We are delighted to announce that our Chairholder, Professor Pavlos Kavouras of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, attended the inauguration of the 20th Thessaloniki International Book Fair. 

Organisers: The Hellenic Foundation for Culture in collaboration with Greek publishers, HELEXPO, the Region of Central Macedonia, and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, with the support of the Ministry of Culture

Dates: May 16-19, 2024

Guest of Honor: The Emirates, with a special focus on Sharjah, often referred to as the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates

Venue: Thessaloniki International Exhibition and Conference Center HELEXPO, Pavilion 13, central hall “Giorgos Ioannou”

Inauguration Ceremony: May 16, 2024, at 19:30

The Thessaloniki International Book Fair is renowned as one of Greece’s foremost international cultural events. It features a broad array of cultural activities, including book presentations, thematic tributes, discussions, workshops, seminars, and special events for children and adolescents. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the fair, further emphasizing its significance in the cultural landscape.

The fair also serves as a major annual gathering for professionals in the book industry, attracting over 1,500 participants from 40 countries and welcoming more than 90,000 visitors last year. This milestone event celebrates international literary and cultural exchange, fostering connections and collaborations across the globe.

Professor Kavouras had the opportunity to engage with representatives from the Sharjah Institute for Heritage. 

This interaction is particularly noteworthy as it strengthens the ongoing partnership focused on a comparative study of the Al Taghrouda, an element inscribed in the UNESCO’s  Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by United Arab Emirates and Oman and the Olympos glendhi (Feast), an element inscribed at the National Inventory of ICH of Greece. 

This collaboration highlights the shared cultural heritage and the commitment to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage promoting a transcultural approach.