The Bienal do Livro Rio, the largest literary festival in the country, started selling tickets online this Thursday (4). This year, in the 20th edition, around 80 publishers are already confirmed, in addition to authors, artists linked to literature and bookstores.
Between December 3rd and 12th, at Riocentro, in the West Zone of the city, the public will debate the question “what stories do we want to tell from now on?”. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bienal will be held in a hybrid format, with reduced capacity to avoid crowding.
According to the president of the National Union of Book Publishers (SNEL), one of the festival’s organizers, reading is the fundamental instrument for education and citizenship.
“In recent months, market studies have confirmed the reconnection of people with books, which only reinforces the event’s mission and raison d’être: encouraging reading in Brazil. The Bienal is the great book party and it is very remarkable that this is one of the first large cultural events at this time of transition to better days”, he says. “We are very happy to be able to continue increasing the representation of the event to the public
To discuss topics such as sustainable development, democracy, feminism, mental health and LGBTQIAP+, Estação Plural will be launched. In this space, the public will be able to talk about various subjects with personalities present at the event, such as Grabriela Prioli, Lulu Santos, Conceição Evaristo and Thalita Rebouças.
The literary festival will also have an area for children, called Espaço Metamorfose. With interactive and playful scenarios, the goal is for young readers to arouse interest in stories.
This year, 40,700 students from Rio’s municipal education system will be able to participate in the Bienal for free, after a partnership with the city hall. According to the education department, each student will receive R$20 for the purchase of books at the festival and the 1,561 units of the network will receive up to R$1,600 to add to the collection.
“The Bienal is the fourth largest event in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It only loses for the New Year, Carnival and Rock in Rio. For us, in Education, it’s the most important of all. A space, not only for dreams, but for achievements”, stated the secretary of Education, Renan Ferreirinha.
*Intern under the supervision of Maria Mazzei
Reference: CNN Brasil
