecutive festival days. In past years, guest authors have included recipients of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Casa de las Americas Prize, Pushcart Prize, O'Henry Award, National Magazine Award, Commonwealth Prize, MacArthur Fellowship and Edgar Award.
The three-day outdoor festival gathers hundreds of booksellers and exhibitors from major publishing houses, small presses, scholarly imprints and foreign publishers. Sellers of used books including signed first editions, original manuscripts and other collectibles also have booths. Millions of books in multiple languages can be found, with book signings and musical entertainment rounding out weekend Fair activity.
Comic Galaxy is a Fair program offering information on graphic novels and the comics world and celebrates their place in United States literary life, as well as their recent rise in popularity and integration into mainstream literature, culture and even education.[8] A prominent part of Comic Galaxy, The School of Comics, is a day-long program that includes six sessions for teachers, librarians, parents and others who are interested in the format.[9] There also exists special training for creators of the genre.
Children's Alley tailored for young readers, features storytelling, puppets, theatrical performances, educational games, and hands-on activities.[10] Generation Genius is a program hosting thousands of school-aged children each year.[11] As a part of Generation Genius programming, Miami Book Fair International also offers workshops and presentations to local teachers, librarians, and educators. Programs are provided in cooperation with Miami Art Museum, HistoryMiami, Miami Children's Museum, Miami Science Museum, Early Learning Coalition of Miami Dade/Monroe, and Florida Blue.
Ibero-American Authors is Miami Book Fair International's Spanish Language author program that is presented solely in Spanish or Portuguese. More than 50 authors from various Latin American countries are featured during the eight-days of the Fair. Readings take place every evening during the week and all day during the weekend.[12]
Miami Book Fair International also includes as part of its list of events hors d-oeuvres, a complimentary cocktails and nightly entertainment before the weeknight author presentations.[13] The Kitchen combines cooking demonstrations and author readings by featured cookbook authors and chefs in an intimate, culinary setting as they recreate recipes from their books.[14]
Authors writing on LGBTQ+ topics are represented throughout the festival with titles in fiction, nonfiction, memoir and erotica. Many who appear are Lambda Award winners or finalists.[15]
Center for Literature and Theatre faculty, authors, and agents provide workshops pertaining to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, publishing.[16] The Center offers one and three-day workshops, with several taking place in Spanish as well.
In 2014, the Miami Book Fair International partnered with the National Book Foundation, to provide programming centered around 2014 National Book Award nominees and winners.[17] A sampling of additional authors appearing at Miami Book Fair International 2014 follows:[18] [19]
Eveline Pierre "The Secret to Winning Big"
To commemorate 500 years since Juan Ponce de León first landed in Florida, the 30th edition of the Fair celebrated the culture and literature of Spain. Spanish writers and artists shared the language, culture and literature of Spain.[20] A sampling of authors who appeared at Miami Book Fair International 2013 follows:[21]
The featured country of 2012's Miami Book Fair International was Paraguay. Paraguayan culture was displayed through film, dance, and fine and folkloric arts.[22]
A sampling of authors who appeared at Miami Book Fair International 2012 follows:
Miami Book Fair International 2011 included demonstrations of Chinese culture and art, and discussions of social issues facing contemporary China.[23] An international symposium on Chinese language, culture, and communication was held.
A sampling of authors who participated in Miami Book Fair International 2011 follows:[24]
For the first time this year, the fair dedicated its international space to one country, Mexico, in celebration of the bicentennial of the Central American nation's independence and the centennial of its 1910 revolution.[25] Featured were literary feasts served as fiestas, with author presentations and roundtables on subjects such as Mexican boleros. Ballet performances, art and photography exhibitions, a movie series and theater performances also honored the country of Mexico.
The following is a sampling of authors who participated in Miami Book Fair International 2010 activities:[26]
Environmental issues were in the forefront of Miami Book Fair International 2009, from author presentations to green activities to making ecologically sound choices in Fair logistics.[27] The college used native plants on stages, as well as entrances. These natives were then planted in the community to help offset the carbon emissions of the book fair. Miami Book Fair International and MDC's Earth Ethics Institute procured the plants from local nursery. Bike Valet parking service was available to each cyclist, and numerous rethink, reduce, reuse, and recycle educational programs were promoted.
The following is a sampling of authors who appeared at Miami Book Fair International 2009:[28]