Applications are open for the 2020 Frankfurter Buchmesse Frankfurt Fellowship and the Invitation Programme
Special focus on children’s and young adult publishing / Application deadline: 30 April 2020
Frankfurt, 26 March 2020 – Applications are now open for Frankfurter Buchmesse’s (14-18 October 2020) international fellowship and grant programmes. The participants in the 2020 Frankfurt Fellowship and Invitation Programme are being sought. This year’s programmes will have a special focus on two of the most vibrant segments of international publishing: children’s and young adult publishing. The application deadline for both programmes is 30 April 2020.
Frankfurt Fellowship Programme: focus on young adult publishing
Young professionals from the publishing industry with a focus on YA fiction and non-fiction can submit applications now
For more than 20 years the renowned Frankfurter Buchmesse Frankfurt Fellowship Programme has been promoting knowledge sharing and international networking. The 2020 programme will focus on young adult (YA) publishing, thereby continuing Frankfurter Buchmesse's numerous offers and activities in this area of publishing. Young publishing professionals working in that field, such as publishers, literary agents, editors and rights and licensing managers, are encouraged to apply before 30 April 2020. Candidates for the programme should have several years of work experience and a good level of English.
As part of the two-week programme from 4 to 18 October 2020, the 16 selected Frankfurt Fellows will visit publishing houses and bookshops in several German cities, exchange information about publishing markets around the world and participate in numerous seminars and networking events. The 2020 programme will also include meetings aiming to facilitate the exchange of the Fellows with neighboring content-producing industries, such as audio, film and games. The highlight of the programme will be attending the Frankfurter Buchmesse (14-18 October 2020).
In memory of Fred Kobrak, a dedicated and long-serving executive in the international publishing industry who passed away in 2016, the participation of one of the 16 Frankfurt Fellows in the programme as the "Fred Kobrak Frankfurt Fellow" is made possible by funds of the Kobrak family.
Fiz Osborne, Editorial Director, Illustrated Books at Scholastic UK and former Frankfurt Fellow, says about the programme: “Not only did we visit a wide range of publishers – from independents to the biggest in the country – and learn a lot about the children's book market in Germany, we also made lasting friendships. Six years later, I'm still friends with the Fellows.”
The application deadline for the programme is 30 April 2020. Further information and the application form are available online at: www.buchmesse.de/fellows
A press photo of the Frankfurt Fellows 2019 is available for download here. Please note the copyright: © Frankfurter Buchmesse / Nurettin Çiçek
A photo of Fred Kobrak can be downloaded here. Please note the copyright: © Frankfurter Buchmesse
Frankfurter Buchmesse’s Invitation Programme: focus on children's publishing
Children’s books publishers from developing book markets can apply now
The Frankfurter Buchmesse Invitation Programme allows 20 publishers from developing book markets to present themselves and to engage in international networking at Frankfurter Buchmesse (14-18 October 2020). The programme, taking place on 8-18 October 2020 in Frankfurt, is aimed at small, independent publishers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Arab world and Eastern Europe. This year’s programme will put children’s publishing into focus, encouraging children’s book publishers from developing book markets to apply. Candidates for the programme should have a good level of English; the application deadline is 30 April.
The carefully selected guests receive a free stand at the book fair, and their travel and accommodation costs are covered. Before the fair begins, programme participants take part in a two-and-a-half-day seminar. The programme is funded by Frankfurter Buchmesse and the German Federal Foreign Office.
Deborah Ahenkorah, CEO and publisher of African Bureau Stories (Ghana) and participant in the 2019 Invitation Programme, says: “Being part of the Invitation Programme was a real eye opener and gave me an inside look into how the business of international publishing works. The programme opened the door wide to massive opportunities for a small publisher like us to play in the big leagues – what a rewarding experience!”
More information about the programme and application process is available online at: www.buchmesse.de/invitation-programme
A press photo of the participants of the Frankfurt Invitation Programme 2019 is available for download here. Please note the copyright: © Frankfurter Buchmesse / Nurettin Çiçek
More information about Frankfurter Buchmesse's offers and activities in the area of children's publishing can be found on the Frankfurt Kids website. On the Frankfurt New Generation website the offers and activities of the fair related to YA publishing can be found.
About Frankfurter Buchmesse
Frankfurter Buchmesse is the international publishing industry’s biggest trade fair – with over 7,450 exhibitors from 104 countries, more than 300,000 visitors, over 4,000 events and some 10,000 accredited journalists and bloggers in attendance. It is the most important international marketplace for content – from novels and children’s books to academic databases and stories for films, games and virtual reality experiences. Publishing professionals from around the world meet here with partners from the technology sector and from related creative and cultural industries, sparking new partnerships and business models. A strong conference programme ensures that Frankfurter Buchmesse is a major source of inspiration for content experts from around the world. Since 1976, the book fair has featured an annual Guest of Honour country, which showcases its book market, literature and culture to attendees in a variety of ways. Frankfurter Buchmesse organises the participation of German publishers at around 20 international book fairs and hosts trade events throughout the year in major international markets. Frankfurter Buchmesse is a subsidiary of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers & Booksellers Association). https://www.buchmesse.de/en
Contact for the media:
Press & Corporate Communication, Frankfurter Buchmesse
Katja Böhne, Vice President Marketing & Communications, Phone: +49 (0) 69 2102-138, press@buchmesse.de
Kathrin Grün, Head of Communications, Phone: +49 (0) 69 2102-170, gruen@buchmesse.de
Ines Bachor, PR Manager, Phone: +49 (0) 69 2102-189, bachor@buchmesse.de