The 2022 Malta Book Festival programme of events is out

The National Book Council (NBC) has released the programme of events for the 2022 Malta Book Festival during a press conference held at the National Library of Malta in Valletta. The Minister for Education, Hon. Clifton Grima, and the NBC Executive Chairperson, Mark Camilleri addressed the audience.

The programme of events of the 2022 Festival includes more than 100 events over five days between Wednesday 23 and Sunday 27 November. The events – free of charge and held in designated halls at the MFCC – range from shows and activities for the family and students, to book launches and presentations, animated readings, thematic discussions and professional meet-ups between the public and book industry stakeholders.

Access the full programme of events here.

In his speech, Camilleri noted that the cultural programme of the Malta Book Festival is also the result of a fruitful collaboration with different entities, leading to a product which is appealing to adults and children alike. Among others, the following collaborations were mentioned: with Arts Council Malta to curate the From Illustration to Book exhibition; with Żigużajg to direct shows based on the 2022 Terramaxka Book Prize winning books; and with Inspire Foundation to manage a sensory-friendly room for the benefit of children on the autism-spectrum. Mr Camilleri touched upon the international aspect of the programme of events, mentioning this edition’s foreign guests John Boyne, the bestselling author among others of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and Joe Sacco, respected worldwide as a cartoonist and journalist and considered the pioneer of comics journaliusm.

Hon. Grima said that this edition is much anticipated, since the previous two were had to abide by many Covid mitigation measures and restrictions. “I am very pleased that this time around we’re hosting 9,000 students compared to the 3,000 of last year. This is surely good news.” He stressed the need to instil in children the love of reading in all its forms from as young an age as possible. In his concluding remarks, Hon. Grima said that the publishing industry will be getting the attention it deserves, and that authors and publishers will get all the support they need.

The 2022 Malta Book Festival will be held between Wednesday 23 and Sunday 27 November at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali. For more information visit the NBC’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages, or the Facebook page of the Malta Book Festival.