19 October 2017 Krakow offers a stand to independent publishers

We haven’t seen that yet: for the first time in history, Krakow UNESCO City of Literature has offered its exhibition space at the Book Fair to small, independent publishers united in the Świadomi Wydawcy group. “Let’s talk about concrete activities, because this is how we understand our support to the book market” – stresses Izabela Helbin, Director of the Krakow Festival Office.

Świadomi Wydawcy is an informal group of independent publishers that has been created on the initiative of Wydawnictwo Claroscuro. Fourteen publishing houses united within the group will present themselves at the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature.

”As the first city in Poland Krakow offers its space to publishing houses that have smaller chances to fully show at great fair events, says Izabela Helbin. - Decidedly, supporting all literature and publishing market projects is in line with the strategic programme Krakow UNESCO City of Literature which the Krakow Festival Office has developed as a result of the award of this prestigious title to the city four years ago.

Some small, independent Polish publishing houses have united in response to the increasing troublesome situation on the book market being excessively filled with novelties and publications advertised as bestsellers but not necessarily being of value. The group aims to promote the awareness that books are cultural goods, to promote literature of value, often unavailable through popular sale channels, to enhance solidarity of the publishing industry and to encourage cooperation between various entities operating on the book market and cultural institutions.

”The presence of  Świadomi Wydawcy group at the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature stand guarantees that the reader will get in touch with an ambitious book, a book from outside the mainstream”,  says Juan Diego Ramírez of Claroscuro publishers. “The presentation of our publications at such a venue is first of all the promotion of book diversity. We are united by the ”shop smarter” idea, which, with regard to books, means  efficient, independent marketing (or no marketing at all) and a chance for the reader to find books which bring an added value to their lives.

Such publishing houses as Amaltea, Ajurweda, Blue Bird, Claroscuro, Cyklady, Instytut Badań Literackich PAN, Janka, Nisza, Od do, Oficyna Naukowa, Sedno, as well as Krakow-based publishing houses: Dodo Editor, Eperons-Ostrogi and Ha!art will appear at the stand, where the books under the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature or Conrad Festival  patronage will be on sale, including monographs Życie literackie w Krakowie, Wszystkie drogi prowadzą na Krupniczą about the former Writers’ House  in Krakow, as well as biographies of Stanisław Lem and Jerzy Pilch. 

At the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature stand you might also vote for the best 2016 prose debut, to award the Conrad Award and to vote for the best bookshop in Krakow.