After the week of ten days, with heat, rain and good writing, the 41st Book Week in Catalan closed its doors this Sunday at the Moll de la Fusta with a provisional balance sheet and the announcement of a new location, and with the satisfaction of having bettered last year's records.
According to the provisional data, made public shortly before closing, the attendance figure for the more than 300 activities exceeds 60,000 people, which represents an increase of 15% compared to last year (to see the scope of the change, in 2019, the last year it was held in front of the cathedral, attendance was 30,000).
In terms of turnover, the increase has been even more remarkable, since sales have improved by 20%, according to the organization of the Week, led by Editors.cat (but where the Editors' Guild is also , APPEC, the Booksellers Guild, the Distributors Guild, Generalitat and City Council, among other institutions).
On the other hand, it was also announced that they are working with the City Council so that the next edition will be held in Passeig Lluís Companys between September 20 and 29. Since during the opening ceremony, on the 8th, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced that because of the America's Cup it would have to be temporarily changed, there was concern among some of the participants, either because they consider that the 'continuing commitment to Moll de la Fusta is quite a success as for those who already complained last year and expected a change. The change of dates was also commented on by some of those affected, who did not see clearly losing the influx that a holiday like the Eleventh of September can have, although it will be necessary to take into account the Mercè festivities, which will fall in Tuesday, with the city immersed in its fiesta major.
And although the Week has been held in several locations, it arrived at the Moll de la Fusta looking for the necessary breadth to maintain it in the midst of a pandemic, in 2020, when distancing and capacity controls were a health issue of the first order. The space also allowed the number of exhibitors to grow, which this year reached a record of 287.
What will need to be clarified, once the new site is officially confirmed – which is still not 100 percent certain – is how it will be organized to fit everything in, since it seems that there will not be as many square meters available as until now. The intention of the organization, however, is to return to Moll de la Fusta when possible.
This Sunday there was still time, in the morning, for events such as those dedicated to the literature of the Balearic Islands or presentations and children's shows.
Just this Monday, in Lleida, Sant Miquel de les Lletres takes over, a celebration with debates in bookstores and stops in Plaça de la Catedral. When it comes to books, there are never enough.
