Il Book Fair may no longer be organized exclusively in Turin. This is what emerges after the summit of the AIE, the Italian Association of Publishers, despite the attempts at dissuasion arrived first by the Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini, then by that of Instructions Stefania Giannini, in addition to the firm opposition of the new mayor of Turin Chiara Appendino and the president of the Piedmont region Sergio Chiamparino.
"Duplicating and fragmenting is never a policy of strengthening", argue essentially and in unison the local and national leaders, but the publishers do not hide the fact that they no longer like their lack of involvement in the event held in Turin in the month of May and which is organized by another body, the Foundation for Books, Music and Culture in collaboration with Gl Events, a French company that owns the Lingotto spaces, both of which ended up in the storm just today as they were involved in the judicial investigation which saw three people arrested and a fourth under house arrest. The disputed charge is of bid rigging in relation to the three-year tender for the assignment of the exhibition management of the Book Fair, won by Gl Events.
Beyond the investigation, the general council of the IEA expressed itself today with a statement that continues to give priority to the Turin event, hoping however for a change of course and not excluding new or parallel events managed more closely by the publishers: "We have given a mandate to the President - reads the note - to quickly contact the President of the Piedmont Region and the Mayor of the City of Turin to verify their proposals on the change of governance and management of both the Foundation for Books, Music and Culture that of the Book Fair. The General Council also gave a favorable opinion on a company model for the development of trade fairs and events for the promotion of books at a national and international level”.
Clear words that send the ball back to the Turin authorities by sending a clear message: from now on they declare themselves ready to evaluate any project, including the one that according to many would see Milan in pole position. In fact, according to rumors, a probable partner could be Fiera Milano: for the Milanese pole it would certainly be another prestigious trophy to be exhibited alongside Miart, the contemporary art fair, and the Salone del Mobile. A book fair is the missing flower in the cultural bouquet, an event that in the city of publishing would please many, as demonstrated by the great success of BookCity.
Enrico Selva Coddè, CEO Mondadori Libri, issued a diplomatic statement in which he maintains that "there is no foreclosure for any city in particular and that the criterion for identifying the best solution will be exclusively linked to the quality and scope of the project that best prospects further development of the event ”. Second Massimo Turchetta, director Rizzoli Libri Trade, “two book fairs are better than one, the important thing is that you don't kill one to give life to the other, also because it would be nice if the season of literary events lasted all year round”.
Among the opposing voices, in addition to the national and local authorities, there was also that of Giovanni Bazoli, president emeritus of Intesa Sanpaolo who recalled that "despite the recent financial problems, the Fair has never recorded difficulties in the number of visitors and in the satisfaction of the vast majority of publishers present". No to a new Salone in Milan, therefore, but yes "to any suggestion that has the aim of making the existing one even stronger, better known and more international". The position of Elisabetta Sgarbi, editorial director of La Nave di Teseo: “The Book Fair that we all have in mind is that of Turin. Doing it in Milan means doing something else. I'm not against it, but I'm in favor of adding up the initiatives and rationally distributing them throughout the year. If Milan wants its own space, it must be no later than the month of February”.
Beyond the controversies, the Turin management was still a success in terms of numbers: From the 100.000 declared attendances and 553 exhibitors of the first edition in 1988, the Show has grown up to 127.596 visitors and over 1.000 exhibitors of the last edition, two months ago.
