Lessons, conversations, blown word, radio, cinema, concerts, workshops and shows are the highlights of the great book festival programme, which this year takes more steps towards new spaces in the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal and extends to the outside terrace of the Casa do Roseiral, the stage of the Pocket Concerts, with a programme of Maus Hábitos.


This is one of the news in this edition and the goal of the late afternoon concerts is bringing together musicians of different genres and generations, and thus sketching a portrait of the musical panorama in the city. The Baleia, Baleia, Baleia, Angelica Salvi or Peixe are some of the names that will come on stage daily.


The "diversification of spaces and the programming of simultaneous activities" was, moreover, one of the central concerns of the Porto Book Fair, which also intends to encourage "commercial activity" in a sector that has been greatly penalized by the pandemic, noted Rui Moreira.


In the 119 registered stands, which represent 80 institutions (among booksellers, publishers, cartoneros, distributors, and public or private entities), preventive and security measures are guaranteed, with the availability of alcohol gel and disinfectant. The Porto Fire Brigade will also frequently ensure the special cleaning of the premises.


The programme, under the coordination of Nuno Faria, director of Museu da Cidade, is organised by a large programming team, which includes João Gesta, in the Quintas de Leitura and other meeting and poetry programmes. The auditorium of the Super Bock Arena - Rosa Mota Pavilion will host a special edition of this remarkable poetry cycle, giving voice to 30 women poets, "lighthearted and unsubmissive". A verse by Filipa Leal, "Lord, Fill My High Sea Room", gives the title to the session.


Guilherme Blanc, director of Contemporary Art and Cinema of the municipal company Ágora, which developed the film cycle, will present an anthology of Lynn Hershman's work in the auditorium of the Almeida Garrett Municipal Library. Throughout five sessions, the audience (limited to the defined space for the room) will realize how - through fiction, documentary language and essay - the artist's work anticipated visualities and concepts that mark current artistic practices.


The invited curators Anabela Mota Ribeiro and José Eduardo Agualusa return with the Lessons and Debates program. The Lessons will focus on the heroines of fiction through the interpretation and analysis of five guests, including Bovary or Karenina. The debates will feature Gonçalo M. Tavares, Richard Zimler or Sobrinho Simões, among other sound guests.


During the event, two editions will be launched. The first, brings together in a single work, the poetry of the honoured Leonor de Almeida. The second edition is dedicated to the book "1820-2020", which marks the bicentenary of the Liberal Revolution of Porto.


Concerts by Porta-Jazz ao Relento, echoes from the Sound Library, radio with live transmissin, two resident poets, a children's and youth programme, among other attractions, such as a closing concert with Mário Laginha and Pedro Burmester, are also part of the Porto 2020 Book Fair programme, the seventh edition organized by the Porto City Hall in the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal.

Mais artigos

  • Câmara Municipal do Porto


    Last updated 2022-12-06