German Minister of State and Culture Commissioner Monika Grütters is supporting the Frankfurter Buchmesse with 4 million euros from the country’s NEUSTART KULTUR stimulus package. The aim of the funding is to enable as many exhibitors from Germany and abroad as possible to take part in Frankfurter Buchmesse (14–18 October 2020) during the ongoing corona pandemic. In addition, funds are being made available to expand digital formats that will allow publishers to present their products and participate in the book fair.
Frankfurter Buchmesse will use the funding to reduce this year’s exhibition stand fees by 20% to 50%, depending on the stand size. This applies to stands up to 48 m2 in size.
In addition, the funds will be used to enable users to participate in wide-ranging digital formats provided by Frankfurter Buchmesse. This includes opportunities for publishers to integrate their events and present their books and authors at buchmesse.de, as well as a digital version of the BOOKFEST culture festival within the framework of Frankfurter Buchmesse, and an extensive programme of events and conferences for publishing professionals.
The funding will also help expand the community using Frankfurt Rights, the digital platform for trading in rights and licences. Thanks to the funding, editors and rights and licensing managers will be able to use the platform free of charge, and will have continued free access for nine months after the fair is over.
“The publishing and book industry has been greatly impacted by the corona crisis,” Monika Grütters explained. “I am therefore very pleased that the world’s largest book fair will take place despite the difficult conditions – a development we want to support. In particular, small and midsized publishers, who contribute so much to Germany’s incomparable literary diversity, will benefit from this funding. And by promoting the fair’s digitalisation, we are helping ensure that the global trading in rights can take place despite the pandemic. Frankfurter Buchmesse is the hub of our multifaceted publishing landscape and vibrant book culture. I view our financial assistance as a signal of confidence to the entire industry.”
Juergen Boos, Director of Frankfurter Buchmesse, emphasised: “We would like to thank Minister of State and Culture Commissioner Monika Grütters for her tireless efforts on behalf of the book and publishing industry. Frankfurter Buchmesse is committed to enabling international exchange and supporting the publishing and creative industries. During the pandemic, we want to make face-to-face meetings possible at the physical fair, while also giving our customers and community the opportunity to meet and conduct business digitally. We are very pleased that we can pass on this generous financial support to our customers.”
The 4 million euros Frankfurter Buchmesse has received is part of the 1 billion-euro NEUSTART KULTUR rescue package approved by the Germany parliament last week. The package consists of four separate programmes: pandemic-related investments (up to 250 million euros), support for the culture industry (up to 480 million euros), support for alternative cultural offerings and digital offerings (up to 150 million euros), and assistance in cases where revenues have declined due to the pandemic and where additional aid is required by institutions and projects supported by the federal government (up to 100 million euros).
On July 17, Frankfurter Buchmesse will provide exhibitors with further details about reduced stand fees and other information related to this financial support during a virtual talk.
